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  • Dean Treml, Category finalist 2010: Close Up
    Dean Treml, Category finalist 2010: Close Up
    CL10_020686_003980-1.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Close Up
    PhotographerDean Treml
    AthletesSteve Black
    LocationHamburg, Germany
    Read more

    Dean Treml

    CL10_020686_003980-1.jpg
    CameraCanon 50D
    Lens120-300 mm
    ISO400
    F-Stopf4.0
    Shutter speed1/8000

    About the shot

    This shot shows the Australian diver Steve Black performing a back three and a half twist from the 26-meter (85-feet) platform on the Rickmer Rickmers tall ship during the sixth round of the Red Bull Cliff Diving series in Hamburg, Germany in August, 2009.

    It was around midday and the sun was directly overhead. I had previously noticed that Steve had a backward dive, which kept his body open as he twisted after take-off from the platform – unlike many others who would tuck or somersault, obscuring their faces.

    Storm clouds had rolled through in the west providing a dark background and with the sun overhead it allowed for some cool contrast if it was shot right. I ran east around to the opposite side, as I knew Steve was due to dive soon but had no idea if this dive would be the one I was hoping for. As he was being announced by the commentator, I was jostling through the crowd trying to get a good angle and as soon as I was fairly happy I turned and took a quick spot reading, set my exposure and four seconds later this shot was the result. By the time the next diver was on the platform less than three minutes later, those special light conditions were gone.

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    Biography

    I was fascinated by photography at an early age, which meant my mum had to pay good money to develop films of dubious worth! I bought my first new camera at 14 and in the years that followed I got a taste of working for a newspaper, studio, shooting weddings and portraits. As a result I knew I preferred the editorial, photojournalistic style of work.

    I like carrying a small kit and not worrying about lots of gear slowing me down. When I’m working my mindset is to try and give an inside perspective of any sport or event I cover and tell a story, particularly the personal human element. I’m not a big fan of preconceived ideas. Rather I enjoy the challenge and buzz of just turning up to shoot a different sport or event, regardless of the location or conditions, and adapting.

    I’ve been working as a photographer for nearly 30 years now and in that time I’ve been really fortunate that it’s introduced me to some amazing colleagues, taught me about journalistic integrity, shown me the world, from shooting Olympic Games to international rugby amidst a crowded stadium, to a lonely skateboarder trying to nail a kick-flip or kids playing football in a slum.

    I’m thrilled to have been working for some fantastic clients, including international news agency AFP, Getty Images and Red Bull, and proud to have been recognised and awarded in such photo competitions as Picture of the Year International, Red Bull Illume and NZ Press Photographer of the Year.

     

  • Nathan Smith, Category finalist 2010: Close Up
    Nathan Smith, Category finalist 2010: Close Up
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    Category finalist 2010Close Up
    PhotographerNathan Smith
    AthleteAndrew Mooney
    LocationWamberal, New South Wales, Australia
    Read more

    Nathan Smith

    CL10_000295_000084.jpg
    CameraCanon EOS 1D Mark III
    Lens10-17mm
    ISO200
    F-Stopf5.6
    Shutter speed1/1600

    About the shot

    The shot here is of one of my mates and fellow central coaster Andrew Mooney. He’s one damn charger on a surfboard and he’s got all the tricks. He now mainly concentrates on free surfing and is always great to shoot. The shot was taken later in the day when it was pretty dark at Andrew’s home break in Wamberal, which is about 20 minutes from where I grew up.

    I love late colors in waves and it always makes for a beautiful shot. I'm happy with the way the picture turned out - I'm sure it will always be one of my favorites. Surf photography is all about moments like this one and that’s what I'm addicted to.

    <media 902 - download-grey>download wallpaper</media>

    Nathan_Smith.jpg

    Biography

    I’m 37 and I live on the northern braces of Sydney in a place called Newport. I was first introduced to surfing when I was around seven. I remember being at a BBQ and there was this old beat up surfboard lying under the house - I was fascinated by it. I ended being given it by one of my mother’s friends and my father cleaned it up and fixed it. I used to hassle my parents almost every day to take me to the beach so I could ride it.

    I also became interested in photography at a young age. I used to steal my uncle’s camera when he wasn't using it and play with it. I never even knew if there was film in it so I’d push all the buttons and wait for the click, wondering if it was working or not.

    I took up surfing professionally for a while. I did fairly well in a few surfing competitions, travelled a lot, beat a few names that I now shoot from time to time. But I got injured, so I bought a proper camera when I was 21 and then moved to Sydney to focus on my photography. I then assisted Adam Watson, one of Australia’s finest fashion and beauty photographers.

    I initially wanted to shoot fashion but the 'surf photo thing' slowly took over and I haven’t stopped since then. It's an exciting time to own a camera. At the moment, I just love what I’m doing and that’s all that matters.

  • Christoph Schöch, Category finalist 2010: Close Up
    Christoph Schöch, Category finalist 2010: Close Up
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    Category finalist 2010Close Up
    PhotographerChristoph Schöch
    AthleteDaniel Schiessl
    LocationHintertux, Austria
    Read more

    Christoph Schöch

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    CameraCanon EOS 40D
    Lens10-17mm
    ISO100
    F-Stopf4.5
    Shutter speed1/6400

    About the shot

    The season hadn't started yet back in 2008, but I decided to get some early season impressions of Hintertux in Austria. The conditions were pretty good - fresh snow and bluebird skies were forecasted. We went up the glacier really early to check everything out.

    Daniel Schiessl, who had just got back into skiing after his knee surgery, was part of the crew. He came up with the idea to do some fast plant shots at the knuckle of the jump. The jumps weren’t that big so I thought it was a good idea. I wanted to get the camera as close as possible and use a fisheye lens so someone looking at the picture could really get a feeling of how the trick is done.

    It took a while to set up the shoot so Dani didn’t hit the equipment, or me! The sun came out behind the mountain at just the right time and I gave Dani the go-ahead. I think he flew by about 30cm from my camera. It was a close shave, but we got the perfect shot.

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    Biography

    I was born in 1985 in Vorarlberg, Austria. When I turned 18 I bought my first SLR camera and fell in love with photography from then on. I started by shooting snowboarding and freeskiing with my friends. After a while I realized that photography was more than just a hobby; I started spending all the money I earned from selling photos on buying new camera equipment, and my photography became more and more experimental.

    Nowadays, I’m working for different companies, crews and magazines all over the globe. I’ve shot for Adidas, Oakley and Atomic and many more. A photographer has to learn different styles and show variety in their work, so it was good for me to also get into commercial and industrial photography to help me develop. In 2009, I also finished a master’s degree in photography.

