About & Contact - James Dittiger

About & Contact - James Dittiger

CONTACT

VANCOUVER
(604) 916-3003 james@dittiger.com
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CV

CV (PDF)

BIO

BIO (PDF)

“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.

"Every day I'm asked, 'did you get any good pictures today?' My reply is: 'good pictures aren't good enough, only outstanding photographs are what I am motivated to get.'"

TESTIMONIALS

"As a veteran of more than 100 films over 30 years, I have worked with many still photographers. I discovered there are two types: technicians and artists. The technician is competent but their photographs lack life. On the other hand the artist’s photographs sizzle with life and blossom with beauty. Yes, even the action shots. James Dittiger fits into the latter category. His artistry is evident even to the most inexperienced eye. His galleries have earned him accolades from producers and actors alike. Not widely recognized is another skill essential to a successful still photographer. James is able to cover all the scenes and not be seen. In effect, he manages to be invisible."

- Prudence Emery Unit Publicist _________________________________________ "To whom it may concern, I’m an LA based film producer but I make films all over the world. I’ve made three films in Canada, two in Vancouver and one in Toronto. Two of these films were ultra visual by nature in that they were both comic book stories that had to capture the unique nature of that genre. The first of these two films was “Freddy Vs Jason”. It was a highly complicated film with multiple action scenes that involved rain, fire, water, complex stunts and visual effects. So, I knew from the day I read the script that whoever I hired as unit photographer would have to be someone with experience and passion and the ability to capture critical dynamic images that would reflect the look and tone of every scene in the movie. Because we were shooting the film in Vancouver I had, what I thought would be, the difficult task of hiring a local photographer. When I arrived in Vancouver, for early pre-production, I was presented with numerous portfolios from photographers throughout British Columbia. Early on, in the process, I came across the work of James Dittiger. I knew from the first images in his book that he was the perfect photographer for this movie. What impressed me the most about his work was his ability to capture key visual moments in every scene as it was being filmed. He did this without ever being in the way of the DP or any other key positions on set. I still don’t know how he does it. He’s invisible but always in the right place at the right time. The images he captures are, simply, stunning. One other characteristic that sets James apart from most unit photographers that I’ve worked with is his work ethic. He is early to set and late to leave. The second film James made with me was “Shoot ‘Em Up”. This film was shot in Toronto where finding a local unit photographer would seem like a relatively easy position to fill. I saw the work of most of the top still photographers in Toronto. Many of them were superb. But none of them had unique gifts that James did and it was obvious to me (and the studio) that the additional costs of bringing James in from Vancouver would be worth every penny. I cannot say enough about James Dittiger. He is simply the best unit photographer I have ever worked with."

- Douglas Curtis

CLIENT LIST

Apple Original Films HULU 20th Century Fox Sony Pictures FOX Atomic Paramount Pictures New Line Cinema Focus Features Netflix Lionsgate Entertainment Myriad Pictures Columbia Tristar Universal Studios Buena Vista NBC/UNIVERSAL TV Fox Family Worldwide USA Network SyFy Channel Showtime A+E / Lifetime AMC CW

TNT / TBS Nickelodeon RHI Entertainment Lakeshore Entertainment Warner Bros TV Tribune Entertainment Company Facebook Sonar Entertainment Brightlight Pictures Cartoon Network Sony Music Virgin/EMI Silvertone Priority Records BMG Rolling Stone New York Times Entertainment Weekly Guitar One Magazine Access Magazine

The Record Flare Magazine Modern Drummer Bass Player Guitar World Guitar Player Redferns Music Picture Library Guitar Techniques Guitarist RAW Magazine Guitarrista ROCK Fangoria Experience Hendrix Magazine American Cinematographer Batteur Magazine Guitar One Bassist Classic Rock Kerrang

ON PHOTOGRAPHING MUSIC

"As a musician, I have experienced creative magic on stage many times; the moment when the synergy of all band members is on the highest level of communication through the language of music. This process can be seen as spiritual experience when musicians/shamans are leading their fans/devotees into esoteric journey that can be only felt and heard. As a photographer, I am drawn to visually capture the peak of that ritual/celebration." - James Dittiger

MUSICIANS & BANDS PHOTOGRAPHED

A

A TRIBE CALLED QUEST A. F. I. ABRA MOORE ABRAXAS AC/DC ADAM YAUCH AEROSMITH AGE OF ELECTRIC AL HENDRIX AL DI MEOLA ALAN HOLDSWORTH ALAN PARSONS ALANNAH MYLES ALANIS MORISSETTE ALIBI ALICE IN CHAINS ALICE STEWART ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND THE ALVIN YOUNGBLOOD HART AMMONIA AMOS GARRETT ANDRE PHILIPP GAGNON ANDY SUMMERS ANOTHER WHITE MALE ANSON FUNDERBURGH ANTHONY GOMEZ APPLE ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT ART BERGMAN ARTIS THE SPOONMAN ASHLEY MacISAAC

B

B.B. KING B.T. ESCM BABES IN TOYLAND BAD COMPANY BAD RELIGION BAND, THE BEASTIE BOYS BECK BELA FLECK AND THE FLECKTONES BEN HARPER BIF NAKED BIG BILL MORGANFIELD BIG CHIEF BIG SUGAR BIG WRECK BIG STAR BIG HEAD TODD & THE MONSTERS BILL FRISELL BILLY BRAGG BIOHAZARD BLACKHAWK BLAKE HAVARD BLIND MELON BLOWFLY BLUE SHADOWS BLUE RODEO BLUES TRAVELER BLUR BOB DYLAN BOBBI SMITH BOCEPHUS KING BODY COUNT BON JOVI BOOTSY COLLINS BOUBAKAR TRAORE BOUNCING SOULS BOY CHICK BREEDERS, THE BRENDAN ISAAK BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA BRITNEY SPEARS BROOKS AND DUNN BROTHER CANE BRUCE KULICK BRUCE COCKBURN BRYAN ADAMS BUCK WHEAT ZYDECO BUDDY MILES BUDDY GUY BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE BURNIN` CHICAGO BLUES MACHINE BY DIVINE RIGHT

C

CADILLAC TRAMPS CANDLEBOX CANDYE KANE CARLENE CARTER CARLOS DEL JUNCO CASSANDRA WILSON CESARIA EVORA CHANGE OF HEART CHARLES BROWN CHARLIE A'COURT CHARLIE HUNTER CHARLIE MAJOR CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE CHARLIE SEXTON CHEMICAL BROTHERS THE CHERRY POPPIN` DADDYS CHICAGO CHICK COREA CHRIS CORNELL CHRIS WHITLEY CHRISTINA AGUILERA CHRISTIAN McBRIDE CINDERELLA CINDY LAUPER CIV CLARENCE "GATEMOUTH" BROWN CLARENCE CLEMONS COLIN JAMES COCO MONTOYA COLLECTIVE SOUL CONSOLIDATED COOL FOR AUGUST COPYRIGHT CORNERSHOP CORROSION OF CONFORMITY COURSE OF EMPIRE COURTNEY LOVE COWBOY JUNKIES CRACKER CRAMPS, THE CRASH TEST DUMMIES CRASH VEGAS CREED CROSBY, STILLS & NASH CRYSTAL METHOD CULT, THE CURTIS BLANE CYPRESS HILL CYRUS CHESNUT TRIO

D

D.B.S. D.O.A. DAISY CHAIN, THE DAL DIL VOG DAMNED THE DIVA DAMO SUZUKI DAVE MATTHEWS BAND DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET DAVE “HONEYBOY” EDWARDS DAVID SANCHEZ DAVID GOGO DAVID GRAY DAVID BOWIE DAVID GARIBALDI DAYNA MANNING DAYS OF THE NEW DDT DEAD HOT WORKSHOP DEBORAH COLEMAN DEFTONES DEREK TRUCKS DESCENDENTS DIAMOND RIO DIONNE WARWICK DIANA KRALL DINOSAUR JR. DIRTY THREE DISHWALLA DIXIE CHICKS DIXIE DREGS DOOBIE BROTHERS DOORAG DOUG AND THE SLUGS DOUGHBOYS DR. JOHN DUKE ROBILLARD DWIGHT YOAKAM

