Hello, I’m Brian Tilson.
As a photographer, I am often reminded that one of the guiding principles of artistic photography is to convey a message and tell a story through images. Street photography, in particular, is often centered on capturing people as they move through their daily lives, revealing moments that express the emotions and experiences that define what it means to be human.
As I have developed as a photographer, I have found myself drawn to scenes that spark curiosity and invite questions about the story behind what I am seeing. Rather than focusing on people directly, I tend to document the traces of human presence, evidence of lives lived through objects and remnants left behind. These may include personal belongings abandoned in public spaces, sometimes suggesting hardship, addiction, or simply the quiet discard of items no longer needed. In photographing these moments, I am not seeking to diminish or judge the circumstances of others. Instead, I am drawn to them because they prompt reflection on why these scenes exist and what human stories lie behind them.
Because I currently live in a place that is not especially dynamic or visually rich for photography, finding compelling subjects can sometimes be challenging. As a result, part of my work involves experimenting, sometimes in modest ways, with ordinary, overlooked objects and attempting to transform them into something visually engaging.
By adopting a unique perspective, I aim to create work that differs from what is commonly seen in photography. My hope is that my images encourage viewers to pause, think, and feel the same curiosity and emotional response that inspired them.
Thank you for visiting my website. I hope you enjoy my work.
I always look forward to comments or questions about my work; so feel free to email me at brtsqdphoto@gmail.com
~Brian Tilson
What’s in the Name? BRT²
After my father passed away in 2022, I began searching for a way to dedicate something meaningful to him. Following his loss, and the loss of my mother just a few months later, I turned to photography as a form of therapy and emotional processing.
When I eventually decided to share my work with a wider audience through a website, I also began thinking about how to incorporate a name and logo that would serve as a tribute to my father. Although we had different first names, we shared the same initials: BRT. From this, I chose the name BRT² as a quiet dedication to him.
In many ways, this body of work is a small gesture of love and remembrance for my father, who was the greatest man I have ever known.