    Photography gave me the opportunity to travel and experience different cultures, but also the chance to show others the world through my eyes. But it was my passion for freeskiing and snowboarding that gave me the spark to begin shooting.

  • Maiko Mou, Category finalist 2010: Close Up
    Maiko Mou, Category finalist 2010: Close Up
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    Category finalist 2010Close Up
    PhotographerMaiko Mou
    AthleteMaiko Mou
    LocationPapenoo, Tahiti
    Read more

    Maiko Mou

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    CameraCanon EOS 50D
    Lens10-17 mm
    ISO320
    F-Stopf9.0
    Shutter speed1/500

    About the shot

    I woke up early that morning to take shots of my favorite subject: empty waves. I took my time to check the conditions in different locations and finally found this wave breaking in the most perfect way. Teahupo’o is the ultimate reef break in Tahiti – it’s perfect and powerful.

    I used waterhousing for my camera as always, but I think that day I took some of the most amazing pictures I’ve ever taken in the water. Nobody was around for two hours so I had total freedom to let go and just have fun.

    In this photo, I just wanted to express the feeling and happiness of jumping out of a barrel wave. I tried to make the picture as dynamic as possible by pointing my fist to the sky and having that seemingly endless barrel wave in the background. The whole picture feels like a cocoon for me, it captures my state of mind at that very moment.

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    Biography

    I’ve been surfing my whole life and photography has been a means to live and express my passion in a different way. I was born in Tahiti and grew up surfing with people like Manoa Drollet, Hira Teriinatoofa and WCT battler Michel Bourez.  One day, I came across a few photoblogs on the Internet, which I fell in love with. From then on, I just had to get into photography.

    I’m also an IT specialist and web developer, so I created my own photoblog and website in 2005. In less than five years, my work has been featured in many leading surf magazines and in advertising. My photos have also been exhibited and were also chosen to represent Tahiti at the World Expo in Shanghai in 2010.

    My goal is to show the world how beautiful the ocean is, which is why I mostly take shots of empty waves. I love being alone in the middle of nowhere, capturing those magical, beautiful moments with my camera that disappear in a second. I like being there, enjoying the waves’ sweetness, just feeling the 'Hau Maru' as we say in Tahitian – that ‘sweet atmosphere’. By just discovering the water world, I think it helps you to discover yourself.

  • Ricky Adam, Category finalist 2010: Close Up
    Ricky Adam, Category finalist 2010: Close Up
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    Category finalist 2010Close Up
    PhotographerRicky Adam
    AthleteAlex Kennedy
    LocationBerlin, Germany
    Read more

    Ricky Adam

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    CameraNikon D700
    Lens50.0mm
    ISO100
    F-Stopf2.0
    Shutter Speed1/2000

    About the shot

    I shot this photo of Alex Kennedy in Berlin Germany. We were there on a six-day BMX filming trip and after five days of riding I couldn't help but notice the toll the riding was taking on Alex's hands.

    I also noticed the “forever young” tattoo on his wrists and included it in the photograph. It’s a subtle reminder to never let go of your inner youth no matter what age you are. It's kind of tragic that when some people grow up, they lose the zest for life they once had. It's a nice sentiment and reminder for people to always stay young at heart.

    Ricky_Adam.jpg

    Biography

    I was born and raised in Northern Ireland and first discovered photography at the age of 16 after I took a few photos with a camera from my friend’s dad. I never had the money to buy a camera of my own until I turned 19. As soon as that happened, I was terminally hooked.

    I was attracted to the immediacy of photography, I was always good at art and painted a bit at school, but found the painting process too slow. I've always been a collector of things: records, books, magazines – so taking photos is sort of an extension of this.

    Being from a hardcore BMX/punk background myself, I began to shoot photographs of friends in the different scenes that I was involved with and made regular contributions to DIG BMX Magazine who are based in Belfast. The mag has a passion for stylistic BMX riding alongside a D.I.Y. punk ethic, so I could really tune into the magazine’s vision. These days, I’m the staff photographer, editor and janitor at their office in Belfast.

    I'm lucky enough to be able to travel the world with fellow weirdos, documenting the many unique aspects of BMX life. What I’ve learned is that if you have a real passion for photography or anything else, follow your heart and believe in what you do. It’s 2010, let's keep the energy going. It's all about what's happening today, now.

  • Stuart Gibson, Category finalist 2010: Energy
    Stuart Gibson, Category finalist 2010: Energy
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    Category finalist 2010Energy
    PhotographerStuart Gibson
    AthletesRyan Hipwood
    LocationShipstern Bluff, Tasmania, Australia
    Read more

    Stuart Gibson

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    CameraCanon EOS-1D Mark II N
    LensEF70-200mm f/2.8L USM
    ISO200
    F-Stopf 7.1
    Shutter Speed1/1250

    About the shot

    The day I got that photo was a really special day in my career. It was at my local big wave spot and the swell was forecasted to be really big, one of the biggest swells we have on record for that wave. For those conditions to all come together – swell, wind, tide, sun – and to have surfers crazy enough to surf was just amazing. It was borderline un-surfable that day, the tide dropped and the steps in the wave were just going totally mutant!

    Ryan’s wave this day wasn’t the biggest of the day but it was by far the heaviest. He had a lot of really serious wipeouts that day and went for the typical ‘one more’ call, and then this huge black beast filled the horizon. When it’s this big at Shipstern Bluff there is no two ways about it; you have to be towed into the waves by jetski. The waves are moving so fast and drawing so much water from the reef that paddling is just out of the question.

    The concept for most big wave surfing and photography these days is pretty simple; get in the most critical place possible on the wave and then try to get out of it unscathed. The bad thing about this concept is that a lot of the time it doesn’t end too pretty! The surf was too big for me to shoot in the water as I usually would so I have to praise Ryan. Without his bravery, the shot would never have happened. To me, this photo is one of the heaviest situations I’ve ever seen a surfer in!

    <media 901 - download-grey>download wallpaper</media>

    stuart_gibson_014574.jpg

    Biography

    I was born in Tasmania in 1983, I got serious about photography around 2003, although I’ve always loved cameras and filming. It wasn’t until I borrowed a friends Canon EOS 5 that I fell in love with still photography, the quality amazed me! Shooting on 35mm slide film was a great and expensive test to learn the skills to become a photographer.

    I specialise in action shots from the water. Surfing and kiteboarding are my passions, aerial stills and video are also a big part of my workload since 2013.