E

EAGLE EYE CHERRY ECHOBELLY ECONOLINE CRUSH EDDY "THE CHIEF" CLEARWATER EDGAR WINTER EDWIN McCAINE ELASTICA ELECTRAFIXION ELLEN McILWINE ELTON JOHN ELVIN JONES JAZZ MACHINE ELVIS COSTELLO EMMYLOU HARRIS ERIC BIBB ERIC BURDON ERIC GALES EVE 6 EUPHORICS EXTREME

F

54-40 FANTOMAS FARMER`S DAUGHTER FASTBACKS FAT JAMES BAND FEAR FACTORY FIGGS FILTER FIONA BOYD FISHBONE FLUF FLOYD DIXON FOO FIGHTERS FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE FRANK, FRINK & FRIENDS FRANK BLACK FRANKIE LEE FRONT 242 FUGEES FULL TILT BOOGIE FUN LOVIN` CRIMINALS

G

G. LOVE & THE SPECIAL SAUCE GALACTIC COWBOYS GAYE DELORME GEOFF KEEZER GEORGE CLINTON GEORGE JONES GILBY CLARKE GIN BLOSSOMS GIRLS AGAINST BOYS GITANA FLAMENCA GOB GOLDFINGER GOMEZ GONCH MASSAYAH GOV`T MULE GRADY GRAMES BROTHERS GREEN DAY GREGG ALLMAN AND FRIENDS GROOVE COLLECTIVE GUESS WHO, THE GUY DAVIES

H

HANDSOME HANSON BROTHERS HANS STAMER HARP DOG BROWN HASSAN HAKMOUN HEADSTONES HENRY ROLLINS HEPNER BROTHERS HERBIE HANCOCK HHEAD HEART HOLE HOLMES BROTHERS HOLLY COLE HOLLY McNARLAND HOOTIE AND THE BLOWFISH HORACIO HERNANDEZ HUBERT SUMLIN

I

I MOTHER EARTH IAN MOORE IAN TYSON ICE T ICE CUBE IGGY POP INCOGNITO INDIGO GIRLS INNER CIRCLE IVANA SANTILLI

J

J.R. ROBINSON JABBER JACK DeJOHNETTE JAI JAMES BROWN JAMES COTTON JAMES JAMES ROGERS JAMES SOLBERG JAMIROQUAI JANE SIBBERY JANET JACKSON JANIVA MAGNESS JAZZ IS DEAD JEAN LUC PONTY JEB ROY NICOLS JEFF HEALEY JEFF BECK JENNIFER BATTEN JERRY DOUCETTE JESUS LIZARD, THE JESUS DIAZ/MICHAEL SPIRO JESSE COOK JETHRO TULL JEWEL JEWEL STAITE JIM ROSE JIM BELUSHI JIM BYRNES JIMMI D. LANE JIMMIE VAUGHN JIMMY BOWSKILL JIMMY ROGERS JIMMY THACKERY JIMMY WITHERSPOON JOAN OSBORNE JOANI BYE JODY WILLIAMS JOE JACKSON JOE COCKER JOE HOUSTON JOE SATRIANI JOE LUIS WALKER JOHN FORTE JOHN BOTTOMLEY JOHN FOGERTY JOHN BERRY JOHN McLAUGHLIN JOHN LEE HOOKER JOHN LEE HOOKER JR. JOHN HIATT JOHN HAMMOND JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION JOHNNY FERERRA & THE SWING MACHINE JOSEPH ARTHUR JOSHUA REDMAN JONNY POLONSKY JONNY NOCTURNO JORDAN COOK JUDE BOWERMAN JUNIOR WELLS JUNIOR WATSON JUNKHOUSE

K

K.D. LANG KATHY McDONALD KEB` MO` KEITH RICHARDS KELLY JOE PHELPS KENNY NEAL KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD KENNY "BLUESBOSS" WAYNE KENNY WARNER KIERAN KAINE KIM SIMMONDS KING CLARENTZ KING CRIMSON KING COBB STEELIE KING APPARATUS KING`S X KISS KOKO TAYLOR KRISTEN BERRY KURT ELLING QUARTET K. V. H. W. KYLE EASTWOOD

