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Production Lists : [ Film ] [ Television ] [ Theater ] Seeing the world through the camera lens comes as naturally to James Dittiger as breathing, and is as integral to his daily living. A seasoned photojournalist who seamlessly moves between live music, theatre, studio portraiture and unit shooting for film and television, James professionally embraced his life-long love affair with photography over a decade ago. As a child the camera was part of play, used to capture the every day events of his small familial landscape and reflect the wider world he discovered traveling through Europe. "I cannot be grateful enough for those restless years of my childhood crammed into the back of a small car chugging through countries weighted with culture or ravaged by wars and regimes. I saw so much and came to understand that we all share common bonds, despite different languages or defended borders." His camera was the ever-present companion, but his passion was music. "At the age of 12 Rock'n'Roll entered my tender mind, and that was it. I got a kit and started raising hell." When James immigrated to North America for a job with a friend's band, he arrived with his sticks, a backpack and his camera. Still touring extensively with rock'n'roll bands and enthusiastically capturing the world around him on film, James took time out to travel to New York in 1990 and 1993 for the Modern Drummer Festival, and a chance meeting led to an abrupt shift in focus. The official festival photographer needed help with a shoot on the West Coast and enlisted James. Armed with a friend's professional equipment and a verbal crash course on its technical idiosyncrasies - he started shooting. "After that I never stopped. Shooting music was instinctual. I was on stage; I knew the dynamics of a song and could anticipate how it would take off. In photography timing is critical and I started to use my instincts developed through years of drumming." As a music photographer, James' lens has captured more than 700 of the world's leading artists for Music Labels, CD covers, and newspapers and magazines from around the world. He chronicled Woodstock '94 and '99, and traveled extensively shooting at numerous pop culture events. "What captivates me is the pinnacle moment for a performer; that moment when all the elements fuse, like light, motion, composition, the audience's emotional involvement, and the performer's response. That is the definitive moment and that's what I hunt in every picture I take." As he expanded into live theatre, studio and film unit photography James incorporated his diversity of artistic interests and core skills learnt long ago as a live music performer into his technique. "Anticipation is my key. Photographers work in milliseconds of time so quick reaction is critical. I rely on my own pure instinct when shooting." Successfully capturing the fleeting editorial moment for so many different entertainment mediums requires a rare combination of technique, intuitive visual aesthetic, patience and committed professionalism. Where fundamental and technical knowledge ends, photography starts and circumstances are always a challenge of limited access, available light and tight timelines. "My objective is always the same, to strive to get the best possible shot under any given situation. While shooting I am completely concentrated on the subject - waiting for that 1/100th of a second when I can perfectly capture what I am seeing." Now with several years shooting film and television James' lens has captured countless promotional images used in global entertainment magazines. On set, he is easy-going and unobtrusive while remaining totally focused on the task. He stays finely attuned to the nuance of scene and dialogue, sensitive to the creative needs of the actors in front of the camera and the logistical realities faced by those behind it while capturing the essential images needed to promote the show. "According to Flaubert, the eye is the imagination of the soul. I believe that profoundly and find deep pleasure and passion in my photography. I shoot not only professionally, but also for my personal satisfaction, spontaneously capturing the world that I see around me. It has taken me nearly 20 years to recognize that my visual sense is the strongest of all that I possess and to be able to explore it every day is profoundly gratifying on every level." # # #
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Copyright © 2005-2010 James Dittiger. All Rights Reserved.
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