Off to see the wizard...

I am standing in front of a simple house on a busy street in West Hartford. I walk through its doorway, that of the Greenman Tattoo; I feel as though I have just entered OZ. My eyes meander around the room taking in color, design and it’s eclectic atmosphere. Although I probably wont be getting a tattoo anytime in the near future, it’s fun to imagine the “what if’ scenario.  It’s a big decision after all. Do you go the nostalgia route, focusing on the one special thing that really means something? Maybe you would highlight the relationships that have meaning. Then again, maybe your dreamer will come through in an ornate message painted across your skin. It would be a nightmare decision for me. Having a catalog of thousands of images running through my head, I could scarcely figure out a way to bring them all into one simple message.  But that is exactly what the artists at the Greenman help fulfill. They are the wizards, helping you define what you may already know about yourself.  They do this in a tried and true process with their palate of inks. Their surrounding defines who they are. Bits and pieces of their beliefs are etched into all corners of their workspace. It’s a place they can freely be themselves so you too can act deliberately on your intentions. In their comfort zone, they can manage to bring you into yours.  Peering into the great Oz of Greenman, I realize I’m photographing a fascinating world I know little about. There is much to learn here, but I’ve only pricked the surface.  I wish I could have been there to see their process unfold with a client.  I can only imagine the many roles they play.  Artistry aside, they act as guides to one’s emotional journey. Their intuition is imperative.  When I click my heels and return to my own home, I know that their world is different. It is a place of wonder, where your imagination is your only limit. I learn once again, that the yellow brick road can lead to some very interesting places.

PS
Have a field trip for me? If you know of an interesting place that calls for more than a quick glance, send your ideas my way. I'm listening.