I had the idea for this image about a year before I made it, when Marie and I were at the last Kummer concert at the Wuhlheide in Berlin. Standing there, I thought how nice it would be, at a concert like that, to have one single image that gives back as much of the scale and the atmosphere as possible. The year after, we had tickets for a Kraftklub concert at the same place, and since Kummer is the solo project of the band's singer, it felt like the picture came full circle. By then I had already made the two Paris images, so I knew this was where I wanted to try to make the picture I had imagined the year before.

I was only able to make this image because a friend put me in touch with the band's photographer, who was kind enough to get me access. On location I was, of course, a little underprepared, and thought it would be a good idea to load the film holders only once I was there, which in the sun and under time pressure turned out to be tricky, but luckily it worked again. I then chose my position as central to the stage as I could and waited for the band to start playing. It got dark very quickly and I was a bit worried I wouldn't have enough light for the shot. I got lucky, because in the moment I wanted to release the shutter, someone in the crowd lit a flare, which adds even more to the atmosphere of the image.

This picture means a lot to me, because I managed to make an image of a band that means a lot to me, and it turned out in a way I'm happy with. Even though I had imagined it differently, and I always imagine it differently, I feel the same atmosphere in the image that I felt when I was there, and that is really always my main goal. It also showed me that through my idea and the way I work I can get access to exactly the places I want to photograph, and that is what I primarily need. Making the image is always some work, but nothing I really have to strain for. Convincing people to give me a chance, and above all keeping faith in my own path even when many things don't work out right away, is much harder for me. That's exactly why I'm glad when it works, because it shows me that my way holds up, even if it sits so far from the norm.