ADVERTISEMENT

Before Joseph Szabo was a world renown photographer, he was a teacher at Malverne High School in Long Island. And on his first days at the job he figured that he's gonna need something special to catch the attention of his pupils. So he brought a camera into class...

"I never had any agenda with my photography – it was never a money-making thing, it was just about connecting with young people – and so I think my photographs have a sort of authentic or genuine quality that a lot of people seem able to relate to," Joseph told Huck Magazine. "I have always tried to capture these very personal moments, in an honest way, to show people doing exactly what they’re doing. They could just be sitting on the school steps smoking a cigarette or they could be hanging out of a car door waving their hands and saying, ‘This is the last day of school and I’ll never come back here again!’ They could be jumping in the air with excitement because of the music they’re listening to or they could be like one of my all-time favorites Priscilla – the little girl smoking at Jones Beach – who expresses something about girlhood as well as something about a certain kind of maturity and experience."

"All these subjects and moments mean so much to me. They helped me understand people and allowed me to connect with them over the years. I hope they mean something to other people too."

More info: Joseph Szabo

RELATED:
    #4

    Nostalgic Portraits Of 1970s Rebel Youth Captured By High-school Teacher

    Joseph Szabo Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    John L
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If he was hoping for peace and quiet reflection, he'll have to look elsewhere, or have patience. :D

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #8

    Nostalgic Portraits Of 1970s Rebel Youth Captured By High-school Teacher

    Joseph Szabo Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    John L
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Very good contrast between the outwardly happy 'Stones' follower, and the inwardly reflective 'Yes' fan.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #10

    Nostalgic Portraits Of 1970s Rebel Youth Captured By High-school Teacher

    Joseph Szabo Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    John L
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Probably one of the teachers in the staff restroom, trying to psych herself into going at it one more time.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #11

    Nostalgic Portraits Of 1970s Rebel Youth Captured By High-school Teacher

    Joseph Szabo Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Janice Foster
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ironic that these shorts were acceptable in the 70s, but the next Bored Panda article is about a girl who recently got in trouble at school because her shorts were shorter than the length of her arms (when by her side.) Who is making these current rules? People who grew yoo in the 70s, maybe?@

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #15

    Nostalgic Portraits Of 1970s Rebel Youth Captured By High-school Teacher

    Joseph Szabo Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Anna Thouvenin
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some of those fashion items are so vintage. It would be fun that those glasses came back into trendy :D

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #27

    Nostalgic Portraits Of 1970s Rebel Youth Captured By High-school Teacher

    Joseph Szabo Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #34

    Nostalgic Portraits Of 1970s Rebel Youth Captured By High-school Teacher

    Joseph Szabo Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Joanna Huang
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wait, I thought the photographer was just a teacher??!! How did he get into their rooms?

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #39

    Nostalgic Portraits Of 1970s Rebel Youth Captured By High-school Teacher

    Joseph Szabo Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Carole
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There was no conditioner- there was Breck. Nobody went to the "hair dresser" unless they couldnt see..

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #52

    Nostalgic Portraits Of 1970s Rebel Youth Captured By High-school Teacher

    Joseph Szabo Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Willem Havenaar
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This guy wears a t-shirt of the German metal band Warlock. This band was formed in 1982.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #53

    Nostalgic Portraits Of 1970s Rebel Youth Captured By High-school Teacher

    Joseph Szabo Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Nikki Sutton
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "We had two bags of grass, seventy-five pellets of mescaline, five sheets of high powered blotter acid, a salt shaker half full of cocaine, and a whole galaxy of multi-colored uppers, downers, screamers, laughers... and also a quart of tequila, a quart of rum, a case of Budweiser, a pint of raw ether and two dozen amyls. Not that we needed all that for the trip, but once you get locked into a serious drug collection, the tendency is to push it as far as you can."

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #54

    Nostalgic Portraits Of 1970s Rebel Youth Captured By High-school Teacher

    Joseph Szabo Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Fred Burrows
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was a troublemaker of sorts but Sister Christian in the center there would be getting anonymous poetry in her locker .

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #55

    Nostalgic Portraits Of 1970s Rebel Youth Captured By High-school Teacher

    Joseph Szabo Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Wezbie
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Safe to say she probably didn't dip more than her toe in the water ;). Haha it looks like an album cover with the cool kid in the back

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #57

    Nostalgic Portraits Of 1970s Rebel Youth Captured By High-school Teacher

    Joseph Szabo Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #63

    Nostalgic Portraits Of 1970s Rebel Youth Captured By High-school Teacher

    Joseph Szabo Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #66

    Nostalgic Portraits Of 1970s Rebel Youth Captured By High-school Teacher

    Joseph Szabo Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Griselle Lugo
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wonder what signal was the hand giving?? A fist? A middle finger? Who knows...

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #69

    Nostalgic Portraits Of 1970s Rebel Youth Captured By High-school Teacher

    Joseph Szabo Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Janet Mayer
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I had a winter coat like that. Wish I would have saved some of my clothes!

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #72

    Nostalgic Portraits Of 1970s Rebel Youth Captured By High-school Teacher

    Joseph Szabo Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    bigoldthor
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Dear lord, we thank you for this Baby Ruth bar we are about to receive."

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #77

    Nostalgic Portraits Of 1970s Rebel Youth Captured By High-school Teacher

    Joseph Szabo Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    bpanther
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Do you see those colors in the sand ? Or is it just the acid !!!

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #80

    Nostalgic Portraits Of 1970s Rebel Youth Captured By High-school Teacher

    Joseph Szabo Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    bigoldthor
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "I wonder if I could stand on one leg and spread my arms out like a pelican's wings, crouching ominously in a pre-kick position..."

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #82

    Nostalgic Portraits Of 1970s Rebel Youth Captured By High-school Teacher

    Joseph Szabo Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    bigoldthor
    Community Member
    7 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    "Bwahahaha....she has no idea her left nipple is showing. I hope they'll develop this at that one-hour photo stand in the K-Mart parking lot."

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda