Meet Brian Day | Technologist & Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brian Day and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brian, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I initially pursued photography because my knees told me it was time to leave basketball to the young fellas. I was always fascinated by my Dad’s photographs, and had an interest in cinematic themes and the quiet drama of black and white images. I am not a formally trained photographer, but I dove into self-training headfirst, studying the technicalities of the Zone System, the philosophies of free spirited street photographers like Garry Winogrand and Cartier-Bresson, and the introspection and sheer genius of photographers like Gordon Parks. I fell in love with the process and the pursuit of trying to perfect the craft. With an assist from social media, the next thing I knew I was sharing my work around the city and internationally. So I suppose it just…sort of…happened?

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is focused primarily on black and white photography – digital and film – spanning architecture, street photography, the urban landscape, and self-portraiture. I’m a technical person by training and trade, and I believe that comes across a bit in my creative practice. I enjoy hunting for interesting angles and tonalities in otherwise mundane settings and chasing imaginary themes. I love making stuff, so the craft of photography is often as fascinating as much as the actual output. That said, I love to experiment with different approaches, from large format film to drones, specialty cameras or smartphones.

What I’m most proud of is having learned and practiced my craft enough to have some measure of consistency in the images I set out to make. I don’t say that to mean that my images are always perfect; on the contrary, it means I fail many more times than I succeed, and lots of images never see the light of day. But, in the end, I’m willing to let those failures teach me, troubleshoot and refine, and that has helped me consistently get to the type vibe I want in my body of work.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I was building an itinerary, I’d want them to experience some of Detroit’s history, its music scene, and the food. I would take them to hear Jamon Jordan break down the history of Detroit, and pay a visit Olayami Dabls at the Dabls Mbad African Bead Museum. The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History would be on my list, as would the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Detroit Historical Museum. The Turkey Grill, Baobab Fare or Yum Village would be my recommendations for lunch, and it’s hard not to recommend La Lanterna, Mexicantown or Savannah Blue to end the night. There are, of course, fancy restaurants in the city with great vibes. Highlands, for example, has the best view of the city from atop the Renaissance Center. I love trying the new spots, but you can also never go wrong with the classics. Speaking of which, I’m also definitely going to recommend Diamond’s hot dog stand in Eastern Market!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my Dad, Clyde Day. He showed me what it means to cherish and appreciate my family, and to do the right thing by others with integrity. At the same time, he also taught me how to be responsible, resilient, and passionate about putting in the work. My Dad gave me my first exposure to photography, jazz and travel, and never let a day go by without reminding my Mom, sister and I of how much he loves us. I owe a debt of gratitude to my Dad that I could never repay.

Website: www.brianday.org

Instagram: Instagram.com/brianday

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-j-day

Twitter: brianday_

Facebook: Facebook.com/brian.jacob.day