Ex-gang members react to seeing themselves with out their tattoo's

They might've been able to walk away from their life behind bars, but their life as part of a gang is unfortunately immortalised on their skin. Their history within their gangs has seen them tattooed literally from head to toe.

It took a moment of kindness from photographer Steve Burton to fly in and give these guys a glimpse of a life they could have had.

Photo / Steve Burton

Burton's project, Skin Deep: Looking Beyond The Tattoos, pairs the unbelievable before and after photos with emotional interviews with the inked-up men.

Photo / Steve Burton

The ex-gang member's reaction to seeing what they would look like without their tattoos is truly powerful.

Watch their reactions below: