After a lifetime of tinkering with old Polaroids and whatever other film cameras he picked up in thrift stores, Braun switched to digital in 2009
From art student, to roadie, to camera operator, to self-taught photographer, Brian David Braun has made a name for himself with his astute eye and badass aesthetic: artists, actors and models now clamoring to be shot by him. A Cincinnati native, he has found himself shooting photos for a living from an unicorporated portion of Sarasota County.
5 (photographers that influence my work)
I am mainly influenced by underground, unknown photographers that I have met through social networking, and by a handful of personal friends. They are all blessed with a special vision that I cherish.
1. Rebecca Anne Etter, Seattle Washington
Rebecca is a very natural photographer who only uses manual settings and does not use any photoshop. Her images are pure emotion that genuinely speak to me; I have been watching her work for years.
A mysterious character from the UK known only to me as Paul’s Cross. I have been following his work for many years on Myspace and Facebook. His use of point-and-shoot cameras, double exposures and light and shadow is just mind blowing.
3. Marc Croswell, Cincinnati Ohio
I have known Marc since I was in art school back in the late 80s. We were into punk rock, girls and skateboards. Recently he picked up a camera and the results are amazing. His work is so raw, he is constantly shooting with any camera he can get his hands on. He finds subject matter in his day-to-day life, out of the corners of his eyes that is like beat poetry flashed as images.
4. Tonya Cook, Cincinnati Ohio
I have known Tonya since she was 15 years old and I was even briefly married to her and she was my muse for my early digital artwork for years. She has a unique eye for color and composition that has heavily influenced my work.
5. Christina Creech, Fayetteville, North Carolina
Normally I am completely opposed to iPhone photography and apps, but this women sets the standard for how that work should be judged and appreciated. She can do things with an iPhone that am hard pressed to do with a full array of photoshop tricks and an SLR. And when she picks up her Nikon I am completely blown away. She also shoots with a Lomo camera and the only word I can use is to describe her work is inspired.
For more about Brian David Braun, including his work, visit http://www.briandavidbraunphotography.com
Photo of Brain by Gabriel Hernandez.
