“Cool and dangerous”: Brooklyn Beckham portrays the new BMW Z4.

Munich. He loves analogue black-and-white photography
and tattoos – clearly, Brooklyn Beckham is as difficult to pigeonhole
as the new BMW Z4, which combines the classic vehicle concept of the
roadster with cutting-edge technology. And there’s one thing the two
particularly have in common: they are always keen to cause a stir. BMW
brought them together in Coachella Valley near Palm Springs in
Southern California: the young, up-and-coming photographer and the
two-seater convertible that has now thrilled fans of open-top driving
for several months. The photo shoot in the Southern Californian desert
was the first official stage of a long-term collaboration which aims
to tap into new perspectives on current BMW models. Already attracting
a growing international fan community, Brooklyn Beckham captures his
motifs authentically through the eyes of the young generation, in the
individual style of a constantly inquisitive, ambitious artist with an
enthusiasm for automobiles.

For Beckham, the upcoming BMW projects present a welcome opportunity
to demonstrate his capabilities in an additional field of photography,
while at the same time enabling him to explore his own fascination
with sports-style cars. The first encounter between Beckham and the
BMW brand was itself a noteworthy occasion. The young photographer
visited the BMW Group Design Studio last summer and was able to take
some initial shots of the BMW Concept Z4. Together with the design
team he also modified his own personal vehicle. There is no doubt
about it – the new BMW Z4 definitely struck a nerve with Brooklyn
Beckham: “cool and dangerous” were the words he used to describe it –
and “the most mind-blowing car I’ve ever seen.”

A few months later, the unconventional artist and the distinctive
model came together again for the first project as part of the
collaboration with BMW. The assignment was likewise unique: Brooklyn
Beckham was to use the shoot not only to portray the BMW Z4 but
himself as well. He set to work in December with his favourite camera,
a Hasselblad 503 – the young photo designer’s constant travel
companion. The time of year would have been daunting for an outdoor
shoot schedule in Central Europe – but in the Californian desert, with
an average temperature of 21 degrees and at least five hours of
sunlight per day, it was a sheer pleasure to work outdoors. Beckham:
“The lighting conditions were fantastic.”

This is hardly surprising: even in California, Coachella is known as
the “City of Eternal Sunshine”. It is also where the private race
track Thermal Club is located, its asphalt trail winding its way
through the desert landscape like a grey river – the perfect setting
for the kind of creative process Beckham thrives on. Dressed in
T-shirt and chinos, the photographer circled his subject from all
sides, studiously set his sights on details of the vehicle and the
surrounding landscape and portrayed himself and the BMW Z4 using the
cable release – as well as skateboarding around the roadster and on
the race track. Each picture speaks volumes about the amount of fun he
had on the job.

“I take a photo whenever I see anything interesting.” Brooklyn
Beckham’s description of his approach may be simple and modest, but he
goes about his work with enormous diligence and expertise. This is
reflected in the pictures he took in Coachella, too: they give the BMW
Z4 a very distinctive presence against the contrasting effects of the
soft Californian winter sunlight, the pastel shades of the
surroundings and the bleak background of the rugged landscape.

And this is precisely where the collaboration between BMW and
Brooklyn Beckham is due to continue: another photo shoot has already
been planned to coincide with the Coachella Valley Music and Arts
Festival – a longstanding a cultural highlight in Southern California.
BMW i is the official festival partner, and the young photographer
already has a fixed date with the BMW i8 Roadster designed especially
for the occasion. Fans can look forward to the angles, light and
colours Beckham will use to portray the open-top plug-hybrid sports car.

The photographer:
Starting out in the world of photography,
undertaking his own shoots while interning for established names such
as Nick Knight he currently has some 12 million followers on Instagram.

The model:
The BMW Z4 was first launched in 2002, the third
model generation has been on the market since the end of 2018.
Powerful 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder in-line engines make the two-seater
an open-top sports car. The modern interpretation of the roadster
features a classic soft top as well as cutting-edge technology in the
areas of operation and connectivity.

More impressions:
https://www.bmw.com/en/automotive-life/brooklyn-beckham-car-photography.html

 

The figures for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and power
consumption are calculated based on the measurement methods stipulated
in the current version of Regulation (EU) 2007/715. The information is
based on a vehicle with basic equipment in Germany; ranges take into
account differences in wheel and tyre size selected as well as
optional equipment and can change during configuration.

 

The figures have already been calculated based on the new WLTP test
cycle and adapted to NEDC for comparison purposes. In these vehicles,
different figures than those published here may apply for the
assessment of taxes and other vehicle-related duties which are (also)
based on CO2 emissions.

 

For further details of the official fuel consumption figures and
official specific CO2emissions of new cars, please refer to
the “Manual on fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and
power consumption of new cars”, available at sales outlets, from
Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760
Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at http://www.dat.de/angebote/verlagsprodukte/leitfaden-kraftstoffverbrauch.html.

 

In case of queries please contact:

Press and PR

Cypselus von Frankenberg, Product Communication BMW Automobiles

Telephone: +49-89-382-30641

Email: Cypselus.von-Frankenberg@bmw.de

 

Eckhard Wannieck, Head of Product, Brand Communication BMW

Telephone: +49-89-382-28042

E-mail: Eckhard.Wannieck@bmwgroup.com

 

Internet: www.press.bmwgroup.com

E-mail: presse@bmw.de

 

 

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW
Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and
motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services.
The BMW Group production network comprises 30 production and assembly
facilities in 14 countries; the company has a global sales network in
more than 140 countries.

In 2018, the BMW Group sold over 2,490,000 passenger vehicles and
more than 165,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the
financial year 2018 was € 9,815 billion on revenues amounting to €
97,480 billion. As of 31 December 2018, the BMW Group had a workforce
of 134,682 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term
thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established
ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain,
comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to
conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.

 

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