Kelvin Trautman

The short story...

Kelvin is a self-taught photographer and filmmaker based in Cape Town and London. His work focuses on narrative driven content, where he typically uses travel, sport, and pioneering expeditions, as a lens to look at human and environment condition. Recognized for his creative direction, perspective-filled compositions and athletic ability with camera in hand, Kelvin has fast established a name in the outdoor industry. He has covered assignments on all 7 continents for clients such as Patagonia, United Nations, Reuters, Red Bull and his images have appeared in an array of publications including New York Times, National Geographic, Red Bulletin, and Outside Magazine.

The longer story...

“The more time I spend behind a camera the more I appreciate what a powerful medium we, as photographers and filmmakers, have to connect, educate, and inspire people. This inherent power stems from story-telling and when I tell people this I often get asked what you need to tell a good story. For me it’s simple; all you need is a camera, courage and empathy. The latter two are particularly important, and it’s something I use across the board, whether it’s shooting carefully orchestrated commercial campaigns or those fleeting and unguarded moments in documentary work.”

“As I continue to explore the art of narrative photography and filmmaking, the more I want to challenge perceptions and push creative boundaries. To do this I want to look beyond the stereotypical perfect moment. I want to immerse myself in what's going on in front of my lens, to learn from my subjects, and to share experiences that hopefully galvanise others to do the same".