released via the Red Bull Illume social channels – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
The submissions show action and adventure sports photography at its best, and come from an astounding number of disciplines ranging from rock climbing and high-lining to free-diving, skateboarding and snow sports. They show these sports performed in jaw-dropping locations around the world, captured using spectacular angles and innovative and inspiring photographic techniques.
The 54 Red Bull Illume judges, all eminent in their field and working for international sports, news, lifestyle and photography publications, are currently pouring over the photographs. Their job is a tough one, to find the best shots from so many awe-inspiring images.
Founder and editor-in-chief of The Outdoor Journal, and Red Bull Illume judge, Apoorva Prasad said he is looking for an image that meets more than the basic requirements such as composition, lighting and emotion. “At a deeper level, the image should also show an understanding of the history of visual arts and its effect on culture, society, people,” he says. “I believe action and adventure sports photography represents a kind of pinnacle of human spirit and achievement. I feel that spectrum of human achievement can be encapsulated in an action sports image.”
Following the judging process the 55 best shots, including the 11 Category Winners and the Overall Winner, will be unveiled and honored at the Red Bull Illume Winner Award Ceremony in Chicago, USA on September 28, 2016. The images will be displayed on life-sized light boxes which will illuminate the shots in a truly magnificent way.
Following the Winner Award Ceremony, the light boxes will travel to capitals and cultural hubs around the globe as part of a spectacular night time photo exhibition – the Red Bull Illume Exhibit Tour, which kicks off in the USA and Canada in October 2016. It will make its way around thest globe until 2018.
Visit redbullillume.com and our social channels to take a sneak peek at the entries as well as further information on the Red Bull Illume Winner Award Ceremony and the following Exhibit Tour.
About Red Bull Illume:
Red Bull Illume is the world’s greatest international photography contest dedicated to action and adventure sports. It showcases the most creative and captivating photography on the planet as art and aims to bring the public closer to the world of action sports. Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2016 is the fourth edition of the contest after 2007, 2010 and 2013. New for 2016 is the addition of the Mobile category.
The Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2016 saw 5.645 photographers from 120 countries submitting a record-breaking 34.624 images. A judging panel of 54 photo editors is currently going through the thousands of entries and will eventually select 55 finalists, 11 Category Winners and one Overall Winner, unveiled at the Red Bull Illume Winner Award Ceremony on September 28, 2016 in Chicago, USA. All finalist images then travel across the world as part of a unique nighttime photo exhibition. Official partners for 2016 include Japanese consumer electronics giant Sony, online retailer Yodobashi, external storage brand G-Technology, photo bag manufacturer tamrac and lighting experts broncolor.