As a professional photographer, Rick Arnoldhas done it all: news photography, fashion shoots, lifestyle and travel features, advertising, film, video, visual art. Based in the vibrant harbour city of Rotterdam, and having portrayed famous DJ’s like Armin van Buuren and Sander Kleinenberg, night life and the party scene inspire him. The energy and the dark: so good to capture the atmosphere in black and white photography. Driven by curiosity, the inexhaustible desire to express himself and investigate the essence of life, the Dutch photographer aimed his camera at tattoo art. His 192-page book Ink Issues portrays 36 women and their tattoos.

Your book Ink Issues is about tattooed women only. Why this subject?

I have always been fascinated by tattoos. It shows what someone has inside. Or at least it should do. I can’t stand the trend of just about anyone nowadays covering themselves in ink. For me it has to be ‘real’. What I am trying to say is, it has to correspond with someone’s own charisma, their character and style, it has to be genuine.

I do respect women having tattoos. Especially because in the past tattooed women were often ladies of the night, the same with Japanese geishas. Not that I criticise them, or have a negative opinion. On the contrary, I respect them for what they do. The seamy side of society attracts me. In the cities I visit I look for that scene and dive in. For my book, I did not want just anyone with a tattoo in front of my camera, but a certain type of woman with magnetism. The type that makes you suspect they’ve got a story to tell. Women with confidence, you can clearly see it is their life, don’t you dare touch it. This is what I wanted to capture and get across. Strong characters who have been through certain things, or had to leave something behind, and wanted to express this, register it with a tattoo.

How did you source your models?

I was looking specifically for women with vintage tattoos and literally looked around. Sometimes I even would approach women in the street, at night – I had quite a lot of explaining to do I was not just lurking in the dark. After selecting, I arranged the photo shoots in one of the last remaining vintage hotels in Rotterdam where time had stood still. Unfortunately, the hotel has been updated now. When we did the shoot several years ago it still had this old-fashioned interior. Room 101 was my favourite, with faded flowery curtains and worn bedside lights. A place you felt at home. But we could only do the photo shoots during the change-over at midday, between the last guest leaving and the next one arriving. In the clear light of day, not the sexiest moment. A drink at the bar downstairs beforehand helped steady the nerves of all involved. I worked for two years on the book. The launch was a success with hundreds of guests.

Do you have any tattoos yourself?

Yes, three. The last one stems from 2014 in Barcelona. I chose lettering, a long word in Spanish resonating with who I am, with the tattoo clearly visible on my arm. In 2002 I had a tattoo in Mexico, on impulse. An image of a fire dragon, not by the best artist. The dragon now bears resemblance to an ant eater, with my very first tattoo as its snout..

The first tattoo I had half a life time ago, in 1989. Created by an artist who worked with the famous Dutch tattooist Henk Schiffmacher. At this moment I am considering getting some more tattoos. I would like one of my favourite camera, and another with a flower from Borneo – my mother was from Indonesia. And I would like a tattoo of a pin-up as I am fascinated by pin up art, and sensualism. However, I would not consider a sleeve or something like that, I leave that to others.

Visit the website of Rick Arnold for more information.