A dancer since the age of five, Eva Berten's photography captures all the vibrancy and dynamism associated with breaking. Her super clean shot of Charlize Glass executing a flip named 'suicide' won over the judges as she made it to the semi-finals of the Wings category, and into the Photobook! We wanted to know more!
Check out the interview and more great images below…
How does it feel to have made it to the semi-final stage of the Wings category?
Honestly, I never thought that I would make it so far. This contest is known for the best sports and action photos and I'm extremely honored to have one of my pictures amongst them this year. Especially since it's in the Wings category. To me it represents Red Bull's slogan in the best possible way.
Tell us a little bit about how you came to shoot breaking?
I started with dance photography in 2013/2014. I'm a dancer myself and some of my crew members needed photos for a workshop flyer. I was already working as a photographer that time, so of course they asked me to take the pictures. I was so amazed by the results and shooting what I love, dance, made me so happy. Since that day I couldn't stop anymore. I started to shoot more friends and somehow got my first bookings for some major dance events in Germany and international. The rest is history.
What’s the biggest challenge in capturing someone mid-air?
The hardest part is definitely the timing! You really need to have some kind of feeling for the right moment. And a fast finger. Personally, I think it really helps that I'm a dancer myself and know what exactly I'm trying to capture. I always try to get the picture with one shot only. I try to be patient and wait for that one moment. Burst mode would be too easy.
Do you choreograph the moves to get a shot that you have in mind? Or are you just capturing moments as they happen?
Usually I don't choreograph it. Most of the dancers just freestyle in front of my camera and I take the shots in the right moments. I try to study dancers and their style. If I know their signature moves, how they enter them and movements they usually do, I'm prepared and ready for the shoot. I only choreograph the moves if I have a specific picture that I want to capture. But usually I just go with the flow and see what's the result. I feel like choreographing everything and trying to realize this one specific idea, can kind of limit your freedom and opportunities during the shooting.
Any locations you would love to shoot breaking, but haven’t yet?
Yes! Definitely Iceland. And a trip with six amazing dancers is already scheduled for next year. I can't wait to take some breathtaking shots in these jaw-dropping landscapes. It's going to be a tough project, since Iceland is usually really cold and the dancers need to be warm to show their best moves. But I'm 100% sure the freezing is going to be worth it!
Finish the sentence: “If I wasn’t an action and adventure sports photographer I would be…"
... a professional dancer.
What’s next for you, and where can we find more of your work?
Next up are some small community events, editing tons of photos that I took at the Funkin Stylez World final in Düsseldorf and organizing a little shooting tour through Germany. You can check out more of my work on Instagram @evaberten or on my website www.evaberten.com!