“The stage is my studio and so are the streets.”
Mel D. Cole
is a New York City based, Syracuse NY raised, self taught award winning photographer, director, host and agency owner. He is one of the world’s most accomplished and celebrated photographers with a career spanning 22 years. He originally became notable for his black and white photographs of the downtown New York City art and music scenes and his work in Hip Hop. He is also known for his street photography, brand work and much more. Artist he has photographed include The Roots, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Jay Z, Beyonce and many others.
Cole later branched into photojournalism, documenting the George Floyd protests in various cities in 2020-2021 and the January 6 United States Capitol attack in Washington, D.C. in 2021.
Cole's love for soccer led him to open Charcoal Pitch F.C: the first and only Black owned soccer specific photo agency in the world dedicated to creatively exploring soccer visually and educationally through a multiracial visual lens.
He has published two books to date: GREAT: Photographs of Hip Hop in 2020 and American Protest. Photographs 2020-2021 in 2021.
Awards:
International Photography Awards: 2021 Editorial/Press Photographer of the year.
NJ Society of Professional Journalist: 2021 Courage Under Fire Award.
In 2012 he participated in a 10 month brand ambassador sponsorship program with Heineken.
Clothing collabs:
2010- Etnies x Villageslum Sneaker/ T shirt collaboration
2010-Leroy Jenkins x Villageslum Hat collaboration
2012-Karmoloop.com x Mel D. Cole- T shirt collaboration
2013-Flud Watches x Villageslum x Lisa Ann- Watch & calendar collaboration
2018-Umbro x Mel D. Cole Metropolis Soccer League collection -jersey & hat collaboration
Exhibitions:
Solo:
December 9th, 2011. “Heineken x Android Homme” Martha Otero Gallery. Los Angeles, Ca
December 16th, 2015. “Big. Black and Bold” Goodspace. Sydney, Australia
November 15th, 2018. “The American Music Photo Exhibit” Culprit Club. Brisbane, Australia
June 3rd, 2023. “Guns, Love, Children: America, Stay Woke”. Photoville. Brooklyn, NY
Group:
December 17th, 2011. “The Rickford Institues All Star Classic exhibit” Milk Gallery. NYC
September 10th, 2015. “DOWN & DIRTY” Photoville. Brooklyn, NY
February 20th, 2020. New York City Hip Hop | The Photo Tribute. NYC
Public Speaking:
2018-Ocean Hill Collegiate Charter School-“Music photography and Inspiration”. Brooklyn.
2018-Columbia University Photography Society. “Music photography”. NYC
2018-KIPP-“Career day”. NYC
2021-Columbia school of journalism- “Protest and Journalism”. Zoom
2022-Northern Michigan University. “Black History Month”. Michigan
2022-Free Arts NYC-“Photojournalism/Photography/Inspiration”. Zoom
2022-School of The New York Times- “Photojournalism”. Zoom
2023-Friends of Fearless Conference. Keynote speaker- “Photojournalism/Photography/Inspiration”. Denver.
2023-KIPP-“Career day”. NYC
2023-Knight First Amendment Institute- “Photojournalism.” NYC
2023- LREI (Little Red Elisabeth Irwin) High School. “Photojournalism/Photography/Inspiration”. NYC
2023-High School for Environmental Studies. “Photojournalism/Photography/Inspiration”. NYC
2024-Chelsea FC-Photojournalism/Photography/Inspiration. Zoom
2024-The School at Columbia University. “50 years of Hip Hop | Hip hop photography”. NYC
2024-Major League Soccer-“Black History Month Panel”. NYC
2024-High School for Environmental Studies. “Photojournalism/Photography/Inspiration”. NYC
2024-East Side High School. “Photojournalism/Photography/Inspiration”. Newark, NJ
SELECT CLIENTS (past and present) INCLUDE
Photo by Averie Cole
Contact Mel D. Cole