  • Alessio Barbanti, Category finalist 2010: Energy
    Alessio Barbanti, Category finalist 2010: Energy
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    Category finalist 2010Energy
    PhotographerAlessio Barbanti
    AthletesTaddy Blazusiak
    LocationCittà di Castello, Perugia, Italy
    Read more

    Alessio Barbanti

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    CameraCanon EOS-1D Mark II N
    LensEF28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM
    ISO200
    F-Stopf 5.6
    Shutter Speed1/500

    About the shot

    I think this shot is just an example of how sometimes things come out by playing. Take two guys who like what they are doing, and put them in a motocross track!

    I was shooting at the international media launch of the KTM off-road range, and I needed a few images of their factory rider Taddy Blazusiak – I asked him to play for the camera. After a few jumps and turns, he brought me over to another corner at the lower part of the track that was hidden by the trees. When I saw it I just thought, “now we start having fun.”

    He was riding so fast, leaning the bike over in the sand and we were so excited when we quickly had a look at the pictures in the camera display after the first run. Then we shot the scene a few more times to get the best shot. The final image is absolutely amazing: it looks like an explosion of power and energy with the bike surfing on the sand. Thanks Taddy!

    Alessio_Barbanti.jpg

    Biography

    Everything began with a letter I sent to a ‘small’ motorcycle magazine when I was 18. I wanted to show to some motocross pictures to someone, and they called me in to see my work. After that I started working freelance.

    For seven years I also worked in the world motorcycle road racing championship, traveling all around the world. I then started shooting for car and bike magazines and became a photographer for motorcycle brands.

    I'm based in Milan, but I work everywhere. I love traveling and trying to find new locations and atmospheres in different countries. My job is a combination of my two big passions: motorcycles and photography. I believe motorcycles create one of the most spectacular and dynamic sports in the world. I still find it unbelievable sometimes what you can create and capture with a camera in your hands!

  • Jed Weingarten, Category finalist 2010: Energy
    Jed Weingarten, Category finalist 2010: Energy
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    Category finalist 2010Energy
    PhotographerJed Weingarten
    AthletesLuke Spencer
    LocationOutlet Falls, WA, USA
    Read more

    Jed Weingarten

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    CameraCanon EOS-1D Mark II
    Lens24.0-70.0mm
    ISO400
    F-Stopf 4.0
    Shutter Speed1/640

    About the shot

    Outlet Falls had just seen its first kayak descent the day before this photo was taken. While I had some great images from that day, I spent most of the day kicking myself for not having brought the climbing gear I needed to rappel the 20 or so feet down to the vantage from which this photo was shot.

    That night, I rallied a couple of local paddlers to go back out with me and see if there was still enough water. This time I brought my climbing gear, and not only was there still water, but more ice had formed over night. This was one of those rare moments when all the factors came together and the moment was captured.

    Jed_Weingarten.jpg

    Biography

    Led by my passion for whitewater, I have been paddling and photographing rivers around the world for the last 20 years. Over the past few years, I have begun to pursue my interest in wildlife and conservation photography, working near my home in Portland, Oregon, as well as in China, Bhutan, and the Arctic. A deep interest in East Asia and a proficiency in Mandarin has led me on repeated adventures in Western China and the Great Himalayan ranges.

    The late Galen Rowell and his work documenting alpine expeditions inspire me, and I strive to bring some of that vision to the kayaking world. This fall I will be back in Asia shooting kayaking in Bhutan and a float trip in Tibet. My work for the foreseeable future will largely focus on threatened areas, cultures, and wildlife in the greater Himalayan ranges. My clients have included National Geographic, Outside, Patagonia, and Kayak Session.

  • Rami Hanafi, Category finalist 2010: Energy
    Rami Hanafi, Category finalist 2010: Energy
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    Category finalist 2010Energy
    PhotographerRami Hanafi
    AthletesScotty Lago
    LocationTruckee, CA, USA
    Read more

    Rami Hanafi

    EN10_021805_004220.jpg
    CameraCanon EOS-1D Mark II
    Lens15.0 mm
    ISO400
    F-Stopf 8.0
    Shutter Speed1/200

    About the shot

    After a full day of shooting at Tahoe I was driving back to Truckee when I got a phone call. Scotty Lago called me asking if I would join them for a bonfire session in their backyard. Being tired and hungry after the long day, I first thought that I’d pass. But I know Lago well, and I knew that if he says something is good and worth checking out, then it usually really is.

    As I pulled in I saw the guys outside the house. I unpacked my gear and headed to the dark back yard. In the middle of it, there was a hole in the snow with a small fire. Above that I saw the jump and the flat landing on the other side. The run up to the jump came down through the middle of some small trees, pitch black, except for candles at the sides.

    Lago said that he’ll give me a couple tries but that would be it. I set my gear up and looked up to the darkness. I only heard Lago’s voice saying, “dropping in five.” The other guys were gathered around the fire, which was now getting bigger and bigger. Lago gave it a couple of tries to get the timing right with the flames, while the boys almost had their faces grilled off. It was definitely a better end to the day than staying in my hotel room.

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    Biography

    Born in Finland in 1979, I developed my passion for photography as a young boy, observing street and nature photos my mother took in addition to her painting. While I never really knew how to hold a paintbrush the right way, a camera seemed to fit in my hand just fine!

    My interest in photography led me to study photojournalism at the University of Tampere. Only a few years later, in 2006 when working at Aamulehti newspaper, I was awarded Young Photo Journalist of the Year in Finland.

    My previous life as a snowboarder allowed me to live a dream life of travelling the world for the coming years, following some of the world’s best snowboarders of that time. Today, I still continue this journey for the sheer joy of it all.

    I have a unique ‘documentary’ approach towards new challenges. Whether documenting or creating, I am always looking for true feelings and uncompromising images. My sense of moment and true devotion to the story have led to the publication of my images in numerous international magazines such as TWS, Outside, Snowboarder or Flag, and alongside the logos of such renowned clients as Nokia, Finnair, Flow and Billabong to name but a few.

    If it wasn’t for my camera, I would love to work as a curator. Or I would be found simply enjoying a summer day on a boat with my wife and two children.

  • Stef Candé, Category finalist 2010: Energy
    Stef Candé, Category finalist 2010: Energy
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    Category finalist 2010Energy
    PhotographerStef Candé
    AthleteTony Rocci
    LocationLyon, France
    Read more

    Stef Candé

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    CameraCanon EOS-1D Mark III
    LensEF15mm f/2.8 Fisheye
    ISO1600
    F-Stopf 7.1
    Shutter Speed1/1000

    About the shot

    This picture is one of those you never plan. I was in an area close to Lyon, with a bunch of French mountain bike riders, Tony Rocci and Yannick Granieri, shooting on their favorite training trail. It’s an unremarkable place, but they cherish it because the ground is soft sand that can be easily shaped.

