John Gutmann was born in Breslau, Germany in 1905. In his photography, he was well known for the use of the "worm's eye view," or a view from a very low point on the ground. Throughout his career, Gutmann worked as a professor at San Francisco State University and is considered the founder of the school's photography and modern art programs.
The above photo was taken of Olympic diving champion Marjorie Gestring in 1936 and is entitled, "Class." One can only assume that Gutmann was using the title to comment on the class of Gestring, or perhaps her grace as an athlete which projects class. The overall composition of the piece emphasizes Gestring in every aspect. For instance, the massive amounts of negative space surrounding the diver draw the viewer's eye right into her. The darker gray of the background also presents a contrast between the sky, and the highlights on Gestring's body. Similarly, the empty space, as well as the angle of her body and the camera, and the exclusion of most of the diving board all add a surreal quality to the photo, emphasizing the actions of the subject. What is she doing? Is she floating? If the viewer did not know the history of the photo, it could be interpreted a different way. For example, the diving board may just look like the tip of an airplane wing, and Gestring perhaps flying beside it.
