What fascinates you about photography and why have you chosen to take part in the Image Quest 2019? 

Anyone who is active in the outdoor and action sports scene can hardly get past Red Bull Illume. I was thrilled by the pictures of the past editions. The level is incredibly high - all the more I feel honored to be a small part of it in the 2019 edition. 
The combination of aesthetics and athletics is what makes it special for me. We see athletes at great performances in beautifully composed images. This is also part of the answer to what fascinates me about photography in general. Despite an epochal overload of images in the digital age, photography has lost nothing of its magic for me. However, with the incredible quantity of pictures, it has become more of an art not to press the shutter button or to take a picture only when I am convinced that I have something as unseen and valuable as possible in front of my lens. 
Ideally you then make the difference between a good and a very good picture... 

Your image of the athletes Caro North and Steph Davis on the famous Mittellegi ridge on the Eiger in the Swiss Alps made it to the final stage of the Image Quest 2019. Can you tell us a little bit about the shot? How did it come about? 

As a mountain, the Eiger is simply an absolute knockout. The visual and historical dominance of its world-famous north face makes you shudder every time you approach it. 
The impressive east ridge that is visible in the photo is probably one of the most beautiful ridge tours of the Alps. With regards to the ambiance, the shot is actually quite a "no brainer". 
The photo was taken during a shooting for a Swiss mountaineering equipment supplier. We installed two camera teams to accompany Caro and Steph - one with the photographer Thomas Senf directly on the mountain, a filmmaker and myself for the aerial shots. On this second day of shooting everything was just right: We waited until late afternoon to get the perfect lighting conditions. That the fog in the south wall added to the drama was the icing on the cake. Such impressions stay with you - not only in the camera. 

You worked with exceptionally talented athletes over the years. Have you learned something from them that also comes in handy for your work as a photographer? 

To be in the terrain with such athletes is of course impressive at first: Their way of understanding what is going on in the mountains, their way of assessing the dangers but most of all their incredible athletic abilities to move on rock and ice leaves me speechless even after many years. Although it may sound trite, the respect they show towards the mountain is impressive. 
In addition, professionals like Dani Arnold, Steph Davis or Jérémie Heitz know exactly what is important when it comes to illustrating their sport. It is therefore worthwhile to listen. 
But what really impresses me is the modesty of these athletes: Someone who pursues a sport at the highest possible level in the world, gives everything for his passion and still never gives his environment the feeling of being too good for anything. 
These are perhaps less the central skills that influenced me as a photographer, but as a human being I have really taken a lot of such personalities with me on my way. 

What’s the biggest challenge when shooting free solo and speed climbing records? 

You have to make a difference: Usually such pictures are re-enacted after a record. This applies to most of the famous records on the Eiger, Matterhorn, El Cap etc. For example, we also did it this way with Dani Arnold on the Matterhorn.
However, during his speed ascent of the Cassin Route on Piz Badile in 2016, we went a new way and made a documentation of Dani live during his record. This changes the situation for both, the athlete and the photographer, completely. 
There is an aesthetic-planning dimension: What does the shooting process look like? In which passages do you absolutely want to have pictures? What possibilities for spectacular angles do we have, how quickly can we change from one position to another, etc.? 
Then there's a technical one: Basically you have exactly one shot. During a speed ascent, the athlete cannot just turn around and climb a passage again. So you better make sure that you have the camera under control. 
Finally, there is a personal level: Someone close to you is climbing and risks his life. If he makes even a small mistake, you will be watching him fall to certain death. I don't think that this can be answered conclusively, but you must ask yourself if and how you could live with it. 
So it takes an enormous amount of trust on both sides. The athlete has to know that we do not put additional pressure on him in any way. He has to be able to rely on it, that everything works out and that we capture his exploit as professionally as possible.
I, on the other hand, must be able to rely 100% on him not taking the slightest unnecessary risk because of the camera.
That's where the dilemma comes from: Do you shoot during the ascent and risk putting the athlete under additional pressure - or do you shoot afterwards and expose the athlete again to an extremely risky situation, just to have nice pictures? 

Can you explain how a shoot like this usually works? Do you climb next to the athlete(s) or do you use drones?

