Cody Huff: Peter Guttman

            This week I want to spotlight not only an incredible travel photographer, Peter Guttman, but also a specific type of film he used to use: Kodachrome. Anyone currently taking Mary Beth Reed’s Filmmaking I course this semester has certainly heard of Kodachrome. It was a type of Kodak film produce until 2009 (processing ceased in December of 2010). It had the ability to capture incredible textures and some of the most beautiful colors ever produced. However, as other films were released, and digital cameras advanced, photographers, including Peter Guttman, moved on to other things. In addition, the developing process of Kodachrome was very difficult, hazardous, and environmentally unfriendly compared to other films. Even so, here is what Peter Guttman says of Kodachrome,

“Kodachrome was for me the visual crib in which my photographic dreams and visions were nutured. The rich hues and startlingly lifelike textures imbued within this elegantly crafted film provided vivid training ground for sharpening my vision of the world.”

            Peter Guttman began documenting his global travels and soon turned this into a very full career having work shown in Life, Time, and National Geographic. Guttman is a fantastic storyteller with his camera and clearly has a passion for discovery. Guttman frames amazing moments and takes photos from really unique perspectives (lots of high angles and god’s eye perspectives.) Guttman also has a good understanding of the color palette of Kodachrome and so he was able to produce stunning images of our diverse planet.