Charles Gatewood

American photographer Charles Gatewood started out in the 1960s as a young man with dreams of showing the world the radical cultural developments that were going on in his country. He met many of the iconic instigators of change and documented them for posterity. As the decades passed, Gatewood drifted more and more into a personal expression of sexual subcultures, both in America and abroad. His powerful photos of pioneers within the tattooing- and piercing scenes helped pave the way for the movement that was to be called "Modern Primitives". It's a classic example of when art, and in this example, specifically photography, merges with its general environment and takes on new forms that are impossible to stop. Or, as the San Francisco based photographer himself describes it: "Once the toothpaste is out of the tube, you can't put it back".

Photographer Charles Gatewood offers insight and comments on a variety of his work. His subjects include exhibitionism, transvestites, fetishism, scenes from Mardi Gras, and body modification such as tattoos, body piercing, and extreme weight gain.

The cult of Harley-Davidson; party at the Boot Hill Saloon; boogie music and get-down action; choppers and custom bikes galore; tattoos for bikers; behind the scenes at Iron Horse; the biggest biker bash; interviews, lady-bikers, and rave.

Charles Gatewood is at it again, in this 'documentary' capturing San Francisco residents whipping, shaving—and drawing blood from each other.

Charles Gatewood's tour video of the weird and wild in southeast Asia. Featuring sex shows, opium smoking, primitive piercing rituals, spitting cobras and "Exotic Erotic Bangkok, Sin City of Asia!".

More crazy "subversive" culture madness from San Francisco photographer of fetish, body modification, and fashion—Charles Gatewood.

Charles Gatewood documents a trip across the United States that stops in on many alternative lifestyle activities. Includes stops in transvestite bars, biker conventions, college spring break parties, gay and lesbian parades, and many interviews with people with tattoos and body piercing.

From the master of erotic tattooing and body piercing comes this fantastic video featuring the most exotic and erotic body modifications.