Without (massive) technical aids, it is usually not possible, because climbing along is definitely not an option. You can recreate scenes in the wall from fixed positions, but this is not really possible when shooting live. For this you would need a very large crew with many different teams in the wall. At best, you can do this in Yosemite in stable weather, but in an exposed wall in the Alps at 4000m above sea level, it's a logistical nightmare. As a lay person you can hardly imagine the enormous climbing speed - but in many places it is actually more of a running than a climbing. The whole thing advances so fast that you always have to be fully concentrated. 

Drones are ingenious - of course I use them too. But with large walls there are still limits. For really good pictures, I'm afraid the helicopter is (still) irreplaceable in such terrain. The interaction with the pilot is then crucial, he must know the site very well, understand where the most important passages are and from which positions the view of the route is best. During the record attempt itself, communication with the athlete is not possible - so good planning is essential. 

What equipment do you use when you shoot free solo or speed climbers? One would imagine it has to be rather light?
 
No, lightness is not the most important thing. Of course, I only take to the mountain what fits in a backpack and I can carry around with me without any problems. But absolute reliability, speed (like a fast, precise focus) and a certain redundancy are the most important things. Basically, I always work with two cameras with different lenses more or less parallel in such projects. It would really be most unfortunate if an athlete would make a phenomenal exploit and I would mess it up... 

What are your goals as a photographer? Anything specific for 2020? 

Photography is only one of my activities and passions - I fear that 2020 will be more about other tasks. Nevertheless: Some projects are definitely on the agenda this summer in the mountains.
And of course: Slowly I will start to develop first ideas for the next Red Bull Illume Image Quest... 

Where can we find more of your work? 

Best is to visit my website atlense.com I'm afraid I'm a little too lazy to maintain social media channels - but sure, you can find me on Instagram @atlense_photography. Ok, with the latter, a few more followers would probably be nice...

Feel inspired? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more adventure and action sports! 

Now you're a Red Bull Illume finalist, describe what the Wings Category means to you?

The Wings Category to me is the moment of flight, the still moment where things go completely quiet. As a photographer, it is the moment my breath stops and I just hear the shutter.

What came first for you - whitewater kayaking or photography?

Whitewater kayaking came to me first, I had just started travelling for whitewater kayaking when I purchased my first camera. After that first big trip abroad my photography passion grew exponentially.

What is it that draws you into the water and whitewater especially?

The flow of being on the river is addictive, once you peel out into the current you are in a different world. Moving downstream with a group of friends in a stunning environment is my happy place for sure! Every river has a different character and spirit, that's what makes travelling around the world and being drawn to new and foreign rivers so appealing.

What are your biggest influences in adventure and action sports photography?

Somehow, I surround myself with crazy people unintentionally all the time, it's the norm now really. Now and again I take a step back and realize that my friends are some of the craziest whitewater kayakers, BASE jumpers and surfers in the world and we are all so privileged to spend our time on this planet checking out wild places and new experiences. Long story short - my influences are my friends, wild places and my drive to be best at what I do.

How did the idea for your finalist shot come about?

Alexandra Falls has fascinated me since I first saw an image of it in 2003. Drone photography has allowed so many more creative angles and perspectives to shoot waterfalls. I thought about the perfect shot for a long time, one that combines both the scale of the waterfall and the perspective of the paddler staring down one hundred feet. When the paddler decides to run down such a steep waterfall, he doesn't think about the perfect light, like I ususally do. As a photographer you have to work with what you have. But I coudn't be happier with the way the image turned out, incorporating the rainbow at the bottom of the falls.

How did you discover the location and meet the athlete?

The location is known in the whitewater scene since its first descent in 2003, it only has been paddled by a few people. Although I knew the rough location, it wasn't until I got there that I fully understood that I was almost in the arctic circle. I traveled there with two friends from home and I met Bren (Orton, ed. note), the athlete, at the Falls as he arrived with another group of some of the world's leading paddlers.

Did the final image turn out exactly as planned?

More or less, yes, even better in some ways. I love that you can see the deep water channel so clear. I had not expected this until I first flew the drone over it to do a test shoot.

What was the biggest challenge in capturing this photo?

