With his enduring passion for James Bond, noir and spy films driving his

photographic aesthetic, Francesco Bittichesu has honed his ability to

capture the mystery and beauty of life by living between two very

different worlds: his native Italy, and the breakneck pace of New York City.

A veteran of the industry, he has been photographing since his military

days as a young man, when he became obsessed with the technical

possibilities of the camera and built a darkroom on the roof of his

parents’ house. In two years, Francesco taught himself his craft, and then

spent three years as an apprentice at a Sardinian photo studio.

In the mid 1990s, he moved to New York, at the height of its heyday

as the center of the publishing world. He spoke no English, had no

money, and had barely a dozen images in his portfolio, but got down

to work. Within two years he was shooting for GQ magazine and

the Andy Warhol-founded Interview.

Today, Francesco shoots film as well as photographs, drawing inspiration for

his still work from the inscrutable lives of strangers on the street

and the old-world glamour of cinema. He is sought-after by high-end

clients who appreciate the touch of chiaroscuro in his work- because

while fresh and modern, his images are filled with the polished

elegance, mystery and suspense of a classic thriller film. They catch

people in an uncontrived, yet perfect moment – with the viewer left

wondering what might be about to happen in the very next frame.