Heiko Becker: Capturing Energy and Emotions
5 minutes
Heiko Becker, a native of the northern German region of Schleswig-Holstein, has lived in Berlin for many years and is a passionate concert fan and photographer. His main job is production manager for the German public broadcast series SOKO Wismar (ZDF). Since 2024 he has been regularly photographing a wide variety of concerts and festivals in Berlin, the surrounding area, and northern Germany. He accompanies both big and small scale musicians with the same enthusiasm.
What is your musical background?
“I was born in the ’70s, so I was influenced by grunge and the music of the early ’90s, which I like to describe as ‘crunchy guitar music.’ It’s still the music I enjoy listening to the most.”
You’ve only been a professional photographer since 2024—but you’re already good at it. How did you get started?
“I’ve been taking photos for several years. I’ve had a camera since I was little and grew up in a media‑savvy household. Ten years ago I became fascinated by the retro look of Fujifilm cameras. On a set, a great camerawoman also used a Fuji, so I bought one in 2017. Privately I shoot landscapes and street scenes. I’ve always been passionate about attending concerts. Last year I went to Desertfest as a fan—that’s when I developed an unconditional desire to photograph concerts myself. So I set out to break into concert photography and start shooting professionally.”
You mainly do concert photography. What excites you about it?
“What excites me about concert photography is the dynamics and energy—the atmosphere, the emotions on stage and in the audience. It’s simply unique. When I was younger I often attended concerts in Hamburg and noticed a photographer from the local newspaper who always stood in the front row. Even then I found it puzzling that he didn’t seem to have any real passion for what he was documenting. That felt incomprehensible to me—when you have the privilege of being so close to that energy, to those special moments. It is precisely that passion that drives me and my colleagues. We love what we do and consider ourselves very lucky to be able to work in this field.”
How do you work at concerts and in photography in general?
“My focus is clearly on the artist and their expression. My approach is heavily influenced by street photography—I observe closely, anticipate moments, and wait for the perfect moment. At the same time I must be ready to react quickly when an opportunity arises. It’s about capturing those fleeting, authentic moments that tell a story. The result should be an image that is not only technically sound but also conveys the energy and emotion of the moment; post‑processing helps to complete that vision.”
Which event or concert has stayed with you, and why?
“One of my most memorable experiences was the Roskilde Festival in 2000, where nine people died in a crowd crush. Pearl Jam’s set was cut short halfway through because the situation turned chaotic, although at the time it wasn’t yet clear that fatalities would occur. Several people had fallen, and others were pushing forward. I was lucky that I had broken a piece of equipment shortly before the festival, so I was standing at the back. Since then, crowd‑control barriers have become more common at concerts.
On the other hand, Desertfest 2025 was an absolute highlight—a dream come true and a fantastic overall experience.”
Which concert are you looking forward to? Which musician would you like to photograph in action one day?
“I’m looking forward to Wacken Open Air 2025, which takes place this weekend. Pearl Jam and Foo Fighters are my favorite bands, and I would love to photograph them. Let’s see if that works out.”