The decision to accept and judge the images will be at the discretion of Red Bull Illume judges. The Red Bull Illume judges’ decision is final. Please always keep the requirements for submission in mind!
No. You may submit ten images per category and these cannot be replaced after submission. Please choose your images carefully and consider rules and requirements for submission.
No. It is up to you to decide if an image meets the requirements of a category or not. Please consider that images that do not fit into a particular category might not be judged well.
No. You are not able to use your previous login due to a system, rules and terms and conditions change.
No. Any professional or amateur photographer can submit his or her images to Red Bull Illume Image Quest.
No. It does not have to be Red Bull branded. Any adventure and action sports image, as explained in the rules, can be submitted.
Images of a political nature, pornographic images, full frontal nudity and sexually explicit images of any kind.
Any portable computing device such as a smartphone or tablet computer.
At least 12 megapixels. To determine the megapixels of your image, simply multiply the vertical and horizontal number of pixels and divide by one million, e.g. 12.2 mega pixels (2848 pixels x 4288 pixels = 12,212,224). You can also check your megapixel file size in Photoshop by opening the image and pressing Apple+Alt+I (Mac) or Ctrl+Alt+I (PC).
The image size of a graphic file is given in pixels (see above example calculating megapixels). File size measures the weight of a computer file. The file size can be reduced by compressing data using lossy compression encoding methods like JPG: For submitting your images, you need to save your image with a reduced file size (Less than 15 Mega Bytes) without reducing your megapixel count. We ask you to submit your images in JPG compression, so you can reduce the file size to about a tenth of its original data volume and still retain good picture quality. (Please be aware that you must keep your original RAW file and Final processed image in TIFF or JPEG).
If the resolution of your image is not sufficient, please check your camera settings:
No. Images with less than 12 megapixels will be disqualified. It is true that Photoshop allows you to add pixels to your images by using rendering intents. Unfortunately, this procedure does not raise image quality to the required level and is therefore unacceptable.
No. RAW files (and other formats) must be converted to JPG and meet all other submission criteria. All images must be available for re-submission in their original size. All semi-finalists will be required to re-submit the originals in RAW or tiff format at 300dpi. For mobile images the image will be requested in its original format with no adaptions.
You can convert your file by using you default camera software or similar RAW conversion software such as Adobe Photoshop.
Take the following steps:
No. All film prints and transparencies need to be drum scanned at high resolution and delivered digitally. Scan your images at 300dpi and check their actual megapixel sizes before uploading. Please note that your images must have more than 12 megapixels to be accepted. No prints will be accepted.
The RAW category is for images that are ‘straight out of the camera’ – no post-processing done whatsoever, including cropping, adjustments to white balance or exposure, color correction, or other typical image editing techniques. This category is designed to challenge your skills as a photographer and get the best shot you can, on the spot! The format for your submission needs to be JPG. If your image makes it to the semi-finals we will then ask you for the RAW file of the image.
No digital filters are allowed for the RAW category, such as filters applied in the editing process or even special filters already integrated in the camera. Only standard camera filters such as B&W or Sepia are allowed. No change towards unnatural color temperature is permitted.
Yes. The only restriction is against content creators older than age 25 submitting to the Emerging category. Content creators under the age of 25 may submit to any category.
If you can’t upload your image(s) please check the format and file size of your image.
If you still can’t submit, the file might be damaged. Try to open it on your computer and see if any errors occur.
No. Once a photograph has been submitted, it is final and may not be replaced by another photograph or moved to a different category.
Basic image editing and color corrections are allowed, i.e. brightness, contrast, sharpening, mood and white balance. If any other alternations have been made, the image must be submitted to the Creative category.
If only basic image editing or color corrections have been made and the image is not manipulated, you can submit to the other categories too.
If you manipulate your mobile image you can only submit it to the Creative category. For the other categories only basic image editing or color corrections are allowed. The same applies to mobile images. The decision to accept your image will be at the discretion of the Red Bull Illume judges. Their decision is final. For the RAW category, no image editing may be done whatsoever.
Upload a photo or a moving image up to 60 seconds on your public Instagram profile. If you use Instagram filters, make sure you save the final image on your phone. In addition to this, please also keep the original photo as we need to check that as well. Add the hashtag #rbi21submission and tag @redbullillume.
Go to your Instagram Profile -> Click on the menu icon in the top right corner -> Click on “Settings” -> Click on “Account” -> Click on “Original Photos / Posts” and activate “Save Original Photos / Posts”.
