Jay Reed poses for a portrait Feb. 20, 2025 at the SIU Communications Building in Carbondale, Illinois. Reed is a Chicago native and a junior at SIU studying graphic design who also designs tattoos. “I have eight tattoos in total,” Reed said. “I was raised around tattoos a lot,” Reed said. “My second tattoo that I got was a Godzilla tattoo that I drew myself. It kind of inspired me to really pursue a tattoo career.”
“I draw tattoos for people currently.” In addition to his interest in graphic design, he is working towards an apprenticeship with a local Carbondale tattoo business Neon Tiger Tattoo. “The artists there are amazing,” Reed said. “I would love to have myself a spot in that shop… I want to specialize in Japanese tattoo art and probably do a lot of freehand realism.” On Reed’s left arm, he has several tattoos with Japanese lettering for different members of his family. “The big one at the top is my grandmother Bo,” Reed said. “She had passed away recently. So, this tattoo right here–that has a lot of meaning for me.” Reed said that meaning is important to him for his own personal tattoos and the art that he creates for others. “You should get a tattoo because tattoos can have a lot of meaning and powerfulness through art, and it represents you as a person,” Reed said “So I want my tattoos to be able to represent that person that's getting my artwork on their body because it makes me feel appreciated that you have the willingness and consideration to get my artwork on your body.”
Emily Brinkman was born and raised in Texas. On her shoulder she got a tattoo of a cowgirl, wearing a hat. “My dad was very heavy on the cowboy thing, you know,” she said. “He had boots; he had like two, three hats. My grandparents were really into that s**t, too.”
“So, it's like a reminder of my dad,” she said. Brinkman said that she saw the design at Neon Tiger in Carbondale and resonated with it. “My friend, she was getting her tattoo, and I was like, ‘I want that,’” she said. “It's a cowgirl. So, I'm from Texas and whatnot, so I feel like that represents that I guess.”
“My name is Shawny Rotten. I've been tattooing for seven years now.” Begun as a side interest with punk rock and skateboarding, the tattoos that he has are a way of expressing himself. As a tattoo artist making art in Carbondale for three to four years, Shawny Rotten has been making art for a long time. “I always wanted to make cartoons…for the newspaper or something, but I never took it super seriously until, you know, I was in my mid-20s,” he said. “But I always have painted, do graffiti, and stuff like that.” Another way that he expresses himself is through his tattoos. He’s gotten his tattoos in a variety of different ways over many years. “Don't tell my mom this, but we were in my friend David's house,” he said, describing how he got his first tattoo. “We were in high school, and he had a little tattoo machine… And we did a little ‘X’ on the very top of my thigh, as high as you possibly could get…so my mom will never see it. And of course, it looked terrible or whatever, but we were just excited.” And he hasn’t stopped since. The more tattoos he has gotten, the more comfortable he has become with his own body, he said. “So, like when I was younger and stuff, I didn't enjoy the way I looked, I guess, but I didn't know I was uncomfortable until I got more and more tattoos,” he said. “I was like, ‘Man, I just feel like myself more every day.’”
Susanna Chediak poses for a portrait in a temple in India. Chediak visited the temple on a trip to a wedding in Udaipur India in 2021.
Ana Sanchez poses for a portrait on April 12, 2024 behind the counter of La Mexicana in Cobden, Illinois. Sanchez is the stepdaughter of Edith Tomas who owns the store.
Daniel Tomas poses with his family’s horse Mia at their stables April 12, 2024 in Cobden, Illinois. The Tomas family have three horses, including two quarter horses and a mini horse.
Matt Baron takes a moment to breathe during the SIU vs Maryville rugby game on Oct. 14, 2023.
Deontae Johnson sits on the stairs that lead to the riverfront outside of the Cairo Blues and Heritage Festival September 6, 2024 in Cairo, Illinois.
The Hiccups band poses for a portrait March 7, 2025 at the photography studio in the SIU Communications Building in Carbondale, Illinois.
Daniel Tomas poses with his family’s horse Mia at their stables April 12, 2024 in Cobden, Illinois. The Tomas family have three horses, including two quarter horses and a mini horse.
Pastor Bob McKnight (92) poses for a portrait in his front yard with one of the bicycles that he has displayed there for sale July 14, 2024 in Herrin, Illinois. McKnight is well-known in the Herrin community for repairing and selling bicycles from his property.
Joshua Mulholland rides his new Kawasaki sports bike during a photoshoot Oct. 5, 2024 in Carterville, Illinois.
Leo and Sandy Rednour pose for a portrait in what remains of their kitchen May 17, 2025 in Morganfield, Kentucky. The Rednour's home was damaged in a tornado that struck the area the night before, ripping the roof off their home and throwing it in their backyard. They and their family, including their grandson, took shelter in a hallway when the tornado struck.
Linda Sue Kulpaka poses for a portrait with her granddaughter Amelia July 22, 2024 in Herrin, Illinois.
Nathan Chediak poses for a portrait July 28, 2024 in Herrin, Illinois.