MEET THE UC CONTRIBUTORS – BRIANA E. HEARD

BY Led Black (@Led_Black)

Briana is our very first contributor. Before we became the premiere site for Washington Heights and Inwood, Briana was right there grinding with us to attain that status. Most of the stunning images that you see as Picture of the Week are courtesy of Briana’s amazing eye and technique. She has contributed to our first promotional campaign, covered many of our events as well as putting together the eye-popping Park Portfolio photo essays. Even though she is crazy busy with her main job as the online photo editor for Vibe Magazine, in addition to her various side hustles, Briana always find some time to put in work for the Uptown Collective. For that, I am thankful. Make sure you check out her blog, beheardphotography.blogspot.com/, which is chock full of her mind blowing photography.

Without further ado, Briana in her own words:

I have been in New York for 5, and uptown for just over 4 years. Although I still very much consider myself a Californian, I found my home away from home in Washington Heights.

The thing I love most about living uptown is the sense of community. I feel like there are so many people who move to New York to be someone else; someone new. The lack of pretension is one of the most appealing qualities of uptown.

I would like to think I have been a photographer since birth, but started as a professional while I was still in high school. I almost feel like life isn’t worth living if I can’t take a photo of it. My intense sentimentality played a large role in my making my life about photos. And my love of spicy food and loud music made me an Uptowner.

I am still a little hesitant to shoot in my neighborhood, but when I get a great shot up here, I know it’s been a good day.

Check out:

Park Portfolio – Fort Tryon Park

Park Portfolio – Swindler Cove Park

Park Portfolio – Inwood Hill Park

Park Portfolio – Bennett Park