Trevor Cole is an Irish photographer with a focus on cultures and landscapes. Known as the “Geographer Photographer” – because he used to study and teach geography – his images are intimate portraits of tribal people which reflect the need to live in a more sustainable world. .
For Trevor it’s not just about turning up and taking pictures. It’s about making connections with his tribal subjects and seeking the moments in light to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.
This requires observation and conversation, both of which give a fascinating insight into another culture. He spends a lot of time in Africa and here many of the tribes he visits struggle to survive as human development, expanding urban centres and encroach on land where they traditionally graze their livestock. Sustainable lifestyles feature heavily in his photography.
Recently he has been travelling in Pakistan and Afghanistan, discovering new cultures and his curiosity won’t limit his travels.
Above you’ll see a selection of his work and it might surprise some to see his passion for landscapes and remote environments. Listen and you’ll find out a lot more.
In this podcast, he talks to &Coe about his life, his photography, his fascination with the world and indigenous people and what motivates him.
If his work inspires you, Trevor runs small group workshops to meet and photograph tribal peoples in less visited parts of the world – Alternative Visions.
Trevor Cole in conversation with & Coe
Find out more about Trevor on the Alternative Visions website and follow him on Instagram
All images © Trevor Cole
Explore all the other & Coe podcasts on Eye for the Light
Check out the other Newton & Coe podcasts on Eye for the Light
