Interview with Naheem Browne

What camera(s) did you use for Cameras and Coffee?  

• Leica X Vario

How do you enjoy your coffee?  

• Typically an oat mocha, but I like to get a cold brew every so often.

What is your favorite way to express your creativity?  

• There are so many different ways - as a creative with a background in design, it’s reflected in everything I do—clothing, sketching, and especially my photography.

What inspires you to be creative?  

• People & Life itself. Especially in today’s world, people are constantly sorting through multiple internal struggles that are both visible and invisible. I want to create work that evokes a sense of awe, reaching people deeply enough to pull them out of their heads, even if only for a few minutes. Enjoying the beauty of the everyday and giving new perspectives helps make life worth living.

How do you approach starting a new creative project?  

• It depends on the project, but it all starts with a feeling and a story that needs to be told- sometimes I start with a story and set off to find images that fit, and other times I sift through my archive and find patterns to create a story.

What is your proudest moment in your creative career?  

• Design-wise- being able to see people enjoy things I’ve worked on in the wild.

• Photography-wise: Documenting Turnstile, Speed, and other bands at Tied Down 2025, and my first gallery exhibition at Playground Detroit.

Who are your creative influences?  

• The people around me —don’t get me wrong, I love a good photo book or “walkie talkie” episode —but the community of people who are creating in the city pushes me to experiment with new ways of seeing; they’re the ones who influence me the most. Support is important.

What are your creative goals for the upcoming year?

• My Goals are to push myself to improve, experiment more with video, collaborate more with other creatives, apply to more galleries, grants, and residencies.