It is not easy to meet this man. Reto Guntli is constantly on the move. He climbs into the plane as the other in the S-Bahn. Alone in this summer, he traveled to Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, London, Bordeaux, Majorca and Montreal. The Provence comes to him in the sense. Well possible that he has forgotten the one or the other Destination.
Guntli is one of the most famous photographers of luxury hotels. For over twenty years, he has been in the Business, worldwide, non-networked, pot lexible, plans for more than a month in advance. The silver rolling suitcase, here a scratch, there a Dent, is already Packed again. Right after our conversation, he will be jetting off to Mallorca and on to Paris for a “photo shoot” of the five-star Palace, the Park Hyatt Vendôme. He staged and composed in Hotel lobbies, suites, Bungalows, or a Breakfast terrace, and elegant Pools and lush gardens. On behalf of the hotel, including the Aman Resorts, the most exclusive hotel group in the world with 34 Paradise Locations in cities, in jungles, on Islands.
Guntlis photos will be used by the clients for web presence and Promotion. But also of the press taken. That million will be invested in new Hotels and then the photographer saved, can’t understand Guntli. “A huge mistake”, unique images would be published around the world, the best advertising is the.
If coming up, he spend a week per month here in his home in the heart of Zurich. His tip against Jetlag: Immediately the rhythm take, “even if you’re dead tired, drag yourself through the day, Wake up think of you until sleep time”. Guntli leads the way through the “nomadic dwelling”, as he calls them. This is very personal, full of accessories. Not from the decoration Department of the Department store, there are gifts from all over the world. A handsome Golden Buddha sits in the bedroom on a black Cabinet from China, on the wall, a costume from the Beijing Opera hangs. Huge shells from Bali, colorful bird feathers from the Amazon, butterflies of Vietnam, in the living room, a gigantic, blinding white Teeth, or is it a bone? “The rib of Wales,” explains Guntli, “of a fisherman in Morocco.” Animal Souvenirs, the the is today, the well-traveled aware, often under protection of species.
Each object has a story – and Reto Guntli like to tell. The green lions made of ceramic, the stalks slung over one of the long wooden table he had bought at a flea market in Provence in the first place. Also because he was born in the zodiac sign of the lion. The birthday the end of July Guntli has spent in the plane from Zurich to Montreal. In the canadian metropolis, he has realized a series of works for “Swiss Universe”, the luxury magazine of the Swiss airline company. Of course, the Pro is flying a photographer on a long Business Class routes always.
With an eye for Detail and unerring taste
in Front of the wooden books rack, he remains standing, “all books of me”. Over fifty, he has published, many from Asia for the bags-Verlag. In Asia, Guntli at home, he’s in love with the climate and the people, especially the Balinese. He pulls out a thick copy from the shelf: “Inside Asia”, there’s a lot of heart blood in it put particularly, for a year, he had visited 17 countries. “Cruising in Style”, “Luxury Houses”, “villas with style”, “Luxury Living in New York”, “Living in Style Paris” (“a collaboration with Caroline Sarkozy, the sister of the Ex-President”), and many more – Coffee-Table-Books, large-format, high-gloss, which depict the life style of the super.
Reto Guntli places great value on style, the glass of water comes with a slice of Lemon to Espresso, he gives fresh Croissants. And he pays attention to his appearance. Because first-class Hotels, always excellent food, he must eat in a disciplined manner at home, most of it rich “Salötli”. His age would not like to call Guntli dear, “I’m a man without age” – you guess his age anyway usually to deep. A striking watch on the wrist. And the Golden Ring on the Finger? His long-time friend (Brazilian, despite a Passion for Asia), currently live in Mallorca. An ideal living situation, finds Guntli, both need your independence, your peace of mind.
“My photos must not promise anything that is not complied with.”Reto Guntli
He reaches again into the bookshelf, “The Hotel Book Asia,” his best-selling book, Hostels, gives insights into the most noble. With an eye for Detail and unerring taste Guntli dispensed to a stylist, arranged rooms, flowers and fruit – but never too much. “My photos may not promise anything that is not complied with.” Because the customer of today, no matter how wealthy, comparisons always: “he is just a “Margeritli” and not a meter-high Bouquet as in the photo, he demands a discount.”
Guntli swears by his Nikon camera, speaks of an “emotional access” to the Subject, he attempts to capture the atmosphere, as natural as possible to be his images. People you see on the Hotel photos hardly more than a uniformed waiter with a silver tray. Photoshop he use to be very reluctant to light to bring out, to correct a crack in the wall. Will altered anything: photos, such as those from the exclusive Resort in the Swiss Alps combined with a sunset from Thailand, there is not in him.
Nearly a week he works for a “hotel shoot” on-the-spot, often with his long-time Co-photographer Agi Simoes. The days are endless, the expectations are high. But of course, he will be cared for, says Reto Guntli, he lives in a 6000 Dollar Suite. “Sometimes I feel like a millionaire-existence – and I’m paid for this.” Guntli know how to appreciate the luxury and packs always fine-fragrant vials of Shampoo and Lotion, “but my robe, I paid,” he adds, laughing.
On the Desk is a small globe, the gift of the parents is a man of his twelfth birthday. As a Boy he had spent hours in front of this ball and of foreign countries dreamed of. In Buchs SG, he is raised, one hears the Rhine valley as before. The parents are to be increased the rest of your life never in a plane. He, however, could hardly wait to escape from the village, to be free. With 19 it was so far, “I was a Globetrotter”. He lived in Tokyo, Bali, Indonesia, Hawaii, Los Angeles. And in New York as a graduate of a drama school. Where he noted that he feels behind the camera more comfortable. The camera creates a certain distance, make it to the observer, the Voyeur. The Photograph he has taught himself.
In the 90s, he traveled to India, at the time, many of the magnificent Maharajah were converted palaces to luxury hotels. Guntli was one of the first portraits of rulers and their magnificent residences. It will be a breakthrough, as a “Lifestyle Photographer”, as he calls himself. Architecture, interiors, famous people, fashion, or art, Reto Guntli photographed the beautiful things of life.
of the war, the misery of this world, he leaves the other. Although he was politically “absolutely up-to-date” and his eyes are not the reality of waste could be. With his photos he wants to allow the viewer to dream, “you gotta make people dream”. Pomp and Abundance, often in third-world countries. How does he take it? Guntli says he will pay support, the local people, for example, the sick father of one of the hotel staff when visiting the doctor, or the school fees of a child. He was always generous, generous when tipping, “I know how little the hotel staff deserve”.
Asked about his favourite hotel, he calls the Amanjiwo on Java, and the Bawah Reserve in Indonesia. Not that he could afford to pay for these accommodations private. And he didn’t want to get used to this Lifestyle. “The best time I had in Bali in a beach hut for three dollars a night.”
Personally, a balcony and a view is important to him, “and a bit of Design”. Hotel chains such as Hilton or Sheraton, whose rooms look like around the world, are a horror to him. And he hate the Nouveau riche facilities, “too much Gold, too much marble,” as they are often found in the Middle East. Style have nothing to do with money.
And what he thinks of the Swiss Nobel hostels? Guntli said that high-end Hotels in Asia, where a host of six employees, could not keep up with the Switzerland. But: The Swiss hotel managers in Lausanne or Lucerne formed – are excellent and in demand worldwide. “I meet all over the world to host from Switzerland.”
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This Text is from the current issue. Now all of the articles in the E-Paper of the Sunday newspaper, read: App for iOS App for Android – Web-App
Created: 19.09.2019, 21:58 PM
