Photographer Documents All 2,549 Outdoor Basketball Courts in Hong Kong

American photographer Austin Bell has completed an extensive photographic project documenting every outdoor basketball court in Hong Kong, totaling 2,549 locations. The series, titled 'SHOOTING HOOPS,' began after Bell's initial visit to Hong Kong in 2017, where he was struck by the vibrant colors of the courts compared to the more subdued surfaces common in the United States. Bell conducted the photography in 2019, using a combination of Google Maps satellite imagery and drone technology to locate and capture courts nestled between buildings and within urban landscapes. Over 140 days of shooting during multiple trips, he took more than 40,000 photographs, sometimes capturing over 100 courts daily, with one particularly productive day yielding images of 475 courts. The aerial perspective reveals geometric patterns and colorful designs that Bell describes as resembling 'concrete crop circles,' offering a unique view of these community spaces. Although the images often appear empty, careful observation shows people using the courts, highlighting their role as social hubs. One notable court at Chung Sing playground features audio waveform designs inspired by its name. Bell's motivation stemmed from a desire to present an unfamiliar angle of Hong Kong and to thoroughly explore a city that fascinates him. The project has been compiled into a photo book available through Bell's website, with additional images shared on his Instagram account.