“It’s my way of seeing, understanding, and honouring
the human element that God has placed around me.”
Hi there, my name is Harry Gwinnett and I’m a church leader and photographer on the West side of Bradford – I like to say, “I minister in an ‘Urban Village.” On one hand I’m on the edge of open countryside but on the other, I’m on the edge of an estate. Now don’t get me wrong I love landscape photography (the rolling hills and the cascading waterfalls) but there’s something intriguing about capturing life on the estates. To me, urban photography has become more than a creative genre – it’s my way of seeing, understanding, and honouring the human element that God has placed around me.
Inner cities and estates can often be seen as broken, chaotic and overwhelming and although these are true, I’ve found that when I slow down and look carefully these spaces are also filled with beauty, resilience, and quiet grace. My passion now lies in capturing those good parts of urban life alongside my landscapes and viewing them through a Christian lens – one that is rooted in hope, dignity, and redemption.
“I’m looking for the moments that reveal humanity at its best.”
When I walk around the streets with my camera, I’m not just looking for the best compositions, I’m looking for the moments that reveal humanity at its best: a shared laugh between generations (photo 1), a group of youngsters transforming the environment through their actions (photo 2), and the united colours of hope, and laughter (photo 3).
Above: Photos 1 and 2.
These moments remind me that every person carries the image of God, no matter what their circumstances – Urban photography gives us a window into the humanity that many people don’t see and an opportunity to visibly share this truth. Now don’t get me wrong, estates are complex places. They’re filled with inequality, noise, and tension, but they’re also filled creativity, community, and perseverance.
“I don’t feel called to ignore the brokenness
– but I do feel called to highlight hope.”
As a Christian, I don’t feel called to ignore the brokenness – but I do feel called to highlight hope and I am always reminded of that phrase ‘Having Only Positive Expectations.’
I’m also reminded in the bible that light shines brightest in the darkest of places and I see this lived out on our streets. A shaft of sunlight cutting between flats, a mural bringing colour to a neglected wall (photo 4) or a small act of kindness in a crowded space (photo 5), can speak volumes about God’s presence in unexpected places.
Above: Photos 3, 4 and 5
Photography teaches us to be patient and attentive, qualities deeply connected to faith. In other words, you can’t rush a meaningful photograph; you have to wait, observe, and be present in the moment. In the same way, my walk with God requires stillness and trust, something that I struggle with at times and find that photography becomes a form of prayer for me – an act of gratitude for what God is already doing even when it goes unnoticed. Each press of the shutter is a reminder to slow down and appreciate the world as it is, not just as people think it should be.
“Each press of the shutter is a reminder to slow down
and appreciate the world as it is, not just as people think it should be.”
In our everyday life, social media often celebrates the dramatic skylines and the gritty extremes, but I find beauty in the chaos, wonder in the everyday rhythms of life. Washing hanging from a flat window, commuters lost in thought, shopfronts opening for business – these are the moments that tell honest stories. They reflect the faithfulness of God in daily provision and routine –there is something deeply sacred about the ordinary and my photography allows me to honour that.
My Christian perspective also shapes how I approach the people I photograph, respectfully with humility and compassion. I never want to exploit or objectify the people in the shot. Instead I aim to portray people with dignity, recognising their worth beyond the frame. Jesus consistently saw people that others overlooked, and I try to do the same.
“I aim to portray people with dignity,
recognising their worth beyond the frame.”
Ultimately, photography helps me tell a story of redemption. Not redemption in a dramatic, instant sense, but in a slow steady way. God restores hearts, he restores communities, and spaces. A crack in the pavement with flowers pushing through, a restored building on a forgotten estate, or joy found amongst the struggle – all these point to a God who is with us. Through my photography, I hope that others can see places differently – not just as places of stress or decay, but as living testimonies of grace.
Life, with all its imperfections, reflects the human condition, and that’s exactly where God meets us. By capturing the good parts, I’m not denying reality; I’m just trying to affirm some hope – and for me, that’s where faith and photography come together.
All photography by Harry Gwinnett: For more information visit gwinnett.org.uk