    After some time shooting with flashes, I was not totally satisfied, apart from a few crazy pictures. The area was a little bit too small for big jumps and more panoramic pictures – and the guys were getting tired. That’s when Tony came and showed me that he could land stylishly on every jump, making a nice spray of sand, and he asked me if I could get it on camera. I said no worries – I always say that – and tried to get a very close up shot with my fisheye.

    I tried first to bury the camera in the sand and shoot using a remote, but Tony never landed exactly in the same place, and we were scared he could hit and destroy the camera. So I did the shot myself. After a few attempts with flashes on, I decided it would look better as raw as possible, have no flashes and be in black and white. Lucky we didn’t collide, and still have this picture, which is just overflowing with energy!

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    Biography

    My name is Stef Candé, I’ve been a photographer for more than 20 years now. I started working in the nineties for a French climbing magazine, and then the editor started new magazines about skiing, snowboarding, windsurfing, etc… So I worked with talented and motivated people at the perfect moment of the sports press. Then I worked for the riders’ sponsors, shooting catalogues and ads, most of the time outdoor. Now I’m a commercial photographer shooting a wide array of different stuff, from industry to corporate.

  • Daniel Grund, Category finalist 2010: Experimental
    Daniel Grund, Category finalist 2010: Experimental
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    Category finalist 2010Experimental
    PhotographerDaniel Grund
    AthletesAlex Maclean, Nicolas Ivanoff
    LocationMonument Valley, UT, USA
    Read more

    Daniel Grund

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    CameraCanon EOS -1Ds Mark II
    LensCanon 24-70mm 2.8
    ISO800
    F-Stopf 13
    Shutter Speed1/1250

    About the shot

    During the several years I spent photographing the Red Bull Air Race, I was always looking for the truly special moments away from the race track – the sort of competitive flying that illustrated the whole sense of freedom in those spectacular locations.

    On the morning after the Red Bull Air race in Monument Valley, I had the chance to set up this picture of two race planes flying near the track on a transfer flight. After a briefing at the race airport and a location check, I was able to direct everyone from the air to their positions. The weather and the light was perfect for what I had in mind. Alex Maclean and Nicolas Ivanoff were able to perfectly execute the idea, and they switched their smoke on at precisely the right moment – it all happened so quickly. You're standing outside the helicopter on the skid and the airplanes are racing towards you at about 350 km/h.

    The picture was ideally suited to enhance with a 3-D depiction because in this case the technology works for the picture and not vice-versa. The 3-D depiction was created exclusively in post-production. To get an optimal view of the 3-D enhancement of this picture you have to look at it with the red lens on your left eye and the blue lens on your right eye. During the preparations for the Red Bull Air Race in Monument Valley I had the chance to talk with one of the local Indian inhabitants about the meaning of putting on a race at this spot. She said the Gods were most likely pleased about it – otherwise they would have prevented it with stormy weather or heavy rain.

    <media 900 - download-grey>download wallpaper</media>

    Daniel_Grund_2.jpg

    Biography

    My passion for photography began when I was 19 years old. After attending photography school until 1996, I worked as an assistant with several fashion photographers in Munich and New York City. I branched out on my own in 1998, working mainly as a fashion and portrait photographer. In the years after I began shooting more and more image brochures and catalogues for sport clothing companies, as well as extreme sports.

    I worked in locations from Barbados to Bombay, from studios to submarines. In between, I enjoy living in quiet Munich with my family. Ever since I began working in photography, my aim has been the same: to create what I consider visual value by combining a concept within a picture with an authentic atmospheric moment.

  • Éric Antoine, Category finalist 2010: Experimental
    Éric Antoine, Category finalist 2010: Experimental
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    Category finalist 2010Experimental
    PhotographerÉric Antoine
    AthletesEniz Fazliov
    LocationTenerife, Spain
    Read more

    Éric Antoine

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    CameraHasselblad 501cm
    LensDistagon 30mm
    ISO100
    F-Stop5.6
    Shutter Speed1/500

    About the shot

    As I was collecting ambrotypes for years, I always wanted to learn the process. Last year, I finally found someone who could teach me. After a few months of experiments and many hours in the lab, I managed to make my own collodion ambrotype using chemicals bought at the local pharmacy and glass from the closest DIY store. Even though the process is complicated and long, it's pure freedom for me.

    My main goal with this process was to shoot large format portraits and eventually adapt it to skateboarding. As the speed used for wet plates is 1 ISO, it's almost impossible to shoot fast movement so the only way to bring wet plates to skateboarding was to use the collodion wet plates for print. I then shot this photo of Eniz Fazliov, one of my favorite skateboarders, developed the film and printed the image on a collodion wetplate that was later scanned. The result is a very light 4x5" piece of glass.

    I really enjoy the very organic feeling of holding such a photograph and this one was my first try. It's got tons of stains and defects that are part of this unpredictable beauty that I'm looking for in photography. I like to contradict the idea, which most photographers have, that an image should be as clean as possible. I persist with the idea to stay dirty.

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    Biography

    I was born in 1974. I received my first camera from my dad in 1993 and started taking a lot of portraits and concert pictures. After trying to have a ‘normal life’ working at the electronic department of a supermarket, I blew a fuse and took off one morning, deciding it was time to leave France.

    During a long stay in New York, I spent my time skating and learning the basics of skateboard photography. In 1996-97 I started contributing to a Swiss skateboard magazine, Flat Mégazine. Since then, my photos have been published in many European magazines.

    In 1999, I officially became team photographer for éS, Etnies and Emerica in Europe. I've also been working on some advertising campaigns for brands such as Sir Benny Miles, Element skateboards, Carhartt, and others.

    I now live in Strasbourg, where I focus on printing and experimenting with different techniques and processes. I'm very interested in vintage cameras and old processes such as collodion wet plates. I also collect old family photos and union cases.

    A few years ago I started a series of exhibitions featuring a retrospective of my work over the past ten years. More recently, I finished a show with the series "Through the backseat window." Soon, I’m collaborating with Jelle Keppens consisting of strictly medium format analog skateboard photography.

