Typologies - Rineke Dijkstra

A typology is a series of images that bear a very pronounced resemblance with each other. They often consist of multiple images taken in the same style, creating a uniformity across the set. 
An example of this in portraiture is with the work of Rineke Dijkstra, who is most know for her photographs of children and teens on a beach, from her series 'beaches' which she worked on from 1992-1996 (1) .The images are always composed to show full bodies of the subjects, while the lighting also remains consistent; an flash highlights the subjects while also making the background appear darker. This gives the subject more saturation while making the subject stand out from the background.

The Guggenheim website claims that 'The uniformity within each series is disrupted by the sitter’s emotional and physical particularities, which often expressly communicate a tension heightened by his or her shifting state.' (1). 

This suggests that while the series is most definitely a typology, each photograph is individual, especially as the artist picks out subjects who have physically interesting characteristics, whether this be their clothing, or their bodies.

The mood of these images can make a viewer feel rather uncomfortable, I personally believe a big part of this is due to the pose that the artist has put them in; for example, the first image has two boys posed as if they're almost judging or surveying the viewer. They're not wearing much too, which also contributes to how these images makes the viewer uncomfortable.

The second image has the model posed as if she's almost taken aback by the viewer/camera. She looks unguarded (mouth open, arms slightly back high eyebrows and a soft look) which makes it feel like the viewer has almost intruded.

the third image has a little girl with a very challenging pose. Arms crossed with an unimpressed, scowling face shows the model as rather hostile, and unhappy with the viewer's presence. This makes the viewer feel uncomfortable because it feels as if we're unwanted and are not supposed to be there, making it challenging to look at.

I do like the way that these images have the capability to make an audience feel uncomfortable, and i'm interested in experimenting with this for my own work, however I am most interesting in the way that these images have been lit; I really like how she illuminates the subject only, by having the subject a long way away from anything else in the background, particularly in the last two images.