Bubble Gum Girl, 1984. Photo Joseph Szabo, courtesy Gitterman Gallery.
Whenever you go back looking at pictures of the past in the 70s, 80s,90s, you get that splendid serene feeling of an easy life that unfortunately you no longer have the luxury to have.
Seeing how dynamic the world is becoming, don’t we all just like to go back to one of those days when politics were far less of concern to the young, where there is no internet to threaten our mental state with certain beauty standards, a smartphone free era when kids go out to play and socialize?
With everyone running up and down from one job to another, looking at those pictures standing still take us back in time that just feels timeless. Probably any of you who have lived during that period can make the difference.
Priscilla, 1969. Photo Joseph Szabo, courtesy Gitterman Gallery
Joseph Szabo is an amazing photographer that brings back the past with his amazing shots that reflect that culture of the 70s. Being a teacher for 25 years at Malverne High School on Long Island, he used photography to get closer to his students, pointing out that wild, reckless, a bit dangerous, idyllic, exciting, optimistic character that surrounded kids back then. Probably that’s what life was all about during that time, a reflection of your ideals as a person, which makes you sad just to think that today is all about showing off the physical side instead.
Having studied photography at the Pratt Institute, he used his craft to make a connection with his student, which a lot of them have later thanked him for taking those pictures and immortalizing those moments forever. Knowing the fragile age of his students, he was able to portray exactly that joy, insecurity, heartbreak, the craziness that characterizes adolescence, making his work timeless, a fascinating vision that oversteps the period of time in which those shots were taken.
Scroll down below for some amazing shots that commemorate the past.
Bump, 1978, © Joseph Szabo
Rolling Stones Fans Bandanna, 1978. Photo Joseph Szabo, courtesy Gitterman Gallery.
Gary, Jones Beach, 1976. Photo Joseph Szabo, courtesy Gitterman Gallery.
Anthony & Terry, 1977. Photo Joseph Szabo, courtesy Gitterman Gallery.
Irena & Lena, 1975. Photo Joseph Szabo, courtesy Gitterman Gallery.
Chris on senior day, 1977. Photo Joseph Szabo, courtesy Gitterman Gallery.