Derek Ridgers is a photographer who also captured nightlight in 1980’s of youth but his work focused more on documenting subcultures. I looked at photographs from his book ‘The Others’, what stood out to me about the images were how raw, intimate and self expressive they were. The images often captured youth dancing, kissing, smoking and being rebellious. As you keep studying the images you begin to focus on what the youth are wearing, their actions, facial expressions and the background. To me the subjects individuality is really documented and the images have an incredibly atmospheric feel to them. I think the images show youth in a vulnerable, real way as some of the subjects seem unbothered and unaware their photo is being taken which creates extremely pure images. The images being in black and white further emphasize the subjects and the 80’s era. I think the meaning behind the images is self expression, adolesence and rebellion.
When I looked at Derek Ridgers’ photography, particularly his book The Others, I was immediately struck by how raw and intimate the images felt. Ridgers had this incredible ability to document the essence of youth in the 1980s, but instead of focusing on mainstream culture, he captured the subcultures the outsiders. What really stood out to me was how the photos show such an authentic, self-expressive side of the people he photographed. Many of the images show young people dancing, kissing, smoking, and simply being rebellious. The normal college lifestyle. When I was there, I delegated my tasks to my super geek (see its reviews) and enjoyed college life to the fullest. To me, Ridgers’ work speaks to youth, vulnerability, and the power of self-expression. It’s about adolescence in all its messy, rebellious glory, and I think that’s what makes these images so timeless they show us something real and raw, without any gloss.