Managing multiple cameras and getting the timing right. That's always a challenge when you are shooting aerial and handheld at the same time. Also, the athlete usually takes a couple of minutes to get in the right mindset for the drop. The drone battery has a very short lifetime so the timing was key here.

A kayak doesn't have enough space for suitcases full of gear. What do you carry on a regular adventure?

Safety gear, my camera, something to snack on and a lighter and knife are always with me on a day trip in my kayak.

Your ultimate location/athlete/sport to shoot?

Such a hard question! Any wild and remote place with my friends on a river is a dream I will have forever. Whitewater will always be close to my heart but I am shooting a lot more BASE jumping these days. If we are talking dreams though, Dean Potter somewhere in the Yosemite Valley.

How did you discover Red Bull Illume?

I first learned about it when I saw Eric Parker's entry in the last contest. It's a fantastic event and I feel honoured to be a part of it.

Plans vs. dreams for 2020?

My plans this year take me to the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia, followed by the West Coast of North America. Then to Kyrgystan and Ethiopia in the fall and maybe to Madagascar. I'm excited to visit some new locations. My dream shot this year would be a humpback whale while Freediving in Madagascar.

Where can we find more of your work?

On Instagram @follow_the_river and on my website LachieC.com!

Featuring in the winning shot is the talented rider Jeremy Berthier, who told us the exciting story behind the shot from his perspective:

"Shooting with JB is fun and we always have a good time but it can be kind of intense sometimes. When we are focusing on a special picture at the end of a long day of riding when I'm already pretty tired and the light starts to fade."

But it takes more than the perfect timing - the relationship between photographer and athlete is essential for a spectacular shot. "It's way easier to work with someone you know well, we trust each other and that's a big thing. Jb also knows my limits and which tricks are possible", Jeremy says.

He is still buzzing with excitement when it comes to Red Bull Illume: "Having this shot winning a category at Red Bull Illume is just amazing and it's a real pleasure to see how it's shared around the world. I'm stoked we took this picture near the village I grew up in and on the trail I built myself. It's a great reward and I would like to thank my friend JB for his crazy work and the people at Commencal Bicycles for putting together the video project that lead to this picture."

Video by: Léon Perrin for Commencal Bicycles

See more incredible work by Jean-Baptiste Liautard on his Instagram or check out his website!

Find the outstandig athlete Jeremy Berthier on Instagram and Facebook!

Feel inspired? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more adventure and action sports! 

In 2019, Red Bull Illume presents an entirely new global exhibition. See the creative and captivating finalist images of the Image Quest 2019 illuminated in unique style on 2x2m T-shaped lightboxes created by our partner CCS digital_fabric®.

CCS digital_fabric® GmbH is based in Dusseldorf. Established in 1979, it has a clear international driven orientation. In 2001, CCS revolutionized the display technology by introducing the fabric frame® which became a worldwide standard in a very short amount of time. CCS digital fabric has been an innovation driver and pioneer when it comes to digital printing.

On December 11 at the world-famous Hangar-7 in Salzburg, it was 'lights on' for this unique experience. Guests and photographers alike watched on in awe as the 60 finalist images from the Image Quest 2019 were lit up on these incredible screens for the first time.

The Global Exhibit Tour has stops around Europe and the USA in 2020 confirmed and soon to be announced. Make sure to stay tuned to see if Red Bull Illume, and CCS digital_fabric®, are coming to your city!

For more on CCS digital_fabric® and their incredible print services, check out their website!

A dancer since the age of five, Eva Berten's photography captures all the vibrancy and dynamism associated with breaking. Her super clean shot of Charlize Glass executing a flip named 'suicide' won over the judges as she made it to the semi-finals of the Wings category, and into the Photobook! We wanted to know more!

Check out the interview and more great images below… 

How does it feel to have made it to the semi-final stage of the Wings category?

Honestly, I never thought that I would make it so far. This contest is known for the best sports and action photos and I'm extremely honored to have one of my pictures amongst them this year. Especially since it's in the Wings category. To me it represents Red Bull's slogan in the best possible way. 

Tell us a little bit about how you came to shoot breaking?

