Uptown Fragments

David Vines is a lifelong New Yorker, born and raised on the Upper West Side and based in Washington Heights. Since 2024 he has been shooting primarily on film and creating unique mosaic-style collages from untouched scans of developed 35mm film.

In this series, ‘Uptown Fragments,’ David turns his lens to the architectural and natural beauty of Upper Manhattan. The photos capture vast, tranquil cityscapes, some with a lone individual in a typically bustling location, capturing a sense of solitude and isolation in a dense urban environment. David’s film collages showcase city landmarks alongside familiar uptown street scenes, including the George Washington Bridge, a neighborhood bodega, and the Word Up Community Bookshop. These collages create a dreamlike blend of the past, present and future, with some merging day with night, while others juxtapose a warm summer day, colorful fall foliage, and a frigid snowy winter. David’s film collages are composed of dozens of photos shot on a variety of different 35mm film stock, giving each a distinct color palette and a vibrant, kinetic energy