portrait Music is expressing things, which are unutterable, but impossible to remain silent about.
Victor Hugo

Victor Hugo’s thought perfectly expresses the way electronic music carries me away: it let me discover house and endlessly rock to deep and tribal techno. It unwinds my work-ravaged mind when enjoying ambient relaxed downbeats and still delights me with atmospheric breaks.

All things called electronic music took its course shortly after the Berlin Wall fell down. Then army radio BFBS was still on air, airing Steve Mason’s Experience show, a cutting-edge mile stone which I was listening to at night hiding under my blanket. Back in the days techno was something refreshing new, but quite negatively connotated by the society we are living in. Even today you’ll quickly end up becoming pigeonholed when saying that you’re loving electronic music. Having gotten a first sip how electronic music tastes like, the musical ride took me through many genres; first as an admiring listener, then also as a DJ. DJ-wise everything resulted in a versatile wide angle view, connecting pioneering new productions with time-honoured classics. Another impressing landmark was the kick-off of the Global Underground series, then with Nick Warren playing in Prague. In the beginning on my own, but later together with my best friend and DJ partner Peer Benary, I was setting places in Eastern Europe, South Africa and South America on fire, as well as playing clubs and off-locations at my own doorstep: here in Berlin.

Since ever photography is fascinating me and due to the ongoing technical development it took more and more influence on my creative output. A camera became my constant companion and artists, crowd, promoters and club owners liked the way I am capturing the club and event atmosphere. Thenceforward it didn’t take much time and all photographical terms got more and more professional. Nowadays I am specialised in travel documentation, event photography, available light and classic portraits such as politics and newspapers demand it. In particular club photography is a perfect combination of musical and visual world. True to the motto »In the fray, instead of being kept at bay« I rock until the morning hours; a the major ingredient how to shoot lively and authentic photos which are authentic, speaking for themselves and are far away from usual party pictures.

My love for photography and wide-ranging taste of music, combined with a pinch of analytics, brought me closer to the field of music journalism. The first steps I was doing together with Berlin-based website Clubfeeling and local party magazine [030] Berlin. Since then I am always working freelance, though also having close collaborations, like for instance since 2004 with the international 365Mag from Amsterdam, or since 2005 with New York-based Filter27 and Sound Revolt from Warsaw. Back in 2004/05 I supported the Resident Advisor (RA) crew to help them putting their tents up in Berlin.

The experiences made in those collaborations are nowadays the basis of running my own website, where I can enforce and push my very own high quality standards. The readers of my website shall be given an interesting and above all exclusive mélange of night life, electronic music, travel reports and of course photography, being researched to the best of my knowledge.

Google rankings, as well as search requests and click rates paint a clear picture: my project xflo:w has an effect. At least German music magazine Raveline prints a counterstatement when I am taking a closer and more objective look at a Berlin-based and Grammy awarded DJ/producer. Against the background of event reviewing and photography my website isn’t outperformed by the leading online magazines, as their access rates basing are mainly and more than 80% on news and forum activities. In that flood of information other content like sophisticated event reviews are often forced to take a backseat.

As a photographer you’re unavoidably having an impact on a party’s privacy. In clubs with a general ban on photograhy that is difficult in an additional way. The photos I am taking are always exclusive and are product of a close cooperation between owner, artists and photographer. They shall cover the span between a complete medial abstinence and small photographical presence. Despite sometimes really dark clubs and permanently changing lights I am abstaining from using disturbing flashlights as far as possible. Even when using up-to-date tech gear, that is resulting in a noticeable higher image noise and slightly blurry images of course. The photos are deliberately focusing on the artists, the dance floor and the illumination. In my case nobody has to worry to come across an unpleasant photo the day after, cause what happens in the club, stays in the club!

Following this philospohy, the best of my photographs are regularly ending up in online or print magazines as well as the portfolios of club owners, artists and promoters. I would like to highlight Berlin based club Watergate (Steffen Hack), Neuss based club Tribehouse (Erik Ludwig) and festivals like the Audioriver or Fortdance as well as artists like Oliver Moldan, Nick Warren or Monolake (Robert Henke).

Further references:

  • ARD/Phoenix (TV)
  • Deutsches Museum Munich (exhibition)
  • CynetArt Festival Dresden (print)
  • Midem Magazine
  • Music Trades magazine
  • SQ Club, Poznan
  • Energy Union
  • Fortdance Festival

An affair of heart is delivering photo material for the annual calendar of Berlin-based business consulting company economind.
Economind Business Consulting GmbH

I would like to mention some technical aspects as considering them allows you to get an idea of what is audio-visually shown on this website. Regarding the DJ mixes I am relying on Allen & Heath’s Xone92 mixer and two or more Pioneer CDJ 800 cd-players. Regarding photography the technical list is a bit longer. The Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III is the base gear for the following peripherals: