“Be respectful, be silent, be everywhere, be invisible.”
James Dittiger’s portfolio speaks for itself. What it omits is his rigorous work ethic, profound grasp of the distinct needs each project commands and his singular expertise in capturing critical moments without interrupting the action.
Born in the former Yugoslavia, James emigrated to Canada at the age of 23. Following a chance encounter with the Modern Drummer Festival 1993 official photographer, he landed a stint as Assistant Photographer for the New York Times at Lollapalooza Festival 1993. James’ background as a drummer informed his perfect timing—he knew exactly where each song was going and the photographs were exceeding expectations. From that moment on, James devoted himself to photography. Over the years he has captured 800+ popular culture icons, including The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner and B.B. King at small concerts and large festivals such as Woodstock ’94 and Woodstock ‘99.
After expanding the scope of his photography to include live theatre, studio portraiture and various personal projects, James segued into film/TV full-time in 1998. He found his home. Among his 100+ film/TV credits are the feature films Snakes on a Plane starring Samuel L. Jackson, Shoot’Em Up with Clive Owen and Monica Bellucci and Eragon with Ed Speleers and Jeremy Irons. James’ more recent credits include Into the Grizzly Maze with Billy Bob Thornton; and A Dog’s Way Home with Jonah Hauer-King and Ashley Judd.
From unit stills to behind-the-scenes shots to music photography, James is always “early to set and late to leave.” Deftly combining passion, perseverance and mastery, he is both artist and professional.
View his portfolio here.