L

L7 LARRY MCCRAY LAZY SUZAN LAZY LESTER LE BAND LEAHY LENNY KRAVITZ LEON RUSSEL LESS THEN JAKE LIL’ ED LIMBLIFTER LINK WRAY LIONA BOYD LIQUID SOUL LISA BROKOP LISA LOEB LITTLE CHARLIE &THE NIGHTCATS LITTLE JIMMIE KING LITTLE GEORGE SUEREF LITTLE TEXAS LIVE LIVING DAYLIGHTS LLOYD COLE LLOYD`S ROCKET LOCAL H LONG JOHN BALDRY LONG JOHN HUNTER LOS LOBOS LOST TRIBE LOU REED LOU PRIDE LOUIS BELLSON LOVED ONE, THE LOWEST OF THE LOW LUCKY PETERSON LUSCIOUS JACKSON LUTHER ALLISON LYNDIA SCOTT

M

MACEO PARKER MACHINE HEAD MAE MOORE MAHONES MAIDES OF GRAVITY MARCY PLAYGROUND MARIA MULDAUR MARILYN MANSON MARK COLLIE MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER MARY JANE LAMOND MATCHBOX 20 MATT CAMERON MATTHEW GOOD MATT MINGLEWOOD MATTHEW SWEET MAURICE JOHN VAUGHN MAXI PRIEST MC 9OO FT JESUS M.C. PIONEERS McCOY TYNER TRIO ME`SHELL NDEGEOCELLO MEAT PUPPETS, THE MEDESKI, MARTIN & WOOD MEGADETH MEGAN METCALFE MELANIE DEKKER MELANIE DOANE MELISSA ETHERIDGE MERCURY REV. MEREDITH BROOKS MERLIN METALLICA MICHAEL ANGELO MICHAEL HEDGES MICHAEL ROOTH MICHAEL HILL MICHAELE COLEMAN MICHAEL BUBLE MICHELLE WRIGHT MICHELLE MALONE MICHELLE McADOREY MICK TAYLOR MICKEY HART MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONES MIGHTY SAM McCLAIN MIKE KENEALLY MIKE WATT MILLA MILT JACKSON QUARTET MINORITY MITCH MITCHELL MOEV MOFFATTS MOIST MOLLIES REVENGE MORPHINE MUDGIRL MUDHONEY MY TOWN MXPX

N

N. R. B. Q. NARADA MICHAEL WALDEN NATHALIE MacMASTER NEIL YOUNG NEVILLE BROTHERS, THE NEW MEANIS, THE NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS NINE INCH NAILS NO DOUBT NO MEANS NO NOFX NUTTSTALK

O

OASIS ODDS, THE OFFSPRING, THE ONE HORSE BLUE ONE OPIUM UNDERGROUND ORCHID ENSEMBLE, THE OTIS RUSH OTMAR LIEBERT OUR LADY PEACE OZOMATLI

P

P.J. HARVEY PAGE & PLANT PAPA JOHN KING PATRICIA CONROY PATRICIA BARBER PATRIC MASSE PAUL DEAN PAUL DELAY PAULA COLE PAUL SIMON PAVEMENT PAYOLAS, THE PEARL JAM PETE DROGE AND THE SINNERS PETER GREEN PETER GABRIEL PHIL KEAGGY PHILLIP WALKER PHILOSOPHER KINGS, THE PHISH PIETASTERS PINETOP PERKINS PINK FLOYD PLATTERS, THE PLUTO POGUES, THE PORNO FOR PYROS PORTISHEAD POSTER CHILDREN POSUM DIXON POWDER BLUES BAND PRESIDENTS OF THE USA, THE PRETTY THINGS, THE PRIDE AND GLORY PRIMUS PROCLAIMERS PUNCHBUGGY PURE

