"It's sort of like reality is on a need-to-know basis there, " says Associated Press photographer David Guttenfelder of working in secretive North Korea. As chief Asia photographer for the AP, Guttenfelder has had unprecedented access to the communist country, beginning with his first trip with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in 2000.  "Every time I've gone back it's gotten a little more open," says Guttenfelder, who is now able post pictures to Instagram from the street in Pyongyang. "Wherever we go, I shoot what I see, but I don't get to go everywhere, that's for sure."

He was honored Wednesday night at the International Center for Photography with an Infinity Award for achievements in photography and the short film at left by MediaStorm was produced for the occasion.  "I'm not photographing dramatic, life-changing moments, I'm just trying to make real pictures of real moments in people's lives," says Guttenfelder. "It's always useful anywhere in the world for people to understand each other and for people to look hard at someone else's life and imagine that that could be them." NBC's Ian Williams interviewed Guttenfelder a few weeks ago about his experience. For more of Guttenfelder's images from North Korea see our slideshow below. 

Slideshow: Glimpses into the hermit kingdom of North Korea

David Guttenfelder / AP

Here's a rare look at daily life in the secretive country by AP photographer David Guttenfelder.

Launch slideshow

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