A moving image is a video clip, GIF or image sequence that can be up to 60 seconds in length. Files must be submitted in MP4 format in Full HD, with a recommended file size between 15 and 150 Megabytes. Acceptable formats are 16:9, 4:3, 1:1, 4:5 (e.g. 1920 x 1080 pixel). Audio for moving images is allowed. Creator must own all rights. Stylized clips, such as stop motions, hyperlapses, slow motion, rewinds, superzooms and boomerangs are allowed. Basic editing, such as subtle color corrections, transitions or overlays are allowed. Stories, reels and any other format available on Instagram are not allowed. Instagram Filters are allowed. By using them we may request all versions of the image.
Yes, content creators may submit the same photo to a maximum of 2 categories. Best of Instagram by Lenovo is one of the ten categories from the Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2021. If you submitted your photo to this category you can submit this image to 1 other category from the main contest on www.redbullillume.com between March 1 until July 31, 2021.
You can submit ten images per month.
If you submitted an image to one month it is still in the image pool for the next month so it is not necessary to submit it twice.
No. This is basic color correction. Black and white images can be submitted to any category.
Submit the sequence image as you have composed it, but keep all the original files with the correct metadata. At some point we may request to see all original files and check the metadata. Sequence images can be submitted to every category.
No. It is against the rules and will lead to disqualification.
Your best adventure and action sports images combined in one slideshow. These images need to have a specific topic, for example “The beauty of blue hour light”, which tells us your story behind a photo shoot.
As a slideshow, we define photos that are strung together in a mp4 video format with a length from 30 seconds up to 3 minutes.
No, we only accept photos, that are strung together to a video format. However, overlays, text and video transition effects are allowed.
Yes, audio is allowed but you must own all rights.
Yes, all imagery must have been captured after July 31, 2019.
Yes. But make sure that you still have all rights for the image. Submitting photographers must own all rights to any photographs entered in this contest.
Please note that all images must have been taken after July 31, 2019.
A location release is a short agreement with the location that you have the permission to use the property for the purpose of photographing. Upon request you must be able to prove that the images you have submitted meet all legal requirements for participation in the Red Bull Illume Image Quest, which includes the proof that no rights of any third party are infringed. If you cannot provide such an agreement with your model, this may result in disqualification.
A model release is a short agreement with your model that proves that he/she grants you the permission to publish the photograph of him/her in one form or another. Upon request you must be able to prove that the images you have submitted meet all legal requirements for participation in the Red Bull Illume Image Quest, which includes the proof that no rights of any third party are infringed. If you cannot provide such an agreement with your model, this may result in disqualification.
If the subject of a photograph is a minor (under the age of 18), the photographer must submit a written release form unrequested, signed by the parent or legal guardian of the minor.
Yes. The copyrights of submitted images remain with you, however when you give away rights to third parties be sure not to collide with the rules you agree upon when entering the Red Bull Illume competition.
Generally, all submitting photographers must own all rights to any photographs entered in this contest.
No. The submitted images can only be used in relation to the Red Bull Illume contest. In this context it might be used for public relations or event advertising without compensation, which is standard procedure for all other credible photo contests.
In order to maintain impartiality, all images will be made anonymous before the judges receive them.
In this case the Red Bull Illume judges will cast a determining vote.
If there is a tie in round two, the previous results will be considered and the image with the most votes in round one will advance.
No. The number of votes will not be made public.
All 276 semi-finalists will be informed about their progress into the next round. The 56 finalists will be announced in public and invited to the unveiling event where the 11 category winners and the overall winner will be honored.
This limited-edition photobook features the top 256 images of the Image Quest 2021, handpicked by the Red Bull Illume jury who reviewed a total of 41,447 submissions.
Be the first to see those inspiring images printed and order your exclusive copy now!
This limited-edition photobook features the top 256 images of the Image Quest 2021, handpicked by the Red Bull Illume jury who reviewed a total of 41,447 submissions.
Be the first to see those inspiring images printed and order your exclusive copy now!
COOPH partnered up with WhiteWall to bring you Will Saunder's winning photograph to your home. These prints are highly limited and come with a certificate of authenticity.
Will had shot so called whippers many times, but this time he wanted to not only challenge himself but also his friend Jake. Whilst taking the fall Jake stroke a pose reminiscent of a superhero. The powerful position of Jake with the vast Utah desert in the backround make this photograph a perfect WhiteWall print.
COOPH partnered up with WhiteWall to bring you Will Saunder's winning photograph to your home. These prints are highly limited and come with a certificate of authenticity.
Will had shot so called whippers many times, but this time he wanted to not only challenge himself but also his friend Jake. Whilst taking the fall Jake stroke a pose reminiscent of a superhero. The powerful position of Jake with the vast Utah desert in the backround make this photograph a perfect WhiteWall print.
