Why did a photographer take pictures of every basketball court in Hong Kong?

South China Morning Post

2 days ago

Austin Bell is an American photographer who has taken pictures of all 2,549 basketball courts in Hong Kong.
Bell's project began in 2017 when he visited Choi Hung Estate's iconic court. Two years later, he returned to Hong Kong determined to photograph every basketball court in the city.
This idea led to one of his biggest adventures: photographing 475 courts in one day.
In January, Bell self-published Shooting Hoops, a book with photos of Hong Kong's basketball courts.
Beautiful colours everywhere
In his book, Bell organises the courts by district because he hopes to show how each area is special.
One neighbourhood that he really enjoyed was Tin Shui Wai.
'I just find Tin Shui Wai super interesting and weird – it's self-contained, with these massive buildings and this unique colour behind it,' Bell said.
One of his favourite courts is at Queen's Hill Estate in Fanling because it mixes yellow, green and blue, and it has a checkerboard pattern around its edge.
Austin Bell has photographed all of Hong Kong's basketball courts. Photo: Courtesy of Austin Bell
Why courts are important
Documenting these courts is also a way to preserve the city's history.
'Nothing in Hong Kong stays the same,' Bell noted. 'Basketball courts are one of the best examples of that because they have to be redone every few years.'
He added that basketball courts could be more than just sports facilities. They are also important because they are places for young people to gather.
'Courts belong to kids. They're like the malls ... a place to hang out,' the photographer said.
'In Hong Kong, that's even more true because you can't just go to a friend's house or throw a party at home easily. These open spaces are what you have. It makes sense that they become the go-to spot after school, even if you don't play basketball.'
Advice for interesting pictures
Bell's advice to anyone who wants to be a photographer is to focus on the everyday details that speak to you.
'Don't get too caught up in whether a photo is 'good' – just make it interesting to you,' he said.
A photo might not seem interesting on its own, he said. But when you look at 100 of them, a story might appear.
'A lot of people think basketball courts are mundane, not something artistic. But this project changed that perspective,' he said.
'Maybe for you, it's something completely different – maybe it's 7-Eleven cashiers, public toilets, Tin Hau temples or even a recurring character you see around the city. Whatever it is, make it your own.'