As I stated in my first blog I was hoping to make this guest blog on NPAC about my daily life.

To be fair, for the majority of the time in Saskatoon there is not a lot of photojournalism work to be had. I am not saying that there aren’t things to shoot, just not very much you can get paid for.

Today I wrapped up a project I have been working on over the last month for a local business. The project is a collection of photos for a local tattoo shop called Ink Addiction. The owner had asked me to photograph a collection of tattoo machines and their accompanying boxes. Each had been custom built by various tattoo artists from across Canada. It was a very interesting project with great subject matter. I ended up shooting a reception/art show that showcased over 30 combinations of tattoo machines paired with their very unique boxes that held them. Today I got some of the machines that had not made their way to shop when I started in December.

A lamb-inspired tattoo machine made by Glennie Whittall, Bill Baker, and Daniel Innes.

It was a pretty simple lighting set up for the tattoo machines and boxes. The main light was on a boom over the objects with a CTO gel. I then splashed light through a shoot though umbrella to the left. I turned the power low and did not gel it, the goal of this was to get a hint of blue in the metal on the tattoo machines.

The reception was last Saturday, and was a great time. Many of the artists made it to chilly Saskatoon for the event. The night also offered a unique draw where everyone who made a machine was given someone else’s matched set (A great idea to think about doing something similar with prints at the NPAC conference, I think).

Jody Spychaj, owner of Ink Addiction, (lower center right) makes a draw to see which tattoo machine each contributing artist will receive.

A tattoo machine and box made by Jody Spychaj, owner of Ink Addiction. The box had a LED-light power by a 9-volt battery in it that lights up the glass dragon etching on it.

A tattoo machine and box made by Logan Spychaj. The box had a shot gun ammunition in it, to go with paint on the front of it.

Nothing like getting paid to hang out with good people and have a few drinks.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I do a fair amount of work for local companies and I have to say working with Jody Spychaj, owner of Ink Addiction, had been amazing. There is something to be said about working with people in the creative field who use their talent every day, not to mention someone who understands that good work should be rewarded not only monetarily, but also in communication.

A Popeye the Sailor Man-inspired tattoo machine and box set made by Chris Hall. The machine came complete with a hat and pipe.

Liam Richards is freelance photographer based out of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, who oddly enough, cheers for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Find more of his work at www.liamrichards.com, which is finally receiving a much needed facelift this month, and feel free to tweet and follow on Twitter @photoliam