Mel D. Cole, (36) is a self-proclaimed connoisseur of turkey burgers and an avid Buffalo Bills fan that hails from Syracuse, NY. The self-taught lensman has made his home in and around the boroughs of NYC by consistently capturing all the city has to offer from the glamorous to the gritty.

Picking up the lens over eight years ago, he has found himself at the forefront of the NYC photography scene thus making resounding noise internationally via his website Villageslum.com.

He has become known as the “house photographer” for the legendary Roots Crew and has been pinpointed by Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson as his favorite contemporary photographer. Cole’s vision has caught on with a variety of media outlets and personalities (print/online) having shot for Heineken, Nike, Puma, Wieden+Kennedy, Shepard Smith, Epiphany NYC, URB Magazine, Respect Magazine, Vibe Magazine, ID magazine, Burton Snowboards, mogul Sean “P.Diddy” Combs, Etnies Skateboard, RapRadar.com, Magma (Japan), 10Deep, and countless other lifestyle brands, musicians and music outlets.

He has recently completed a 10 month brand ambassador sponsorship program with Heineken. During this time Cole, had his 1st exhibition in L.A where Heineken was the sponsor.

Cole has also become known for his collaborations with Etnies, Flud Watches and Leroy Jenkins Ltd.

He was also featured in Levi's 1st shoppable video ( which you can see below).

Cole obtained his BA in Multidisciplinary Studies (Cinema and Cultural Studies & African American studies) in 2001 and he currently calls Jersey City, NJ home.

MEL D. COLE from TONE on Vimeo.

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(917) 652-6351