Ben Cook uses his camera as a passport to unfamiliar territory. He is drawn to renegades & rejects, and his subject matter ranges from portraits of musicians through to society’s gruff.
Ben discovered his love for photography, starting his career in South East London as Fashion Editor at Ministry of Sound Magazine ‘Ministry’, during which time he also acted as contributing fashion editor for both Hip-Hop Connection and Touch Magazines, styling, art-directing, shooting artists, and producing various editorials.
Ben left the magazine to study under Swiss photographer Hanspeter Schneider as his first assistant, while also learning to retouch at 3D / post production house Foret Bleue. The assignment allowed him to spend a few years in Paris becoming involved with Bilal Giolat and his' l(e)ust for life' artist skateboard movement.
In 2003 Ben was hired by Anthony Mascolo to work at his studio in London. He worked for the TIGI Bedhead brand, currently under the Unilever umbrella, for 10 years, shooting and retouching campaigns for TIGI and helping to create exciting projects. These gave him access to some greats in music and fashion, including Miles Kane, Ronnie Wood, Soul II Soul, JazzieB, Tinie Tempah, Eminem, Billy Idol, Ian Brown, James Lavelle, Pras Michaels, Wild Beasts and Vivien Westwood. He was also concurrently contracted to be the photographer / creative director for BH Salons in Selerno and Florence.
In 2013 Ben decided to go back in his hometown of Sydney. He worked as Creative Director / photographer for the magazine ‘Culture’ and picked up freelance work directing TVC’s, music videos, and documenting for Nike Asia with BBH Singapore.
In mid 2016 he relocated to Singapore to become an 'artist in residence' for BBH for 6 months, which, at that time, was granted a Global Industry Award as the second most creative agency in the world. He worked on several pitches and projects for BBH including NIKE-iD, nike.com and Nike Unlimited Stadium, travelling around Asia regularly to shoot and direct.
Ben now resides in Bondi Beach Sydney, but travels where the work takes him. He is currently working closely with Creative Director Scott Mcclelland in Byron Bay helping the non-profit Australian Surfrider Foundation (ASF) which is dedicated to the protection of Australia's waves and beaches.
He’s inspired by Gonzo photojournalism, urban documentary, vice, Louis Theroux, David Lynch, subversive 20th century London, and the aesthetic of Jurgen Teller, Hedi Slimane, Platon, Irvin Penn, Avedon, David Bailey & Terry Richardson. He’s at home shooting in the studio, against a white wall or on assignment just about anywhere. He now has agents in Sydney, New Zealand, Singapore and the UAE.