R

R.L. BURNSIDE R&B ALLSTARS RADIOHEAD RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE RANCID RATTLED ROOSTER RAY DAVIES RAY BONNEVILLE REBA McENTIRE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS REDD CROSS REFRESHMENTS, THE REVEREND HORTON HEAT RHODES & MARSHALL RHYTHM SNAKES, THE RICHARD ASHCROFT RICK TIPPIE RITA McNAIL ROBBEN FORD ROBBIE ROBERTSON ROBERT FRIPP ROBERT CRAY ROBERT PLANT ROBERT LOCKWOOD JR. ROBIN HITCHCOCK ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT ROD STEWART ROLLING STONES ROLLING STONES RON THALER`S TRUE STORY BAND RONNIE EARL RONNIE MONTROSE ROOTS, THE ROSE CHRONICLES, THE ROY HAYENS ROY GAINES RUBBERNECK RUFUS WAINWRIGHT RUSH RUSSELL JACKSON RUSTY RYMES WITH ORANGE

S

SALIF KEITA SAMMY KERSHAW SAM MYERS SARAH McLACHLAN SAVAGE GARDEN SAVE FERRIS SAVOY BROWN SCREAMING TREES SCREAMING HEADLESS TORSOS SEVEN MARY THREE SEVENTH STONE SHANIA TWAIN SHAWN COLVIN SHAWN SOUCY SHIRLEY KING SHERRI JACKSON SHERYL CROW SHONEN KNIFE SIEGEL-SCHWALL SILLY RABBIT SILVERCHAIR SIMON PHILLIPS SINEAD O`CONNOR SINGLE WHITE MALE SIOBHAN DUVALL SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES SKID ROW SKUNK ANANSIE SLASH`S SNAKEPIT SLAYER SLOAN SLOWBURN SMASH MOUTH SMASHING PUMPKINS SMOKEY ROBINSON SMOKIN` FROGS SNOOP DOGG SOCIAL DISTORTION SON VOLT SONG CATCHERS, THE SONIC YOUTH SONNY LANDRETH SONNY RHODES SOUNDGARDEN SOUL DECISSION SPEARHEAD SPEECH SPELL SPICE GIRLS SPIRIT MERCHANTS SPIRIT OF THE WEST SPRINGER & DUCOMMUN STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT STANLEY CLARKE STANLEY JORDAN STEELY DAN STEREOLAB STEVE VAI STEVE HACKETT STEVE EARLE STEVE HOWE STEVE TURRE AND THE SHELL CHOIR STEVE VAI STORYVILLE STRAIN STRUNG OUT STUDEBAKER JOHN SUBLIME SUE FOLEY SUGAR BLUE SUICIDE MACHINE SUICIDAL TENDENCIES SUPER 8 SUPERGRASS SUSAN TEDESCHI SUZANNE GITZI SUZY BOGGUSS

T

360 T.S. MONK TAB BENOIT TAJ MAHAL TAL BACHMAN TALK SHOW TALVIN SINGH TARA MacLEAN TEA PARTY, THE TED HARVY TERENCE BLANCHARD TERESA RAILY TERRY BOZZIO TIANNA LEFEBRVE TIM McGRAW TIM WILLIAMS TINA TURNER TOADIES TOMMY CASTRO TOM JONES TOM BRECTLEIN TOM PETTY & HEARTBREAKERS TONY BENNETT TONY COLEMAN TONY LAVIN TOOL TOOTS THIELEMANS TRAGICALLY HIP, THE TREBLE CHARGER TREVOR FINLAY TRIPLE JOY TUMBLEWEED TWO TRAINS TWO

U

U2 UGLY KID JOE USHER

V

VAN HALEN VAN MORRISON VELVET VERNON REID VERUCA SALT VINCE GILL VONDA SHEPARD

W

WALTER TROUT WALTER "WOOLFMAN" WASHINGTON WATCHMAN, THE WAYNE SHORTER WEAPON OF CHOICE WELL WATER CONSPIRACY WHITE ZOMBIE WHO, THE WIDE MOUTH MASON WILCO WILD STRAWBERRIES WILD T AND THE SPIRIT WILLIE "BIG EYES" SMITH WILLIE NELSON WOODSTOCK 99 WOODSTOCK 94 WOODSTOCK 99 WOODSTOCK 94 WOODSTOCK 99 WYCLEF JEAN