Why has this photographer taken pictures of every basketball court in Hong Kong?

This idea led to one of his biggest adventures: photographing 475 courts in one day.

Earlier this month, Bell self-published Shooting Hoops, a book with photos of Hong Kong’s basketball courts. Its cover shows a mosaic of every court in the city.

“The sheer act of putting all these courts into one big image – it doesn’t even seem possible,” he said.

“At the same time, Hong Kong itself has a reputation for being kind of impossible: impossible density, an impossible number of skyscrapers. This was my way of contributing to that.”

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In his book, Bell organises the courts by district because he hopes to show how each area is special.

“I love every single district for different reasons,” the photographer said. “Some of my favourite courts are in Po Lam, and Kwun Tong has so many great ones – it was the hardest section to cut down for my book.”

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 colours, and it has checkerboard patterns around its edges.

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 were 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.

“And 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.”

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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, adding that this was how he made his book so special.

“The project was really about reconciling the fact that, OK, maybe I’m not the best photographer in the world, but I was going to be the most comprehensive and create something truly unique.”

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.”

• Reflect: What are the basketball courts in your neighbourhood like?

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