Arnold Odermatt

Arnold Odermatt (1925-2021) was a Swiss photographer and police officer known for his black and white photographs of car crashes and crime scenes.

Odermatt worked as a traffic police officer in the Swiss canton of Nidwalden for many years, and during his free time he would take photographs of car wrecks and other accidents he encountered on the job. He also photographed crime scenes and other police work, and over the course of his career he amassed a large archive of photographs documenting the history of his department.

Odermatt's photographs are notable for their stark, documentary style, as well as their unexpected beauty and humor. He often approached his subjects from unusual angles or perspectives, emphasizing the abstract patterns and textures of the wreckage.