  • Marcelo Maragni, Category finalist 2010: Experimental
    Marcelo Maragni, Category finalist 2010: Experimental
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    Category finalist 2010Experimental
    PhotographerMarcelo Maragni
    AthletesBruno Dias
    LocationSão Tomé das Letras, Brazil
    Read more

    Marcelo Maragni

    EX10_007150_002854.jpg
    CameraNikon D700
    Lens14.0-24.0 mm f/2.8
    ISO200
    F-Stopf 3.5
    Shutter SpeedVarious

    About the shot

    The original idea was to take a climbing picture using the light-painting technique combined with the night sky in long exposure. I did the first tests in 2008, shooting with film, which made me understand how to make the picture I wanted.

    In October 2009 I visited my friend and climber Bruno Dias, who took me to some rocks in São Tomé das Letras and we found the perfect place for the photo. We spent two nights shooting and this was the first picture we made. The picture is a mixture of residual light coming from the city, LED light, flash and headlamps. It is a composition of three different pictures of the same scene with different shutter speeds, white balances and lights. I used 1/250 to shoot the climber; 30 seconds to shoot the rock; and 28 minutes to shoot the stars.

    I was very happy with the outcome and eager to produce more pictures using a mixture of different types of lights.

    Marcelo_Maragni_2768.jpg

    Biography

    I began my career photographing my trips around Brazil. When I realized I could earn a living from photography, I abandoned my career as a newly graduated architect and started to go deeper into photography in 1999. I specialized in adventure and freesports, starting with surf photography, but soon broadened to other action sports such as kite surfing, adventure racing, mountain biking and rallying. Besides sports, I also shoot fashion, portraits and dance.

    I like to seek solutions and experiment with different photographic techniques. I am driven by the challenge of creating images that are new and striking in their design or execution. I'm always looking for interesting photo opportunities: an expedition, an unusual event, or a shoot with an athlete in a good location. The important thing is to have fun with photography.

  • Roberto Alegria, Category finalist 2010: Experimental
    Roberto Alegria, Category finalist 2010: Experimental
    EX10_001124_000526.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Experimental
    PhotographerRoberto Alegria
    AthletesInigo Igarza
    LocationVitoria-Gasteiz, Álava, Spain
    Read more

    Roberto Alegria

    EX10_001124_000526.jpg
    CameraCanon EOS-1D Mark II
    Lens50.0mm
    ISO100
    F-Stopf 5.6
    Shutter Speed1/250

    About the shot

    Nowadays, if you take a close look at skateboarding photography, you will notice that back lighting is used less often. I am a big fan of this type of lighting. I often work using different backgrounds such as the sky, shiny floors or even the rain. This time I wanted to work with a different background texture that is more unusual – including a stylish trick and good scenery. I decided to use a white background, like I normally do when working in studio, but I used it as an extensive light diffuser and placed powerful flashes behind the background.

    I had the clear image of placing a skate trick in-between two trucks, to create a gap. I called two of my friends who are truck drivers and after negotiating with them, they finally allowed me to use their trucks. Then I needed to find an indoor space that would be big enough to hold the trucks, and also a place where the wind would not pass because of the 25m2 fabric I used to create the white background.

    roberto_alegria_012873.jpg

    Biography

    I'm a Spanish photographer based in Barcelona. I’ve been passionate about photography since I was a child. Photography has always been one of my main hobbies, the other being skateboarding.

    In 2005, I managed to link both of my passions and became a professional photographer, shooting advertisements for brands such as Red Bull, Volcom, Quiksilver, Carhartt, Wesc, Rusty, Braun and Nike as well as skate magazines.

    I believe that my work brings something different to skateboard photography because I focus on photography composition, techniques and lighting rather than on skate tricks.

    Today, I consider myself not only a skate photographer, but I am also developing more cinematic photography because it has infinite possibilities.

     

  • Sébastien Anex, Category finalist 2010: Experimental
    Sébastien Anex, Category finalist 2010: Experimental
    EX10_015831_001941-1.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Experimental
    PhotographerSébastien Anex
    AthletesNicolas Vaudroz
    LocationTanigawadake Tenjindaira, Gunma, Japan
    Read more

    Sébastien Anex

    EX10_015831_001941-1.jpg
    CameraNikon D300
    Lens17.0-50.0 mm f/2.8
    ISO400
    F-Stopf 8.0
    Shutter Speed1/800

    About the shot

    Bad weather. At the very beginning of my career in photography, I was afraid of it: no sun, no blue sky and my camera getting wet. But quickly I got bored of the cliché shots taken in what can normally only be described as ‘perfect conditions.’ That's why I really enjoyed traveling to Japan in 2009. Fog was one of the main elements we had to work with. In this weather, having an open-minded athlete who is on the same wavelength is essential.

    On the morning of this particular shot, it was raining on the snow which is generally not a good thing, especially as the powder the day before had been perfect. I don't think that many riders would have shared my enthusiasm, or agreed when I said: “Let's go riding and see if we can shoot something!”

    Nico Vaudroz is the kind of person you need in the described circumstances. As well as being a talented snowboarder, he is a great painter. His skills and passion mean he has nothing to prove. That's why taking a risk doesn't scare him – snowboarding with his friends is a pleasure. When we saw the silhouette of this lost tree, braving the cold mix of snow and rain, we instantly knew there was something special about the scene. The majestic trunk was the focal point. The scene just framed itself. We just had to wait for the fog to disperse a bit. After the shot, we got home totally wet and cold, but happy to have had the opportunity to appreciate the moody landscapes.

    Sebastian_Anex.jpg

    Biography

    A snowflake addiction led me astray from the route my education should have taken me. While studying Environmental Engineering, I got my first reflex camera to share photo-moments I liked. I started capturing what I was in love with: snow, ski and nature. The first publications came out and, once I got my master's in engineering, I searched for a job in photography.

    A few months later, I accepted a part-time job as a photo editor and photographer at the most read daily newspaper in the French part of Switzerland (20 Minutes). Due to the format, we couldn’t print the most artistic pictures, but we received and compiled fresh, new photos from all over the world, which was something I could be passionate about.

    Besides that, I also work as a freelance photographer for clients, shooting commercials and editorial work. A lot of them are for the action sport industry, but my horizons are also always being broadened through this experience. From artists' portraits and journalistic reports to fashion shoots, there is always a fresh challenge. The following motto guides my style: “Less is more.” My eye is minimalistic and is constantly searching for a different point of view. Innovation, emotion and joy are what I'm looking for in any photo.

