In Boston Fire (1978), he presents a contemplative vision of a city in flames using silent, black-and-white film in which movement is barely perceptible, evoking still photography.

Peter Hutton's film New York Portrait Chapter Two (1980-81) sketches a study in black-and-white. Hutton films time standing still, the slow movement of a Zeppelin across the sky, homeless people lying in the street, scenes of flooding.