Heinrich von der Becke

Heinrich von der Becke was an important press photographer and one of the most renowned sports photographers at many national and international sporting events from the mid-1930s to the early 1990s. His photos appeared worldwide, in German and international illustrated magazines, as well as regularly in the relevant daily newspapers, but also in several illustrated books and Olympic books. Also on various exhibitions at home and abroad one could see the among other things also award-winning unique time documents.
He began as a 12-year-old with an Agfa Billy bellows camera, followed by plate cameras, 35mm cameras to the first automatic cameras, with which he most creatively preserved the charm of the moment often in exactly the right second. Always focusing on people, he liked to take pictures from unusual perspectives at contemporary and popular locations. The 1936 Olympics (15 in all) marked the beginning of his career, followed by the tragic war years as a reporter. He documented the reconstruction, the popular uprising in 1953, the building of the Berlin Wall and countless historical and social events and became one of Berlin’s most successful city reporters. Nevertheless, he devoted most of his work to the exciting moments in sports.
He was a thoughtful and modest man. On this website you can learn more about the artist and sports lover.