I started with dance photography in 2013/2014. I'm a dancer myself and some of my crew members needed photos for a workshop flyer. I was already working as a photographer that time, so of course they asked me to take the pictures. I was so amazed by the results and shooting what I love, dance, made me so happy. Since that day I couldn't stop anymore. I started to shoot more friends and somehow got my first bookings for some major dance events in Germany and international. The rest is history.

What’s the biggest challenge in capturing someone mid-air?

The hardest part is definitely the timing! You really need to have some kind of feeling for the right moment. And a fast finger. Personally, I think it really helps that I'm a dancer myself and know what exactly I'm trying to capture. I always try to get the picture with one shot only. I try to be patient and wait for that one moment. Burst mode would be too easy.

Do you choreograph the moves to get a shot that you have in mind? Or are you just capturing moments as they happen?

Usually I don't choreograph it. Most of the dancers just freestyle in front of my camera and I take the shots in the right moments. I try to study dancers and their style. If I know their signature moves, how they enter them and movements they usually do, I'm prepared and ready for the shoot. I only choreograph the moves if I have a specific picture that I want to capture. But usually I just go with the flow and see what's the result. I feel like choreographing everything and trying to realize this one specific idea, can kind of limit your freedom and opportunities during the shooting.

Any locations you would love to shoot breaking, but haven’t yet?

Yes! Definitely Iceland. And a trip with six amazing dancers is already scheduled for next year. I can't wait to take some breathtaking shots in these jaw-dropping landscapes. It's going to be a tough project, since Iceland is usually really cold and the dancers need to be warm to show their best moves. But I'm 100% sure the freezing is going to be worth it!

Finish the sentence: “If I wasn’t an action and adventure sports photographer I would be…"

... a professional dancer.

What’s next for you, and where can we find more of your work?

Next up are some small community events, editing tons of photos that I took at the Funkin Stylez World final in Düsseldorf and organizing a little shooting tour through Germany. You can check out more of my work on Instagram @evaberten or on my website www.evaberten.com!

Red Bull Illume is excited to present an entirely new exhibition, which celebrated its world premiere on December 11 at the outstanding Hangar-7 in Salzburg, Austria! See the creative and captivating finalist images of the Image Quest 2019, selected by 50 esteemed judges out of 59,551 submissions, that make up this unique experience. The Top 60 images from the Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2019 make their first indoor stop at the amazing work of architecture that is Hangar-7 in Salzburg. There, the stunning images are illuminated in the true style of Red Bull Illume on 2x2m T-shaped lightboxes.

This brand-new set up of the lightboxes, on which the images are displayed for the first time at Hangar-7, is provided by the German based company CCS digital_fabric®. They revolutionized the display technology by introducing fabric_frame®. These high-quality frames provide the perfect means of showcasing the high-tech prints and make the Red Bull Illume exhibition truly amazing!

From its architectural elegance to its beautiful interior, the venue itself is a sight to behold. Home to a stunning collection of historical aircraft, Formula 1 race cars and other unique mementos from sporting history, Hangar-7 makes the ideal space for the kick-off of the Global Indoor Exhibit Tour.

On December 11 the opening night for invited guests took place. Attending the event and celebrating the Image Quest 2019 were photographers like Masterpiece by EyeEm and Playground category winner Lorenz Holder, Wings category winner Philip Platzer, Lifestyle category winner Alexander Wick as well as Red Bull Illume 2019 semi-finalists Markus Berger and Luis Gallo.

They were joined by legendary BMX athlete Senad Grosic and paragliding hero Paul Guschlbauer. Special guests from the photography industry completed the line-up for this magical night.

The unique exhibition is free to visit and is open daily from December 12, 2019 until February 9, 2020 during Hangar-7’s usual opening hours of 9am to 10pm. The kickoff of the Indoor Exhibit Tour is set to be an event like no other, so make sure you stop by and get inspired by the amazing images!

The Global Exhibit Tour has stops around Europe and the USA in 2020 confirmed and soon to be announced. Make sure to stay tuned to see if Red Bull Illume is coming to your city!

