2 minute read
Cooking Up A Storm
from MMM #001
CREATIVE PIONEER, ED COOKE, GIVES US THE LOW-DOWN ON HIS PHOTOGRAPHY AND LIFE ON THE OPEN ROAD
We chatted through all things motorcycling and life with Ed to get an insight into his life of riding and being out on the open road.
Being a creative and riding a Mutt go hand in hand, the freedom of being out on the open road and exploring new locations and spots. This is key for Ed: “I started a new project called ‘At Arms Reach’ which is mostly images of locations that I find via my motorbike. My life is different after getting on a bike, I am seeing more, therefore creating more.” As we well know, there’s always new journeys of discovery to be had on a Mutt.
Boundary-pushing photographer Edward Cooke has years of experience in and around the film industry, from fashion campaigns to commercial brands, world-renowned musicians and some of the world’s top tier publications.
The likes of Rita Ora, Jessie J, Tinie Tempah, Example, Wretch 32, Robin Thicke, Cheryl, Dave Stewart and Pixie Lott have all worked with Ed and he has shot promo campaigns for J.Crew, Carhartt and Capital One to name but a few. Ed makes the most of this as he explains: “I wanted to have a different experience from getting A to B, I’ve always enjoyed driving, but riding has a different quality, you feel much more connected to your surroundings, be it smells, weather and the road.” Nothing is quite the same once you’ve got two wheels under you, as any rider can vouch.
“Seeing more of the city is key. I’ve lived in London for about 6 years and always ended up on the tube, so being out and about in the open is a refreshing way to travel. The best ride I’ve been on is probably one time in my home town. I was cruising through the countryside without any means of direction or destination and stumbled across this real nice car in the middle of a field. I had my camera on me and set up shot, it hangs on my wall now and was also the trigger for an ongoing project.”
The hustle and bustle of city life can be a pressure cooker sometimes. Moving from place to place is easy by means of public transport, but being out on the roads is a different kettle of fish. The neighbourhoods you find and hold in memory are found through cruising, not tubing!
Ed holds country riding close to his heart, however, linking back to his hometown: “I’d say riding in the country over the capital, but getting anywhere in the city on a bike is without a doubt the quickest way.”
Ed Cooke WMA
