Nuget R.C. High School
By, Leora Margelovich
Rineka Dijkstra continues on her journey of capturing the essence of a subject, no matter how gauche, in the Nuget R.C. High School.
In front of a white backdrop, the subject lacks any sense of motion, as he stands erect. He looks directly at the camera; he alone is the focal point. In fact, with the paleness pervading the photograph- a white background, a banal bleached shirt, and a pallid skin tone-one is automatically drawn to his perfectly coifed red locks. The unique hue of the hair is juxtaposed well against the other bland elements.
One can clearly sense that the subject is uncomfortable and awkward. His lips not curved upward, his lifeless eyes, and his tight tie all reflect the boy’s glumness. He is also at a period in his life where he is biologically inclined to feel insecure in his body. The boy is around pubescent age and his face is nearly obscured by grotesque acne. Everything about his presence seems to be perfectly in order, except for his askew tie. As a result, there is asymmetrical balance in the photograph. Perhaps this is a reflection of the subject’s desire to break free from conformity and to be his own individual. He is confined to posing in a boring location while donning a bland shirt. He cannot prevent the unsightly acne on his face. Yet, the pimples, in addition to his innately unique hair, reflect how, even subconsciously, he wishes to break free from the norm.
The bags under his eyes symbolize literal and figurative fatigue. As an adolescent, his body requires more sleep. On a deeper level, he is tired of what society expects of him. He knows that he is different as his hair is a special trait. Yet everyone is trying to suppress his individuality by putting him in a classic uniform.
Dijkstra’s goal is to capture the individual in his or her raw state. The background is almost always left bare, so that the audience is left searching into the soul of the subject of the photograph. While some of the subjects may appear uncomfortable, they also exude other emotions as well. They each bear a unique identity and Dijkstra, in photographing them in their natural state, is able to successfully convey their personal stories.
