Born at the turn of the XX century, Gutschow took his studies in Law and discovered photography as an autodidact later. In 1929 he participated to the FiFo exhibition, which gave him immediate recognition. In 1930 he published his See Sand Sonne (Sea Sand Sun), considered one of the most compelling modernist photography photobook. During the 1930s his work was included in several German magazines and in 1937 he became member of the NSADP. After WWII his photography focussed on themes related to reconstruction of Germany.