Documentation, content for social media and websites, or simply awesome memories – all of this requires people with a really good eye and a feel for the moment. At a major event like Rave The Planet, a single camera is not enough – you need a whole team of photographers to support you – on a voluntary basis, of course, out of a desire to get involved and a love for the vibe.

This doesn’t just happen on the big day itself, but throughout the year: panels, clean-ups, special events – everything that happens needs to be recorded. To ensure that this doesn’t end in chaos, someone is needed to keep track of everything. This is where Chris Bellevue comes in. Chris is a photographer, intermedia artist and has been with Rave The Planet with his camera since day one. He started out in Cologne, working with lighting and sound for theatre, carnival and parties as a teenager, later setting up his own technology company and studying event technology. This year, he is ‘Head of Photography’ and leads a team of almost 30 photographers and videographers. His goal: not only to deliver epic shots of floats, DJs and dancing ravers, but also to show all the people behind the scenes – the medics, volunteers, awareness crews, decoration teams. For Chris, Rave The Planet is not just work. It is a movement, pure energy and the opportunity to package the message of love, peace and solidarity in images that everyone can feel.

How moments at Rave The Planet find their way into the picture

RTP: Hi Chris, it’s great that we’ve found time to chat today. Today we’re going to talk about you and photography, and specifically about photography at Rave The Planet. Before we get started, could you tell us a little bit about Chris Bellevue and your professional career?

Chris: Hey, thanks for inviting me to the interview. Audiovisuals have always been my thing. It started with lighting technology. I always wanted to be a lighting technician. At school, I was in the theatre club and helped with the technology and lighting for carnival. In the parish, I first went to discos – later I organised them myself. At some point, when I was still a teenager, I bought my own equipment, started a business and rented it out. At the same time and during my school days, I was already working for one of Germany’s largest lighting and sound rental companies, which today belongs to the world’s largest concert equipment group. At the same time, I was running my own company. Then came my studies: MA in Event Technology and Event Management. I worked in my company, in opera houses, theatres, at concerts, in event venues, in Babelsberg…

RTP: Did all of this happen in Berlin?

Chris: No, I previously resided in Cologne and subsequently relocated to Berlin.

RTP: And how long have you been with Rave The Planet, and how did you end up with us?

Chris: I was there with my camera from the very beginning. I thought it was great that there was another parade on Straße des 17. Juni in Berlin. Two years ago, I was handed the position of head of photography in the media team.

RTP: And how do you like it here so far (laughs)?

Chris: Well, Rave The Planet means a lot to me – especially as a demo. It’s great to be part of such an amazing team. Dr Motte and Ellen Dosch-Roeingh are really doing something special here. The energy is contagious! We share the message of love – ‘Spread LOVE!’. There’s a real team spirit in the techno community. We support each other – it’s a great experience.

RTP: That’s true. Can you describe what exactly you do here and what your work typically involves?

Chris: Like this year, I coordinate a team of almost 30 photographers – videos are also part of it. We take all the photos for publications. The photos of the team and my own appear on the website and on social media. We document all the trucks, all the DJs on our float, and of course the spirit of the whole parade. International media also use our material – always with credit to the authors. Some videos have more views than the parade participants!

RTP: Oh yes, there are even some clips with over a million clicks. But you’re also out and about with your camera outside of the parade day. What exactly does that look like?

Chris: That’s right, I try to be there not only on the day of the demonstration and during the set-up, but also at events throughout the year, such as panels, clean-ups, etc. And now we also make videos more often to reach more people.

RTP: May I ask what equipment you use?

Chris: Sure, I work with two bodies, Nikon and Olympus, the two Olympus cameras each with a different telephoto lens, so I can get really close to people and also photograph the floats on the horizon with the Brandenburg Gate in the background.

RTP: Do you curate what is ultimately released to the public?

Chris: Yes, I do that together with Ellen and Motte and hand over the pre-selection – they have the final say.

RTP: You said there’s a team of 30 people… How many photos are taken on parade day, roughly?

Chris: Several thousand! The team sorts them out, and I get a selection from everyone. In the end, a small portion makes it onto the internet, and a lot of it ends up in the archive for later use or simply for documentary purposes.

RTP: How time-consuming is your work for Rave The Planet?

Chris: The busy phase begins long before the demonstration – it gets particularly intense in the last two weeks. Throughout the year, it’s a bit quieter, so I have time for my own assignments and projects.

RTP: Can you give us a rough idea of how you usually plan everything when you’re on the road for us, i.e. at the parade, but also at our various events and activities throughout the year?

Chris: We mostly work in a documentary style, so we adapt to the flow. Before events, I find out all I can about the location, weather, participants, etc. – so that everything is safe and well staged. It’s important to me to photograph not only the artists, but also the fantastic team: medics, volunteers, media, awareness, decoration, organisation… Without them, nothing would work! I want to make their work visible.

RTP: Apart from the points you mentioned, such as lighting conditions and weather, what challenges do you typically encounter in your work?

Chris: Often, many things happen at once – so you have to react quickly, keep track of everything and still convey the spirit.

RTP: Let’s imagine it’s parade day again. How does your day unfold now?

Chris: Get up early! I’d love to film the roll-out of the floats – that’s still on my bucket list. Then I go to the headquarters, meet people, have a team meeting, distribute duty rosters. After that, I walk or drive to the parade. From the kick-off rally on float no. 1, everything flows smoothly: hundreds of photos, videos, interviews. I try to eat and drink plenty of water in between – so I can get through the day. It’s a crazy, exhilarating experience! Sometimes you just want to scream with joy, but no one can hear you anyway with all the sound. Around 10 p.m., things quiet down. I send out a small selection of photos for quick publication – then it’s off to bed… or maybe to the after-show party.

RTP: Speaking of which, partying and taking photos is probably difficult. Can you still combine the two well on a day like this?

Chris: Absolutely. The atmosphere is so good that it feels like partying – and yet I still get my work done. Hundreds of thousands of people are celebrating peacefully together. It’s pure love.

RTP: …and all to the beat of electronic music!

Chris: I experienced the Love Parade once before – and I’ve been ‘infected’ ever since. The community is a place of togetherness, and I want to spread this message to the world with my pictures.