Art
Red Bull Illume is a photo contest that honors the world’s best action and adventure images. Here are this year’s winners.
THE COMPETITION: RED BULL ILLUME
In 2006, photographer and former Red Bull athlete Ulrich Grill made two keen observations while teaching a photo workshop. First, technological advances in equipment had opened up totally new opportunities for action and adventure photographers, and second, there was no competition that celebrated this burgeoning genre. So Grill simply invented one: Red Bull Illume. Today, with tens of thousands of submissions, the contest is the largest of its kind in the world, with winners chosen by a 50-person jury of experts. It’s a complex process with high standards, so the competition deliberately takes place only every two or three years. redbullillume.com
Dirtbag Superhero
Winner: Overall and “Masterpiece by SanDisk” category
“I’ve shot whippers many a time, but this time I wanted to try something a little different,” says Saunders of this shot in Indian Creek, Utah. Saunders convinced climber Jake Talley to form a more powerful stance instead of a classic falling position. The final result reminded him of a superhero.
willsaundersphoto.com; Instagram: @willsaundersphoto
Whenever I go out to make some images, I do my best to come back with something that I haven’t done before.
Subway Surfer
Winner: “Lifestyle by COOPH” category
In Munich, there’s a man-made wave on the Eisbach River that’s popular among local surfers. To get this shot, Unrath followed surfer Andreas Müllner on the subway as he readied himself for one of his first sessions after the 2020 lockdown.
carolinunrath.com; Instagram: @carounrath
The artist’s world is limitless. I love to show people around and let them dive deeper into different worlds that they’ve never been to before.
Black Ice
Winner: “Innovation by EyeEm” category
In February 2020, Monsorno traveled to Siberia with Swiss alpinist Dani Arnold for a bone- chilling expedition above the deepest lake in the world, Lake Baikal. In this shot, Monsorno used a hovercraft to find the perfect location while Arnold climbed a vertical ice wall above the frozen lake.
thomasmonsorno.com; Instagram: @thomas.monsorno
Bouncing Off Dust
Winner: “RAW by Leica” category
“Playing with dust and light has always been one of my favorite ways to shoot mountain biking,” says Long, who captured local rider Dylan Siggers in Fernie, British Columbia. “I had figured out exactly where he would be in the frame and captured the moment as he emerged from the dust perfectly."
brunolong.com; Instagram: @eye_b_long
The Heartbreak Kid
Winner: “Emerging by Black Diamond“ category
“Before tying into the sharp end, Jack was clearly nervous,” says Kohner-Flanagan of climber Jack Nugent, who was tackling the Queen of the Heartbreaks route near Bishop, California. “Questing up the blank face, Jack found a cheeky no-hands rest. Doubt cleared from his face as I snapped the shot.”
victoriakohnerflanagan.com; Instagram: @vickyvicti
I find joy capturing people in moments of vulnerability on and off the wall. My work strives to capture the meaningful connections forged between the people and the landscapes I encounter.
Waking the Glacier
Winner: “Playground by WhiteWall” category
An underground lake in Austria served up fantastically frigid conditions for Berger and athlete Dominik Hernler: “I didn’t feel anything below my waist,” Berger says of the challenge. “Right after this shot, my camera shut down and didn’t work for three days.”
I strive to put my heart and soul into projects and love the teamwork aspect of a shoot.
Moon Shot
Winner: “Best of Instagram by Lenovo” category
Photographer Moro spent a week planning this shot with athletes Jaime Rico and Javi Diaz at Pico Malacara, Spain. “You just have to wait for the moment, pray for a bluebird sky,” Moro says. “What’s amazing is that we took the shot on the second try.”
yhabril.com; Instagram: @yhabril
Master of Illusion
Winner: “Creative by Skylum” category
“Our imagination recreates interesting pieces of architecture into an action sports playground,” Kasl says of this image of skateboarder Fanda Šesták in Prague. “With a tool like forced perspective, I felt like I could push it a little further, bending reality to bring the athlete into an absolutely surreal environment."
jankaslphoto.com; Instagram: @jankaslphoto
It doesn’t matter if we’re on vacation, on a shoot or just going on a random walk through a city— our imagination recreates interesting pieces of architecture into an action sports playground.
Splash Down
Winner: “Energy by Red Bull” category
“This shot was not supposed to happen,” says Hill, who had already packed up his gear when kayaker River Mutton decided to take one more trip over the Huka Falls in New Zealand. “I didn’t have time to get to my normal spot,” adds Hill. “Then all of a sudden the light popped like I had never seen before.”
Instagram: @rod_coffee
This shot was not supposed to happen.
