Page 163 - OVATION Magazine (Issue 1)

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the people’s
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For celebrity photographer Jesse Dittmar,
getting the shot is about getting personal.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Jesse Dittmar
jesse dittmar is a people the NewYork City–based person.That much is clear Dittmar, 33, has already
from even the quick- made a dent in that goal— est conversation with at least when it comes to
the photographer—and high-profile people. Every- from his striking, often one from Tom Hanks and unguarded portraits of Denzel Washington to Lupita entertainers, athletes, Nyong’o, Ed Sheeran, and and politicians.“I am SerenaWilliams has sat for
a photographer because the photographer, whose
I’m curious about people,” lens often reveals unexpected Dittmar says.“I often sides of his superstar subjects. get asked about who I’d “No matter who I’m love to shoot, and I don’t shooting, I always want to
B E H I N D T H E L E N S
really have an answer to that question.The reason I do this job is not because I want to photograph one person,” he explains with a laugh.“It’s because I want to photograph all of the people.”
As the portraits on the following pages attest,
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connect on some kind of emotional common ground with them,”he says.“Even if it’s just for a few minutes, if I’m present with whoever is in front of my camera, then I know I’ve done my job well.” —phoebe neuman
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