You’d be forgiven for thinking it was just the athletes who were providing the inspiration in Rio this summer.

But if you were to look to the sidelines, taking pictures of the athletes throughout the Paralympic Games is Joao Maia, the first visually impaired photographer to officially cover the event.

Maia can see only around a metre in front of him. With his vision blurred and coloured, he often asks people nearby to describe the scene around him.

João Maia – Fotógrafo Paralímpico (Paralympic Photographer) – Rio 2016

Maia says that colour contrast is hugely important to him, joking that people in yellow swimming caps make him happy.

The result is some stunning photography.

Supremely impressive work, Joao.