  • Chris Burkard, Category finalist 2010: Illumination
    Chris Burkard, Category finalist 2010: Illumination
    IL10_009366_003138.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Illumination
    PhotographerChris Burkard
    AthletePeter Mendia
    LocationBuchupero, Chile
    Read more

    Chris Burkard

    IL10_009366_003138.jpg
    CameraNikon D700
    Lens70.0-200.0 mm f/2.8
    ISO125
    F-Stopf 6.3
    Shutter Speed1/1000

    About the shot

    It was a last minute decision to go to Chile. We sat in the pouring rain for days and days waiting for the swell to come. We thought we had planned it perfectly, but even in the fall you can still get a winter storm.

    We woke up the morning after the rains to howling offshore winds, swell was pulsing and the conditions were as good as they get. We drove to a spot in the afternoon that the locals had said, “rarely breaks.” When we pulled up it was reeling left barrels for almost a football field’s length. We scrambled to get out and surf. i was sun burnt and tired and had no idea how to document this moment. The waves were some of the most i had ever seen, so I decided to risk it. I sprinted down the beach and hiked up a sand dune to get a pulled back perspective.

    The shore break was so big, and the offshores’ plumes so high, that I was missing most of the best waves, but finally a set came through. The light, the wind, and the swell were perfect. It was as if everything in nature fell into perfect harmony for this single moment. As Peter Mendia eased into this wave, the backwash hit, sending a golden shower of water 10-feet above his head, and sending him down the line of another 20-second barrel.

    <media 899 - download-grey>download wallpaper</media>

    Chris_Burkard_3874.jpg

    Biography

    Chris Burkard is an accomplished explorer, photographer, creative director, speaker, and author. Traveling throughout the year to pursue the farthest expanses of Earth, Burkard works to capture stories that inspire humans to consider their relationship with nature, while promoting the preservation of wild places everywhere. 

    Layered by outdoor, travel, adventure, surf, and lifestyle subjects, Burkard is known for  images that are punctuated by untamed, energized landscapes and peak moments of adventure. He has accumulated an audience of over one million followers to become a globally recognized social influencer. 

    Burkard is often central in synthesizing the creative projects he is involved in, across stakeholders. His holistic and visionary perspective has earned him opportunities to work on global, prominent campaigns with Fortune 500 clients, appear as a TED speaker, develop specialty product lines, teach national and international photography workshops and publish a collection of books, including a children’s book. Along with his team, Burkard is based out of his full-scale production studio and art gallery near his hometown in Central Coast California.  

    At the age of 30, Burkard has established himself as a global presence and influencer, accomplishing a prolific portfolio, connecting people from around the world and producing some of the most recognized creative work of our time. 

  • Dominic Zimmermann, Category finalist 2010: Illumination
    Dominic Zimmermann, Category finalist 2010: Illumination
    IL10_000836_000073.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Illumination
    PhotographerDominic Zimmermann
    AthleteDavid Bertschinger
    LocationEinsiedeln, Switzerland
    Read more

    Dominic Zimmermann

    IL10_000836_000073.jpg
    CameraNikon D300
    Lens10.5 mm f/2.8
    ISO200
    F-Stopf 3.2
    Shutter Speed1/250

    About the shot

    I took this photo during an early season night shooting in central Switzerland. It was a cold night with dry snow on the ground and a lot of people working to get stuff done.

    Those concrete blocks David is flying over are more than fifty years old. They were built during the Second World War to keep the German tanks out of central Switzerland – fortunately they never actually had to stop a tank.

    In 2009 we re-used those concrete blocks to get some great snowboard photos.

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    Biography

    I was born and raised in Switzerland and live in Zürich, the biggest city, and started taking photos about 15 years ago when my dad gave me my first SLR camera. I worked as a graphic designer but wasn't happy with the work I got and started to think about being a photographer. In 2003 I combined two of my biggest passions and took my first snowboard photo.

    Nowadays I work as a senior photographer for the biggest German snowboard magazine, Pleasure and travel all over the northern hemisphere to find good snow conditions. I also shoot for a lot of different snowboard magazines such as TransWorld, Method Mag or Snowboarder. Besides that I work for snowboard brands like Burton or Zimtstern.

    During the season I shoot a lot with film crews like Absinthe Films to get the best riders in front of my lens. I also really like to go on photo missions without a filmer to focus on stills. Besides snowboarding, I like to shoot portraits, lifestyle and advertising during the summer.

    My inspiration comes from many different sources – nature, people and places, the internet, other photographers and all the cool things I see during my travels.

     

  • Josh Letchworth, Category finalist 2010: Illumination
    Josh Letchworth, Category finalist 2010: Illumination
    IL10_018748_002699.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Illumination
    PhotographerJosh Letchworth
    AthleteBen Horan
    LocationNahunta, GA, USA
    Read more

    Josh Letchworth

    IL10_018748_002699.jpg
    CameraNikon D300
    Lens24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8
    ISO400
    F-Stopf 6.3
    Shutter Speed1/250

    About the shot

    Ben Horan lives in Nahunta, Georgia. Since wakeskating requires a towing device and significant body of water, accessibility can sometimes be a problem. Ben decided to dig his own small pond in his side yard and use a winch to pull him through it.

    I brought out my lights to capture something strong as it was getting dark. I heard some rumors about him getting back tails pretty consistently and have always wanted to get a photo of a really good one. I wanted to get as close to water level as I could to really accentuate the trick. I used a longer lens but no waterhousing. I had to stand neck-deep in the bottom pond with my camera just out of the water and dodge his landing spray. I remote-fired three lights, Profoto 7Bs, and had a super short flash duration to ensure the action would be completely frozen.

    There’s a moment in every trick where time stands still and all the energy put forth to make that trick happen recedes. There’s nothing more to do than to just be in that space. This is definitely one of those moments. Locked in, nose up and perfect poise. In his mind he’s already made it.

    Josh_Letchworth.jpg

    Biography

    I had no intentions of being a photographer – it just happened. I fell into it in 1992. Photography became my way to express the way I see people, our environment and the way we move through it. As a Florida native, I’ve always surrounded myself with water sports and the outdoors. My passions collided and I found myself drawn to shooting those sports and the people that make them what they are. Wakeboarding and wakeskating have played a major role in my career with its large presence throughout Florida, and I now get to shoot for various magazines worldwide and for clients such as Nike and Oakley.

    I’ve had the fortune of traveling around the world with my camera. It’s been a lesson that can’t be taught, only experienced. Today, I continue to shoot action sports and have signed on with Nike to work exclusively with their Nike 6.0 division to photograph their surf, BMX, snowboard, ski, wakeboard and motocross teams. The opportunity has opened many doors and allowed me to expand my style of shooting into many other arenas.

