Our generation seems to be made of people who won’t accept the status quo and don’t want to live life dreaming about what could’ve been. Insert photographer, DJ and promotional planner Mel D. Cole who left the cubical office space to take a risk and pursue his dreams. Photography being his first love, the Syracuse, New York renaissance man’s work has been seen in URB and Royal magazine respectively with a soon to be released J Dilla tribute he did for TRACE magazine. His art is inspired by his eclectic taste in music, which spans from Led Zeppelin, Common, J. Davey, to the Grateful Dead. At 30 years of age Cole figures if he’s going to take a chance it’s either now or never and with his educational background he will always have something to fall back on.

Scheme: When did you first pick up a camera?

Mel D. Cole: Um, what’s this month (laughs) probably about two and a half years ago.

Scheme: And have you decided to make that your career path?

Mel D. Cole: Exactly, I’m editing some photos right now. I first realized I had a good eye when I was at a Common show at S.O.B’s during his Electric Circus years. I had a disposable camera and I was like, “sh*t this is fun!” So I was shooting them and had amazing shots and the energy behind them was great, so one year I bought a camera with my tax refund and took it from there.

Scheme: What were you doing before you started shooting?

Mel D. Cole: Well I just actually quit my day job last Thursday, I was working at a pharmaceutical company called Forest Research Institute. I’ve also been djing and been heavy into the arts and that’s kind of another extension.

Scheme: Had you gone to school for photography?

Mel D. Cole: No, I’m not classically trained at all, I went to school for film and cinema cultural studies actually critiquing film and art so it’s more for having an eye and being able to see stuff for what it is and what it’s not.

Scheme: Who are the photographers that challenge you and that you look up to?

Mel D. Cole: D-Nice because he has that fame being in the 80’s and the 90’s and he’s that “fly on the wall” and that’s what I like, being backstage taking photos. People are aware you are there but their not scared of you. Another person I really respect is Kareem Black as far as studio is concerned. This dude is a personal friend of mine and his work is amazing and I like him because of his cocky attitude because he knows that he’s good. Also Tampen and Half Pinay, two of my Flickr friends. And Mike B, he really keeps me going. He makes me want to try even harder and do even better with my work every single time out. Dude always critiques my work and he’s honest. I love that about him. And his work is good too. He has a great photo of his daughter that I really love!

“I feel like photography is going to be my gift to the world because I feel like I see things differently than a lot of people.”

Scheme: What do you look for when your taking photos, what catches your eye?

Mel D. Cole: It really depends on what I’m shooting but if you were to say concerts, what catches my eye, knowing the songs and waiting for the climax. To get that, what a lot of people call the “money shot” and to get the emotion behind that is crazy. When I’m doing street photography or studio stuff it’s almost the same thing, you are waiting for that person to give you everything they have to offer and their just putting it all out there like their becoming naked, like f*ck judgment this is what I do, here it is, take and capture it and that’s it.

Scheme: What’s the best aspect about photography for you and what gives you that love for it?

Mel D. Cole: Being able to capture moments in time. I feel like photography is going to be my gift to the world because I feel like I see things differently than a lot of people. To put that into something that someone is able to touch and see at the same time.

Scheme: How would you describe thus far your style, has it changed since you’ve began shooting?

Mel D. Cole: Yes, definitely, my style right now is very intimate and passionate, especially with my conscious photography which is my main love before anything else. I like to really get my long lense out and really get into the faces, crevices, and the blemishes. My style really lets you see the artist for who they are. It’s like them giving their all to me and really being naked in a sense.

Scheme: When did you realize that other people started realizing the talent you had?

Mel D. Cole: Having my photos put on okayplayer and having my photos being purchased. I’ve had people calling me from England wanting to buy my work and it’s like this thing is bigger than what I thought it was going to be. I sold my first photos to a newspaper here in New Jersey; there was a fire 5 houses down and that was the turning point for me. I realized that I could make money from this, have fun and do what I love doing (laughs).

Scheme: What percentage would you say determines the outcome of photos when it comes to the camera and compared to the person behind the camera?

Mel D. Cole: It might be 50/50, I tell people if it’s the camera, “Go buy a camera and do it!” Some people see Basquiat and some people get him and some don’t; people say I can do that it’s just scribble and I say, “Okay, pick up a pen and go scribble some stuff and see if people are going to respect your art.” Everyone has access to all the same tools, there’s really no tricks to the trade. It’s about, can you apply, can you be creative, can you be patient. Are you going to wait and get the shot, are you going to be humble enough to wait to get into certain venues?

“I would say it’s all about who the f*ck you know, if you don’t know anybody good luck.”

Scheme: Is there anyone that you haven’t shot that you want to shoot?

Mel D. Cole: Yes, the Rolling Stones, I wish I was alive to shoot Led Zeppelin, the Grateful Dead, a lot of the old people. Currently I wish I had the opportunity to do Wu-Tang, I want to shoot Common again, he’s like my all-time favorite, musician and artist period.

Scheme: What’s it been like for you trying to earn that accessibility to different artists?

Mel D. Cole: To be honest it’s been quite easy for me, easier than I thought it was going to be. I don’t even know how it started, I’m a very social person and I’m just out networking and people are like well come to the Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival or lets do URB party events and next thing you know your backstage with the Roots. My friend works for IMG and they put the concert together for the people at Radio City Music Hall and I’m the only guy in the pit front stage without a press pass. I would say it’s all about who the f*ck you know, if you don’t know anybody good luck. You got get out there, its all about who you know.

Scheme: Explain to me the Village of Slum and what that means?

Mel D. Cole: It’s just a play off Slum Village (laughs). Its paying homage to them, they are one of favorite rap groups and I’m trying not to disrespect and people are cool with it so far.

Scheme: What is the purpose behind Village of Slum?

Mel D. Cole: It’s a company I started and its djing, parties and photography all of three of which I do. It’s just trying to put all three of them together. In my opinion one goes with the other, hopefully the site will be up by the end of the summer and I’ll be working on that since I don’t have a day job anymore.

Scheme: Was it hard making the decision to leave your day job, or was it something that you knew you needed to do?

Mel D. Cole: This has been the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my life. Its still fresh to me, it just happened a week ago, but it’s been in my mind for the last few years. I started as a temp and then got hired full time and it was cool. I also taught full-time but that didn’t workout for me so I was like damn what am I going to do, as you can see I’m a jack of all trades. The photography started taking a lot of my times and I started thinking why am I sitting here in this cubicle? So I said lets take a chance and if it doesn’t work I can always go back. Still deep down inside, I’m like where is the money going to come from, how many clients do I have, but I’m 30 years old, I got to take a chance in life.