My name is Melvin Ashe, I’m a Fine Art Photographer drawn to the rhythm of the city — the way light hits concrete, how people move through fleeting moments, and the quiet stories hiding in plain sight. My work lives where the raw meets the poetic: between chance and composition, between what’s seen and what’s felt.
I was born and raised in Baltimore MD, now residing in Atlanta but back home is where I became interested, involved and developed my style in photography. Street photography is my first love, I also enjoy capturing the black culture, urban scenes, models, nature and anything that catches my eye. In 2003, I took a black and white photography class at Baltimore City Community College, I learned how to develop film and make prints in the dark room. Shortly after that my uncle connected me with a friend of his by the name Jay Bennett, who was a well-known Photographer in the city that shot documentary and street photography. He became my first mentor on my photography journey and shared lots of valuable insights that I still use today. A few years after I met Jay, I met Gil Jackson, another well-known local photographer and founder of the Maryland based photography group named F-Stop, which I became a member of. This was my introduction into studio photography and lighting.
Shooting street photography in Baltimore developed my eye, style and technique. I traveled to cities up and down the east coast shooting photos and eventually moved to Atlanta after visiting for a shoot. A few months after I moved to Atlanta I met Jim Alexander, who has been a role model, friend and mentor ever since. Jim is an award-winning documentary photographer, photojournalist, activist, and teacher. He was both a friend and mentee of Gordon Parks, and shares extensive insight into life and photography.
While black and white photography is the heartbeat of my work, I also explore color as a way to uncover new layers of emotion and narrative. Whether I’m documenting street scenes, capturing the intricate world of insects through macro photography, or creating urban portraits and headshots, my goal is the same — to find beauty in the overlooked and meaning in the everyday.
I don’t stage moments; I chase them. My images are fragments of life —spontaneous, imperfect, and human. They reflect the energy of the streets, the stillness of small details, and the honesty of connection.
Photography, for me, isn’t just about seeing — it’s about the world around us and translating that feeling into light, shadow, and form.
