Arnold Odermatt

[fig]

Arnold Odermatt was a Swiss police photographer well known especially for his car crash photos, which ultimately received critical acclaim in artistic circles.

[splitfan]

I like the pics thanks for posting , they would make great posters ... if they were not that sad

[JamesD]

I'm staying well clear of rag top beetles on the road! no wonder they are so rare.

[fig]

I find Odermatt's story quite inspiring. When he started taking photographs of car crash scenes it was not standard practice and he was hauled before his superiors to account for himself. He was able to convince them of the evidential value of his photography and nowadays photographic evidence from collision and crime scenes is taken for granted.

The truly amazing thing is his photographs were used by prosecutors and insurance investigators and Odermatt and his work were totally unknown outside the Swiss police. But that didn't prevent him from doing his work with passion and precision, creating images of eery beauty, despite the gory nature of the subject. It was only after he retired that his son discovered his work and exhibited it, which brought it to the attention of the art world and led to published books and exhibitions around the world.

[Tony Z]

I just had a look for a book of his online.... found 3 different titles.
One was $500 - 400pg hardcover

Arnold Odermatt: Karambolage [Bargain Price] [Hardcover]
Arnold Odermatt (Author), Urs Odermatt (Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)


2 new from $499.98 7 used from $494.99

Looks like his work would definitely make for a good coffee table book

[CooP]

Definitely an odd beauty about the pics. The upside-down Kombi has my name on it :O