James Gritz is an accomplished photographer, author, and filmmaker whose work has been published in numerous books and magazines and exhibited in Europe, Mexico, and the United States. His photography is represented by renowned agencies, including Getty Images, Robert Harding, and Glasshouse Images. James has traveled extensively, capturing the essence of diverse cultures in India, Nepal, Ladakh, Tibet, Bhutan, Cambodia, Africa, Mexico, and Europe.
James co-directed Never Give Up, a documentary film on the 17th Karmapa, Orgyen Trinley Dorje, during the Kagyu Monlam. The film, shot in India, captures the rich spiritual traditions of Tibetan Buddhism and the 17th Karmapa.
His journey into Tibetan Buddhism began in 1973 under the guidance of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. He has studied with many renowned Tibetan teachers. This spiritual path has profoundly influenced his artistic vision, infusing his work with depth and directness.
In addition to his filmmaking and photography, James is the author of Pith Instructions from My Teachers Sumeru Press, 2024). He is currently working on three new books: Short Moments, Many Times: A Path to Compassion and Awareness, Footsteps of the Buddha: Buddhist Pilgrimage in India, and Zen and the Art of Street Photography.
His creative endeavors extend to leading street and travel photography workshops in Mexico, Europe, and the United States, where he shares his expertise with aspiring photographers and offers teachings on creating images with open awareness.
Selected Publications
- Outside Magazine
- National Geographic Online
- Lion’s Roar (March 2009, May 2025)
- New Age Journal
- Shambhala Sun
- Worth
- Diversion
- Audubon
- Bodhi Magazine
- GEO
- Stern
- Oceans (Harper Collins, photo editor)
- Buddhistdoor
