The German-born photographer, Dietmar Busse (Berlin, 1966) currently lives in New York City where he has been receiving admirable attention for his curious, stylish, and unique portraits of diverse characters. To name a few, Busse’s work has been applauded in The New York Times Magazine, American Photo, Modern Painters, and Visionaire. In his work, his main focus is the individual. The famous art curator and critic Vince Aletti has called Busse’s work soulful and smart (April 2009 issue of Modern Painters).

His series “Artists and Starlets NYC” and “Lovers and Double Exposures” focuses especially on the originality of the individual. The characters photographed all come from different social, cultural, and moral backgrounds. What they all have in common is the ability to stand out in society and not be ashamed of being who they are. Dietmar personally invites different individuals from the downtown scene in Manhattan to his house. In this tranquil environment that Busse purposely creates, the individual being photographed feels more at ease and is enabled to really reveal who they are. The German artist calls his characters his “starlets” by treating them with an intensity and tenderness so crucial to the creation of the final product. The photography in these series can be thought of the modern day daguerreotype, but with a more ambiguous and edgy touch.

The majority of his work is seen in black and white. By using this medium, Busse does not have to emphasize the significance of the individual through color or any other type of medium. It is the photograph itself, who is being photographed, and the type of person within the picture frame that takes precedence over any other form of communicating individuality. His series “Artists and Starlets NYC” and “Lovers and Double Exposures” are both manifestations of the individual.

A pose, a look, a profile, a type of style. These few words are what truly captivates the eye of the viewer. How is it possible that something so simple as a certain style or a certain look can really set apart the individuals from the rest? This is what Busse sets out to do and conquers in his series of “Artists and Starlets NYC.” Each character photographed in this series has something so obviously different about them. Whether it be a vintage camera, a mink scarf, or a beard contrasted with modernly designed spectacles, every individual has something physically to offer to emphasize their distinct place within society. The beauty about the individuals chosen to be photographed is the confidence maintained within their countenance. Busse’s compassion for his characters he photographs adds even more to the confidence and tranquil mood depicted in his final creations.

In his series of the portraits stylized with double exposure, the particular characters Busse chooses to photograph all seem to have an individuality that lies beneath the physical mask they must put on every day. Their individuality not only lies within, but it is also emanated through their style, their countenance, and their environment. They are entertainers, minorities, performers, artists, and above all individuals. There is nothing superficial, false, or cliché about this series of photographs. What you see is what you get. The creative German artist gives significance to individuality through this series by photographing only those that would require special attention in public or a daily scene. Above all, Busse’s work echoes the idea that individuality is an art and thus he goes forth to making these certain characters into an admirable work of art. The characters Busse chooses to photograph would require a second look on the street. In some of the photographs from the double exposure series, one can see that Busse adds his own personal memento, nature from his homeland, which could either symbolize nostalgia or the effect an environment can have on the individual. These individuals are given utmost attention to through Busse’s photography because they are the type of people that inevitably will receive a double take. The double exposure ultimately parallels the double take the viewer must have in order to experience the unique work of Busse.

“The visitors” is the first solo show in Spain of Dietmar Busse