Nicholas Cole, photographer and great-grandson of Henry Greene Cole who gave the land for the Marietta National Cemetery, is a Marietta native with over 50 years of experience with a camera in hand and old fashioned darkroom technician experience.
Dear Folks,
Mr. Cole captured photographs of elementary school classmates and other friends and family in the 1950's. At St. Andrews School in Sewanee Tennessee in the 60's, he began the other part of the photographic process, the darkroom. Taking most of the photographs for the school's newspaper and annual for four years, he was ready to do the same for publications at Kennesaw Junior College, now KSU, in the late 60's. Enlisting in the US Navy during the Vietnam years, Nicholas used all his spare time managing or building photo hobby shops on ships and on land in the Pacific.
During the last 40 years, he was instrumental in starting several portrait studios and worked with established photo labs in the North Atlanta area. He studied commercial and industrial photography but always was drawn to the people side of the profession.
"The trust people give me to capture their most loved family members in a way no one else could is a very special feeling," says Cole. "What I have to offer people are a means to rekindle memories."
Mr. Cole put away his film cameras over 10 years ago and joined the "Digital Revolution", but still works in a more classic style without the bright colors and strong geometric patterns. He is working with people with special needs to capture their love and tenderness for which the volume photographer does not have the training, skill, or time to record. He enjoys the senior population because while he is photographing them they are telling their stories about their lives, and he can capture the feelings and love they share.
Cole is having an Artwalk show at Avery Gallery just east of the Marietta Square on Friday evening, June 1, from 5 - 9 pm. Meet and talk, and hear some of his stories!