Red Bull Illume has earned its place as the world’s greatest adventure and action sports imagery contest. In November the winners of the Image Quest 2019 were crowned at a spectacular Winner Award Ceremony at LUMEN atop Plan de Corones in South Tyrol, Italy. The Museum of Mountain Photography will also host the first outdoor exhibit tour stop. The stand-alone exhibition will present the top 60 images of the Image Quest 2019 on 2x2m lightboxes in an amazing scenery at a height of 2,275m/7,464ft. above sea level. The opening of the exhibition coincided with the official start of the ski season at Plan de Corones on November 30 and will be open until December 15, 2019. After that, the images will be displayed in magical Brunico-Bruneck, Italy until January 6, 2020. 

The location is at least as stunning as the exhibited images themselves. The breathtaking LUMEN – Museum of Mountain Photography has an 1800m2 exhibition space and features the most amazing moments of mountain photography. Over four floors it shows the history of mountain photography, from its beginnings until today and gives well deserved credit to the photographers behind the pictures. 

Situated in the beautiful Pustertal Valley, Plan de Corones is considered by many to be the number one wintersports resort in South Tyrol, Italy and all those who enjoy culture and relaxation in beautiful surroundings. So, make your next ski trip extra special! Head to Plan de Corones for great snow and experience the 60 finalist images in front of LUMEN at 2,275m/7,464ft. The exhibition will be open daily from 8.30am until 4.30pm and is free to visit, the opening hours coincide with the opening hours of the gondola.

Following the stop at LUMEN, the exhibition will travel to Brunico-Bruneck, Italy, also known as the heart of the Pustertal Valley. The images will be illuminated at the town hall square after dark from December 19, 2019 until January 6, 2020. Visitors can get in the festive mood at the Bruneck Christmas market, and combine this with a unique look at the 60 finalists that were chosen by 50 esteemed judges out of 59,551 submissions, that make up this stunning experience.

These tour stops atop Plan de Corones and in Brunico-Bruneck, Italy are set to be an event like no other, so be sure to stop by!

See all the stops on our dedicated Exhibition Page!

The Red Bull Illume Image Quest has a new name in the overall winner circle: Ben Thouard! His underwater epic shot in the glassy clear waters of Tahiti was chosen by a panel of 50 esteemed judges as the winner. If perspective were ever needed at a time like this, Ben’s image is number 1 out of a phenomenal 59,551 submissions.

We are delighted to add Ben’s name to the list of overall winners of the world’s greatest adventure and action sports imagery contest. A list that includes iconic photographers Lorenz Holder, Chris Burkard and Fred Mortagne. His progression from edition to edition has seen him rise from semi-finalist in 2013, to finalist in 2016 and now overall winner in 2019!

Every image tells a story, and here’s Ben’s story behind the shot:

“I‘ve dedicated the last few years to shooting underwater, looking for new angles and a new way to shoot surfing and waves. Shooting surfing from underwater is a whole new world and I love it! 

“Tahiti has some of the clearest water in the world so it was easy for me to take advantage of it and explore it as much as I could. 

“This photo was shot during a freesurf session right before the WCT event in Teahupo‘o. This is Ace Buchan kicking out from the barrel through the wave, a technique to escape a close-out wave. 

“Luckily I was right below, breathless with my waterhousing waiting for this moment and I was able to capture the whole sequence of it; this frame from the beginning of the sequence is the most powerful one because of the water around his face and body.”

As overall winner, Ben was selected from the 11 category winners, meaning he will take home the category winning prizes from Red Bull Illume Partners Sony, SanDisk, Skylum and COOPH - PLUS a Sony a9 camera with a 24-70mm f2.8 lens from the G-Master range. SanDisk will also take him on a shooting experience the SanDisk Extreme Team!

That’s not all, his image, along with the other of the 60 finalist images, will now be illuminated on 2x2m lightboxes at the Red Bull Illume Global Outdoor Exhibit Tour which begins tonight at LUMEN! 

All of the finalists, as well as the rest of the Top 260 images, are also published in the Red Bull Illume 2019 Limited Edition Photobook, which is available to order right now!

Once again, a huge thank you goes out to our partners Sony, SanDisk, Skylum, COOPH, Salewa, Petzl and Sunnybag for a memorable event and an amazing Image Quest!

But, most of all thanks to every photographer and content creator out there that submitted to the contest!