Sports Aid Wheelchair Basketball Tournament 2025

Soulful Sports Photography at Wheelchair Tournament 2025

Real Emotion, Ferocious Action, True Team Spirit

Capturing the Spirit of Sports Aid’s Wheelchair Basketball

When I stepped into the Copper Box Arena this March for SportsAid’s annual Wheelchair Basketball Tournament, I wasn’t just arriving at a venue, I was stepping into a storm of determination, teamwork, laughter, grit, and pure adrenaline. As a sports photographer with a deep love for authenticity and storytelling, this shoot was something special. Wheelchair basketball is a sport with everything a photographer dreams of, speed, drama, expression, and above all, soul. But it’s also incredibly technical. These athletes, whether elite or taking their first crack at it move fast. The chairs clatter, pivot and spin with unexpected agility. There’s no room for hesitation with a camera. I shot on a fast shutter with two lenses, a 24-70mm for wide, immersive team shots, and a trusty 70-200mm for isolating emotion. Lighting inside the Copper Box was clean but varied, and I leaned into a slightly higher ISO to embrace the rawness and energy of the space. I also experimented with some slow shutter to express the movement and some multiple exposures for something more artistic for future competition artwork. What I really wanted to capture was not just action, but atmosphere. The sweat, the sideline jokes, the cheers from teammates, the way everyone from Marsh to Openreach to Hiscox gave their all for their team. This wasn’t a token event. This was real but fun competition filled with laughter.

The Ferocity of Fun

What struck me most was the balance, the serious grit of a proper tournament, and the absolute joy radiating off the court. Some players had clearly trained before, moving like pros. Others were newbies, colleagues from corporations, cautiously figuring out how to pivot or score. But the playing field was equal. Every tackle, every steal, every bounce pass was met with the same roaring support from the stands and bench. There’s something transformative about a sport like this. Wheelchair basketball removes preconceptions. It’s about skill, not sympathy. Power, not pity. The tournament smashed open any narrow views of disability and that’s what made the visuals even more compelling. What sets this apart from other commercial or editorial work is the purpose behind it. SportsAid is a charity with heart. Their aim is to support young British athletes, many at the start of their elite sports careers, through financial help and community connection. This event, while wildly entertaining, also raises essential funds and awareness. It's a chance for supporters and sponsors to literally sit in the wheels of future Paralympians and understand what’s at stake. And as a photographer, that matters to me. My camera isn’t just a witness, it’s a tool for advocacy. For connection. For showing people what matters, without telling them how to feel.

Moments That Stay With Me

There are always those moments that stick, the shots you still think about days later. The Marsh team lifting the #SupportTheNext Trophy, shouting in disbelief. A player on the RBC squad, mid-fall, still laughing as their teammates pulled them back up. The quiet concentration of a pass, just before the fast break. The power of a comeback. A post-game handshake, sweaty palms and huge smiles. These are the images I look for. The ones that say more than a headline ever could. I’ve spent years photographing high-energy sports and soulful wellbeing spaces. What connects them? Human truth. Whether it's a yoga retreat on a misty cliff in Iceland or a sports charity tournament at a buzzing East London venue, I’m always searching for that moment, the one that shows us who we really are. Photography isn’t just about aesthetic. It’s about empathy. It’s about understanding the pulse of an event and knowing how to respond through the lens, not dominate it. That’s why I shoot projects like this, because it keeps me connected. To real people. To impact. To the extraordinary stories playing out right in front of us, often unseen.

Final Thoughts

If you’re a sports organisation, charity, or editorial platform looking for photography that reflects the real energy of your event, not just the highlights, but the heartbeat, let’s talk. Whether it's grassroots or elite, I bring technical skill, emotional intuition, and a deep understanding of movement to every shoot. I care about your story. And I’ll help you tell it, beautifully, boldly, and honestly.

View fullsize