Some facts
August 30, 2024
9+ Years photographing basketball courts around the world.
A journey of discovery that started in Beijing China back in 2015.
Captured 455 locations across the globe, covering 6 continents, 28 countries, 116 cities.
How it all began
The origin story
Beginnings
The ‘World of Hoops’ project originated back in 2015 while I was traveling around the world. It all began beside a gas station just outside Beijing, where I stumbled upon an oddly placed basketball hoop – It catched my eye because it felt out of place. I could not pass by without a snapshot. Following stops led me to the Chinese “ghost” cities Ordos and Tianducheng, where, surprisingly, I encountered more hoops. I thought well I photographed that earlier one, why not these ones. Unaware that each court would contribute a new dimension to the evolving project. However, it was amidst the vibrant court of tropical Cartagena, Colombia, that I realised this “photographing a court“ had evolved into something more. What started as a handful of snapshots soon transformed into a captivating way to explore cities, neighbourhoods & rural areas. It became a cool side quest, intertwining with my travels across the globe.
Upon my return from this seven-month trip, I felt compelled to continue my quest of capturing courts. Each image, I realised, was a window into the character of its surroundings— a testament to the culture and lifestyle of its neighbourhood. No longer was I simply photographing basketball courts; I was capturing a visual journey, shooting portraits of basketball courts and the diverse cultures they represented across the globe. From the intricacies of their design to the landscapes that embraced them, every court tells a different story.
| 28 May 2015 The first photo, taken near Beijing while cycling towards the Great Wall of China, sparked the journey of court collection.
| 13 Nov. 2018 First court in Africa.
| Dec. 2019 First dedicated World of Hoops trip purely to capture courts in Philippines, 53 spots in 13 days.
| 26 Aug. 2020 Upgraded from a point&shoot to a system camera.
| 3 Sept. 2020 First drone capture
| 18 Jan. 2022 First sale to a stranger. Thanks Jemaine! (I hope you like the Birthday & Anniversary Calendar)
| 30 May. 2024 Starting to shoot with a medium format camera.
What is next?
Present & future
Present
For almost a decade now, I’ve immersed myself in the captivating world of court photography. It’s a surreal thought when I think back over the years; time seems to have slipped by unnoticed. My approach has evolved over time. Gone are the days of aimless wandering through city streets in search of courts. Nowadays, I meticulously scout them out on Google Maps or Earth before setting off on my expeditions.
My passion has taken on a more structured form, with dedicated trips solely to capture the essence of these courts. Yet, besides the methodical planning, the thrill and exhilaration remain unchanged. I’m in it for the long haul; there’s no end in sight to this endless journey of exploration. I will keep my eye out for those hidden gems.
Future
In the future, I’m planning to release a book. Maybe one of my pictures could be on a gallery wall, or even better, I could have my own solo exhibition in a museum. That would be the ultimate dream… some day. We’re getting there little by little.
So for now, I’ll continue to travel the world, camera in hand, knowing that with each snap, I draw nearer to the realization of my ambitions. The journey continues, and with it, the promise of new dreams waiting to be fulfilled.
A quick overview
Captured spots
1
Africa
155
Asia
154
Europe
68
North America
46
South America
8
Oceania
Future destinations
Johannesburg, South Africa
Nov. 2024
Lisbon, Portugal
TBD
Dakar, Senegal
TBD
From pixels to courts
The man behind the project
I’m Thijs Janssen, a creative digital designer with a decade of experience. I’ve had the privilege of working with agencies, corporations, and start-ups, developing my craft across various industries. But beyond the day-to-day grind, I pour my heart into this passion project, World of Hoops. I’m constantly searching for the most unique and weird locations to capture the cultural richness found around the lines of basketball courts from around the world.
A few years back, I did some volunteering at a local basketball club called RZ (Rotterdam Zuid Basketball). The club had financial difficulties at the moment I joined the board. Initially, I joined as a designer, driven by a vision to transform the club’s image, making it “the most professional-looking” amateur club in the Netherlands. Eventually, I stepped up as vice-president and served in that role for about three years. Together worked tirelessly to revive the club, steering it back to financial stability and sporting success. Which in the end we were managed to do.
As a designer, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with some remarkable brands throughout my career, including adidas, Miele, BBDO, and Philips.
See my full design portfolio here:
www.superbruut.nl