    Photography is a sickness; it can consume your time, wallet and even your outlook on the most simplistic things about life. Leaving the camera at home becomes impractical and answering the voice in your head, “that would make a great picture” is compulsive. it’s those times when I can answer, “it did” that make it all worth it.

  • Oskar Enander, Category finalist 2010: Illumination
    Oskar Enander, Category finalist 2010: Illumination
    IL10_014156_003930-1.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Illumination
    PhotographerOskar Enander
    AthleteSverre Liliequist
    LocationEngelberg, Switzerland
    Read more

    Oskar Enander

    IL10_014156_003930-1.jpg
    CameraCanon EOS-1D Mark III
    LensEF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
    ISO160
    F-Stopf 8.0
    Shutter Speed1/800

    About the shot

    Early January in Engelberg is very hard for shooting. Mount Titlis casts a huge shadow over the whole area including the backcountry. You get great riding but poor light for shooting.

    However, it gives the opportunity to shoot on more south facing slopes that normally get way too much sun. It was one of the first days of shooting with Sverre that season so we decided to hike up this one ridge to see how the snow was. The shadows and cold temperature kept the snow good and we found this very interesting looking snow feature.

    the shadows were moving pretty fast and i knew we had limited time to get the shot, but everything worked out fine. Just minutes after we got the shot, the light was gone. i instantly knew it would be a good picture; the shape of the snow and the shadows made the backdrop, while Sverre’s powerful skiing made it come to life.

    oskar_enander_013739.jpg

    Biography

    I’m based out of Engelberg in Switzerland, but I grew up in Gothenburg on the west coast of Sweden. I started shooting professionally in 2002 when I moved to Switzerland and I’ve kept going since.

    The main part of my work is winter-based, however I still love the mountains in the summer. Shooting biking, hiking and trail running is something I really like.

    I work with numerous magazines worldwide as well as some of the main outdoor brands in the industry including Patagonia, Peak Performance, Atomic Skis, DPS Skis to name a few. Some of my career highlights have been three times Powder Magazine Photo of the Year, Red Bull Illume finalist 2010, IF3 ‘Best European Ski Photographer 2013’ and WSSF Pro Photographer Showdown finalist in 2013.

     

  • Sterling Lorence, Category finalist 2010: Illumination
    Sterling Lorence, Category finalist 2010: Illumination
    IL10_013791_000508-1.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Illumination
    PhotographerSterling Lorence
    AthletesMatt Hunter
    LocationKamloops, BC, Canada
    Read more

    Sterling Lorence

    IL10_013791_000508-1.jpg
    CameraCanon EOS-1D Mark III
    LensEF70-200mm f/2.8L USM
    ISO500
    F-Stopf 3.2
    Shutter Speed1/1250

    About the shot

    We, as mountain bikers, are lucky to be able to roam all over the mountains of the world, and through some amazing forests.

    For all the times that I have ridden through maze-like groves of aspen, I am always left amazed at the thrill and also the sight of what it is like to be within them. The stark beauty of the white bark, the symmetry of the vertical trunks, and the depth of what one can see.

    This led to the inspiration to find a section of trail that would let me shoot long lens into the depths to create an image like this. i have shot cornering through aspen before with success, but nothing as stealthily striking as this one of matt Hunter weaving his way through the airspace of an aspen grove in Kamloops, BC.

    Sterling_Lorence_2875.jpg

    Biography

    I grew up on Vancouver's North Shore and continue to live here with my wife and two daughters. Mountain biking in the moody forests of the North Shore inspired me to become a photographer and I have been lucky to call it my career for more than twenty years. I feel fortunate to have been able to shoot the evolution of freeride mountain biking alongside some of the sport's greatest athletes, for the most progressive brands, in locations all over the planet. My motivation as a photographer is similar to that of why I chose to ride. The trails that exist on our planet will take you to incredible places with breath-taking scenery and striking light. They will take a lifetime to discover, session, and photograph. I find photography at an incredible place these days, for the digital evolution has made it more accessible and successful for more people. Furthermore, action sports are blossoming across the world and as a result, we are seeing such incredibly progressive accomplishments in the photographic arts and it leaves me constantly inspired and stoked to keep trying out new techniques and ideas.

  • Vincent Perraud, Category finalist 2010: Culture
    Vincent Perraud, Category finalist 2010: Culture
    CU10_003325_000978-1.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Culture
    PhotographerVincent Perraud
    AthletesAlex Baret and friends
    LocationTallinn, Estonia
    Read more

    Vincent Perraud

    CU10_003325_000978-1.jpg
    CameraCanon 50
    FilmKodak
    Lens15mm
    ISO800
    Shutter Speed1/30

    About the shot

    This photo was taken in Tallinn at the Simpel Session, one of the biggest international BMX events, in February 2008 after a long day of qualifiers. Everyone was tired and was looking forward to getting back to the hotel because of the climate; it was -10°C.

    The riders started cramming into the bus that wasn’t leaving. The bikes took up a lot of space! The scene was taking place very quickly and so I decided to take a few snaps without setting my camera or lens, just for fun and memory’s sake.

    I was very lucky to capture this unusual scene, especially as my friend Alex Baret had his face between the spokes of a wheel. He always has a very rock ’n’ roll attitude and he kept the group entertained!

    download wallpaper

    Vince_Perraud.jpg

    Biography

    I taught myself photography at the age of 21 when I injured my knee and was immobilized for a year – this way I could still keep up with my passion for BMX. This was also directly related to my studies in design and widened my set of skills.

    I was soon drawn to brilliant pictures from people like Manu Sanz or Jeff Zielinski, which I saw regularly in magazines. By luck, photos from my very first films were published in core magazines too.

    Little by little, I got the chance to travel all around the world, especially to the States where BMX was born. Since then, I have mixed with the best riders and worked for companies such as Vans and Carhartt. I now also run a website called TheDiggest.

  • Matt Georges, Category finalist 2010: Culture
    Matt Georges, Category finalist 2010: Culture
    CU10_020151_003817-1.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Culture
    PhotographerMatt Georges
    AthleteTeo Konttinen
    LocationSölden, Austria
    Read more

    Matt Georges

    CU10_020151_003817-1.jpg
    CameraHasselblad CFW 2003
    FilmKodak T-Max 400
    LensHasselblad Zeiss Sonnar T* CFI 150mm/f4
    ISO400
    F-Stop5.6
    Shutter Speed1/125

    About the shot

    When snow is melting and backcountry time is over, we mostly end up shooting in snow parks to get some extra shots before the summer.

