Daisy: You're so young.
Benjamin Button: Only on the outside.
It is not accidental that The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a meaningful film to Minneapolis artist and photographer Robert J. Guttke. Robert has been documenting the male physique through sculpture, sketch and film long enough to know that with great beauty comes change. Most models are captured at their prime and the peak of their physical condition. There is a secret, maybe even the magic, that many who work, both behind and in front of lens don't always initially grasp. Models, their body and face, are only theirs for a short period of time, and like Benjamin, will soon change and evolve to a place where the work they did, and the images that were captured, are more than just moments of time, but an affirmation of a time of desirability.
For some the looking back can come with sadness, but ultimately is the gift of a great image. Most of us have had moments where we have felt desired, but not many of us have it reinforced by the of the capturers of the comely. In the 14 or so years I have had access to the web, I have seen models come and go. What has remained however, is the memorable images, and the artists who create them. Preserving these moments, has been a key part of what has occupied Robert over the past year.
'A volume of my work is in the works. It will be an economical publication and contain a great deal of images never seen before anywhere. It is hoped this will be the first of many volumes since my shoots were prolific and my archives filled with sessions & locations that I do not even remember. The need to digitize all this film is essential.'
As you can imagine, it is a daunting task transferring decades of work and thousands of images from film to digital. Robert is currently looking to update his equipment, including purchasing a quality film scanner to immortalize the men and women he has photographed. If you would like to be a part of bringing Robert's unseen images to life, and to book form, head on over to ShadowLight and consider making a small donation to go towards the project. Any amount, even a few dollars will go a long way to ensure the work is not lost and will continue to inspire. I am hoping some of those scans and transfers make it here to share with the readers of FH!
'For what it's worth: it's never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it'
Above: Reigning
Guttke Photography on FH:
'It's a funny thing about comin' home. Looks the same, smells the same, feels the same. You'll realize what's changed is you.'
No comments:
Post a Comment