Tattoo

I came home last night and I finally got a chance to photograph one of my room mates doing a tattoo.
I took these photographs (this is the only one that turned out) with no real intention. I just wanted to take a shot with the tattoo in focus and the artist hovered over, out of focus.
Opinions and critiques please. :)

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6026/...1c815b1923.jpg

35mm 1.8g @ 1.8, D50 set to Aperture priority, no flash

PS any good lighting tricks for someone that is too poor for a flash?

this is a neat shot and tells the story well. In terms of having no flash (other then the onboard one) you can try to boost the light with lamps, flashlights etc

I was hoping there was some amazing lighting trick I had not yet discovered on the internet. As it is I cut out the side of a milk jug and I can slide it on and off of my lens. It works great to soften the light in most situations.

I like the selective focus overall here, nice.
For me though you sliced/cropped through the subject's face and this is a distraction for me. Skin tones seem quite orange/red as well.

A white large bristleboard can be bought in most dollar stores for a dollar. This can be used to reflect windowlight back into the shadowed side of the subject. Works wonders for a buck!