Brand: Bupa
Director: Julia Alcamo
Cinematography: Simona Susnea
Production Company: Happenstance Films
Featuring: Emmanuel Oyinbo-Coker
Locations: North & East London

Location Scouting in London for National Geographic’s Picture of Health

Picture of Health was a branded documentary project produced for National Geographic Creative Works and Bupa, exploring what health means on a deeply personal level.

I worked with director Julia Alcamo and Happenstance Films on the film featuring British para athlete Emmanuel Oyinbo-Coker.

The brief was to find urban London locations that could become part of Emmanuel’s story rather than simply sitting in the background. Filming across North and East London, we looked for spaces with texture, scale and a strong visual character — locations that could complement the energy and movement of an elite athlete.

Emmanuel’s story is an extraordinary one. The film follows his journey as a para athlete, the hurdles he has overcome and the people who have played an important part in his life and career.

For Emmanuel, health is described as “energy” — the force that drives his athletic ambitions and the people around him.

The film was beautifully captured by cinematographer Simona Susnea, with original music composed by Andrew Beaton. 

National Geographic – Picture of Health.pdf

Scouting Urban London Filming Locations

For me, the interesting part of the location brief was finding London backdrops that felt cinematic but still grounded in Emmanuel’s world.

North and East London offer an incredible mix of architecture and urban landscapes, and the locations needed to work visually while allowing the documentary team the flexibility to capture genuine moments and movement.

Here are some of my original location scout photos from the project.

Picture of Health – Annie Leibovitz Portraits

World-renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz also photographed a series of portraits exploring what health means to six Para athletes, including Emmanuel Oyinbo-Coker.