A GROUP of people from Bradford have been making the most of this latest lockdown by discovering what the city has to offer photogenically.

In the past, photographers Ruxx Naqvi (@ruxxnaqvi), Shakeel Amini (@shakamini) and Jason Feather (@appertunity) have travelled far and wide to muster their best images, but with restrictions halting movement, they have had to make use of the scenery in their hometown.

And each were surprised with what they came across.

Jason, who lives in the city centre, said: “I found things on my lunchtime walks in the city that I had never seen before.

“Especially when the city centre was empty, it felt like I had the whole city to myself.

“I like shadows and reflections, especially with the architecture in Bradford, there are some amazing buildings.

“People forget what we have got in Bradford, it is about looking at the city in a different way.

“A lot of the mills that are derelict make great photographs. A lot of them are being converted into apartments, so it is nice to capture them before the transformation.”

Ruxx, who grew up in West Bowling and Frizinghall and boasts a combined total of over 10,000 followers across Instagram and Twitter, added: “Before lockdown, I never used to stay in Bradford because I thought there was nothing to photograph here.

"Whenever, I had time off I would always go out of the city to Manchester, York, Leeds, etc.

"I grew up in the eighties and nineties, and I just think back then there was so many opportunities. So many businesses that have now closed, that I could have photographed. I wish I had been into photography more."

Shakeel added: “Over the last few years, I have been taking pictures in and around Bradford, but it has always been of the same places.

“The city centre, Lister Park, and the rural areas towards the countryside on the outskirts of Bradford; Ilkley, Haworth and all those areas.

“In this lockdown, I gave myself a five-mile radius and I have discovered so much in three months right on my doorstep.

“Architecturally, I love what we have in the city. I can walk around town and notice something different every day.”

The trio are not just inspiring each other but also people nationally and internationally who now want to visit Bradford and replicate their work.

Ruxx added: “A lot of people are going out and taking photos around Bradford because of us three.

“We have had a lot of feedback nationally, people as far as Exeter and Brighton are saying they want to come over to Bradford once the restrictions are over, to meet up and photograph everything we have been doing.

“Someone else said they didn’t realise how photogenic Bradford is. We get comments like this all the time.”

Shakeel said: “If all three of us was at the same location, we could all come back with a different picture. It is nice to have that individual perspective.

"We have promoted Bradford in a sense. It just gives that other image to the city that there is more to it than just a few shops and restaurants.

“I have been in contact with people who used to live in Bradford and seeing the pictures we upload brings back memories for them and they share their stories.

“I put a picture up and a conversation develops. I have learnt a lot more about the history of Bradford.”