My name is Eisa Bakos. I’m twenty four years old, I’m a photographer, I live just outside of London in Kingston and I run Endless Magazine. Eisa, today you run a successful BMX magazine but like all photographers, you had to start somewhere. Where did it all begin? So basically, I was at college with no intention of ever taking photos. I was playing football and that was my main thing. I was getting into BMX slowly because I was working in a bike shop but football still was my priority. So when did BMX become the priority?
So what camera were you using back then? Funny story actually. I was at college when I got my first camera. I didn’t know what I was doing so I went on Gumtree and I was like, “F*ck!”. I just typed in Nikon or some sh*t and found one. It seemed like a good price so I texted the geezer. It was only up the road so I went and picked it up. Turns out, the geezer was my college teacher from the year before when I was doing sports, and he sorted me out a good deal. So I bought the camera, started taking photos. Two months later, I ended up buying another Nikon: it was a D200. And then, I made a switch to Canon. I shot with a 5D MkII for a bit and then upgraded to a Mark III. Now I’ve got the 1DX, which I’m more than happy with.
I hurt myself and tore my ligament in my knee. Because of that, I ended up picking up a camera and started to hang out with my friends who were riding. I couldn’t really ride at the time but I was taking photos. When I did start riding again, I put the camera down. I was riding a lot more until I tore my ligament again. I had a full-time job in a restaurant, I hated it and I couldn’t ride. That was the breaking point for me.
After buying your first camera, how long did it take to get your first photograph published?
So what did you do about it?
Sure...
I started taking more photos which started to get printed in Ride UK. Ever since then, photography just overtook the full time job. I was really enjoying taking photos but I hated my job. That’s when the penny dropped. I was just like, “F*ck that life”. So yeah, I put that to the side and started taking more photos for Ride.
I knew f*ck all about editing photos back then. I never used to edit photos. But my mate, Sam King, who is an incredible photographer, he helped me out and edited that photo. Then I sent it to Stereo and then Stereo ended up sending it to Urban Cycles, and then Urban Cycles used it for an ad in Ride UK. Eventually, it got used in four or five issues.
I was out riding in London with all the boys. Dan Paley was in town and at the time he was riding for Stereo. Even then, he was just savage - just absolutely unreal. We were at London Bridge stair set and he 540’d it. Can I swear?