Those of you regular to SFist are more than familiar with the bold, quiet work of Darwin Bell. The local photographer, who first made a name for himself when he famously used Polaroids as his medium of choice, will present a collection of work starting this Sunday in his latest show, Urban Fragments.

Bell shared with us 7 photos (out of 20) being used in his show. SFist talked to Bell about his latest exhibit, his favorite neighborhood for snapped images, local influences, and just how photography saved him from a mid-life crisis.

SFist: How long have you been taking pictures?
Darwin Bell: I have been taking photos off and on all my life, but I only got serious over the past eight years. I started with Polaroids, then slowly progressed to what I use now, a Canon Rebel T3i. I think becoming a photographer kind of saved me from having a mid-life crisis, since it was able to avert my attention. Also, due to sites/apps like Flickr, Facebook and Instagram, instant feedback really spurred me on to keep challenging myself to be a better photographer.

Right now, what's your favorite neighborhood in San Francisco for taking pics?
The Mission has always been my favorite neighborhood to take photos—with amazing alleys like Clarion, Cypress (the unsung public art alley of the city, in my opinion), and Balmy being huge inspirations.. Since moving to the Tenderloin, though, my new neighborhood has kind of replaced the Mission as my muse. There are so many amazing murals and nooks and corners to photograph; I can't get enough of it.

Out of your many, many images, what made you select these photos for your upcoming show?
I wanted all the images to all be taken in San Francisco, obviously, but I also wanted them to be abstractions of bigger objects that's what i love photographing the most. I love taking a building and reducing it to lines, curves, colors. I also wanted to incorporate some silhouette shots into the show, because I think if you wait long enough for the exact right moment, they can tell a wonderful story. I also had to take into account what colors worked with others and what kind of story I wanted to tell with "Urban Fragments."

Obviously, San Francisco is brimming with wildly talented photogs—especially now. Can you name a few who have inspired you and your work?
I draw a great deal of inspiration from local photographers, not always because we have similar styles but because of what they are able to do with their photography and the creativity they bring to it. Among them are Geof Teague, Kegan Marling, Troy Holden, Eric Stein (Shutterslut), Julie Gebhardt, and, most of all, Cabure Bonugli (Shot in the City). Bonugli just inspires me every single day. Also, anyone who makes their living taking photographs really grabs my attention and makes me want to learn from them.

Anything you want to tell our readers about your show?
I am really excited for this show because it provides a chance for me to present my photographs in a large format and in context of each other. Having to whittle down my collection to 25 prints was a challenge. A great experience that taught me that my work tells a story outside of their individual aspects. The owner of La Movida Wine Bar & Community Kitchen, Michael Meadows has been very supportive in letting me choose what images would be presented and in what context. Everything you see in "Urban Fragments" is of my own curation.

Urban Fragments opening reception happens this Sunday, March 16th, 3-5 p.m. at Movida Wine Bar & Community Kitchen. The show will run for three months.