Jim Rakete, one of Germany's most celebrated photographers, marks his 75th birthday on January 1, 2026, reflecting on a career that captured both the raw energy of rock legends and the revolutionary spirit of German music. Born Günther Rakete in West Berlin in 1951, the self-taught artist earned international acclaim for portraits he describes as "fabric samples of the soul," a phrase that encapsulates his intimate approach to photography. His lens documented an era when music and culture were undergoing seismic shifts, creating images that would define generations of artists. Despite his success, Rakete harbors deep reservations about contemporary photography, telling Radio Bremen last year that "photography no longer has any truth" in the age of smartphones and digital manipulation. He argues that the profound depth once inherent in the medium has been replaced by a caricature-like treatment of faces, stripped of authenticity by endless filters and editing tools.
Rakete's journey into photography began almost accidentally when he discovered a camera at age four, an encounter he later described as an "eroticism of the shutter release." This childhood fascination evolved into professional work by his teenage years, when he started earning money through photography at just 17. His early career placed him in front of absolute superstars of the late 1960s and early 1970s, including Jimi Hendrix, Mick Jagger, and David Bowie. These formative experiences established his reputation as a photographer who could reveal something essential about his subjects, creating images that went beyond mere documentation to capture the essence of musical icons at the height of their creative powers. His work from this period remains highly sought after by collectors and continues to influence how we visually remember these legendary performers.
In 1977, Rakete transformed his career trajectory by founding the "Fabrik Rakete" in Berlin's Kreuzberg district, a creative space that would become the crucible for Germany's Neue Deutsche Welle (New German Wave) movement. This venture marked his evolution from photographer to music manager and cultural impresario, positioning him at the epicenter of a revolutionary moment in German popular music. The factory served as both studio and incubator, where visual aesthetics and musical innovation merged to create a distinctly German response to the punk and new wave movements sweeping across Europe and America. Rakete's dual expertise in imagery and artist development made him uniquely qualified to shape the visual identities of bands that would define 1980s German pop culture.
Perhaps most significantly, Rakete managed Nina Hagen when she defected from East Germany, photographing her with a cigarette for the cover of her first Western album in 1978, an image now considered iconic and style-defining. He also discovered and mentored Gabriele Susanne Kerner, who would become Nena, initially hiring her as a secretary before recognizing her musical potential. His management portfolio included the band Spliff and he secured the first record contract for Die Ärzte, one of Germany's most influential punk bands. Rakete considers the convergence of Hagen, Nena, and himself as fate, once telling the Berliner Morgenpost, "If there hadn't been a Nina Hagen Band, we wouldn't have had Nena with us." These ten intensive years at the Fabrik cemented his legacy as a pivotal figure in German music history.
As digital photography gained dominance, Rakete consciously pushed back against its rapid-fire, disposable nature with his 2007 project "1/8 sec. - Familiar Strangers." Using an old plate camera, he created unedited, unique portraits of famous stars, each requiring thoughtful consideration before the shutter clicked. This deliberate slowness stood in stark contrast to the instant gratification of digital photography, forcing both subject and photographer to engage more deeply with the process. His preference for somewhat grainy, unadorned photographs became his trademark, distinguishing his work from the polished perfection that dominates contemporary portrait photography. This philosophical stance reflects his broader concerns about how technology has transformed not just photography, but our relationship with images and truth itself.
Today, Rakete works from Berlin once again, honored with the Order of Merit First Class of the Federal Republic of Germany and represented in prestigious collections at the House of History and the German Film Museum. His 2020 documentary "Now" chronicled the youth climate movement, a project that profoundly impacted his personal philosophy and lifestyle. "My lifestyle is dramatically green," he stated last year, acknowledging how the energy and urgency of young activists reshaped his perspective. As he celebrates three quarters of a century, Rakete's influence extends beyond his photographs and musical discoveries to encompass a thoughtful critique of our image-saturated culture, reminding us that behind every portrait lies a soul that cannot be filtered or optimized.