    The Pirate Movie Production crew were organizing a shoot on a huge kicker in Sölden, Austria. As he was injured a few times during the whole winter, Teo needed more video shots for his part so it was definitely time for him to go big! Unfortunately, he came a bit too short with a Backside 1260 and slammed really hard on his face and shoulder. After being knocked out for a few minutes we took care of him and took him to the nearest doctor.

    He couldn’t sleep the next night and got intense fever together with a horrible headache, so we had to take him to hospital in Innsbruck. They discovered straightaway that he also had a broken wrist and needed a cast urgently – it was a tough winter for Teo!

    matt_georges_015466.jpg

    Biography

    Growing up in the countryside in the middle of the French Alps I grabbed my first camera at the age of 18 – an old and dusty Nikon FE2 from my parents. I used it with black and white films to start shooting the decline of my teenage years. It was all about girlfriends, skateboarding, partying, painting walls and sometimes snowboarding – but mostly just goofing around and having fun with it.

    I started to learn printing photos in the darkroom which quickly became an addiction. At that time, school was not offering too much in the way of creativity, especially when you chose a mathematics speciality.

    So what could be the best excuse to travel around, meet people, make new friends, do some fun things, and still call it a ‘job’? Oddly, none of my teachers had that answer, so I had to figure it out by myself!

    Here I am 12 years later, living the dream with my different hats from Art Director to Photo Editor to Senior Photographer to Book Publisher to father of twins.

     

  • Ryan Fudger, Category finalist 2010: Culture
    Ryan Fudger, Category finalist 2010: Culture
    CU10_016147_004072.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Culture
    PhotographerRyan Fudger
    AthletesDK Team (Nina Buitrago, Quinn Semling, Zack Yankush, Brian Hunt, Brett Walker, Brian Kachinsky, and filmer Shad Johnson)
    LocationParis, France
    Read more

    Ryan Fudger

    CU10_016147_004072.jpg
    CameraCanon EOS-1D Mark II
    Lens15mm
    ISO1600
    F-Stopf 5.6
    Shutter Speed1/15

    About the shot

    I know I didn’t sleep in this room, but my sleeping arrangements were about parallel quality as they involved two bathroom towels and a Spongebob Squarepants pillow.

    I had already been in Paris for three days before the DK Bicycle team arrived. When I finally met them, I was apparently a little too early. As I sat watching everyone hatch from their jet-lagged slumber, it took about five minutes of taking in the disaster of a room before the idea to shoot a photo finally overtook me – possibly because this sort of scene isn’t all that uncommon in BMx, or I simply could have been moving just as slow that morning.

    Considering it was day zero, I’m fairly certain that this was the first photo officially shot on what would be a very eventful trip around Europe. In true American fashion, we bumbled around multiple countries infuriating countless locals, finding ourselves really lost several times, and eventually getting robbed and beat up – it was an unforgettable trip.

    ryan_fudger_015167.jpg

    Biography

    I’ve tried to live my life by making the best decision at a particular moment, without worrying about the future. Choosing a path without looking at the final destination may not be ideal, but it hasn’t let me down yet. The high and mighty plateau I’ve been living on has had me working for the one magazine I subscribed to as a kid – Ride BMX.

    Oddly enough, it was my writing and web knowledge that got me hired almost 14 years ago. But when I was handed a camera bag and subjected to a crash course from a couple of the best photographers in BMX, a spark of some sort went off. In a short time, my job transitioned into what it is today. I love my job, the magazine, and feel emotionally attached to it. I owe my salad days, or years, to that publication and I remind myself often to be thankful of where I am and who I have around me.

    I’d like to say I don’t take anything seriously, including photography, but the truth is I’m quite critical—in fits, at least. I go months without shooting a good photo, and other times I feel like I’m on an infallible streak. My photography is based around, and caters for BMX.

    On a photo shoot, I usually have to work with an athlete who has a trick and a very ‘I’m doing it right now’ attitude. My role at that point is to do the best with what I’m given and then attempt to capture the odd places, weird people, and wild scenarios that happen in between. I’m here for a good time, not a long time, but maybe a photo I’ve taken will be.

     

  • Tim Kemple, Category finalist 2010: Culture
    Tim Kemple, Category finalist 2010: Culture
    CU10_006807_002761.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Culture
    PhotographerTim Kemple
    AthletesTommy Caldwell, Kevin Jorgeson
    LocationYosemite National Park, CA, USA
    Read more

    Tim Kemple

    CU10_006807_002761.jpg
    CameraCanon EOS 5D Mark II
    LensEF15mm f/2.8 Fisheye
    ISO100
    F-Stopf 5.6
    Shutter Speed1/200

    About the shot

    In late fall 2009, Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson joined forces to attempt a new free climb on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. They are an unlikely duo, but complement each other exceptionally well. Tommy is the most experienced big wall free climber in the world (he’s free climbed El Cap more than anyone in history); while Kevin is one of the United State’s strongest boulderers (he’s established a number of unrepeated test pieces), yet had never free climbed any routes on El cap until then.

    The line they were attempting is El Capitan’s last great project, a free route that climbs directly through the blank, seamless face to the right the famous ‘Nose’ route. Because the climb is so difficult over a long route, they established a high camp at ‘Wino Ledge’, 600-meters above the valley floor. That’s where this shot was taken. My camera is in my right hand and my coffee in the left.

    ‘Wino’ was my base for three days while I shot Tommy and Kevin. Every morning we would wake with the feeling of the sun hitting our tent, crawl out of our sleeping bags and start the day with a coffee and oatmeal breakfast. Those guys will be back up on the wall this fall trying to put the project to rest, and I hope I can be back up there to see it all go down in person.

    tim_kemple_014572.jpg

    Biography

    I’ve spent most of the last seven years of my life living out of the back of a car, surfing couches, at base camps, in dusty camp grounds in not-so-glamorous hotel rooms.

    Fifteen years ago, right after picking up my first camera, I wrote in my journal that I was "perpetually stoked, penniless and loving every minute of it". I’m 35 now, I have a few more grey hairs, but if you distill it down not much has changed. I love the mountains, I love the energy of the city, I love meeting passionate people and I love capturing a story in a single photograph.

    I’ve shot commercially on six continents in over thirty countries. Some of my clients include Ram, Mitsubishi, Land Rover, Chevy, The North Face, Columbia Sportswear, and Phase One. In addition to my photography work, I created a film production company called Camp4 Collective in 2010 to better share the stories from the far corners of the globe that we so often find ourselves in.

     

  • Toby Caughron, Category finalist 2010: Culture
    Toby Caughron, Category finalist 2010: Culture
    CU10_001163_000098.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Culture
    PhotographerToby Caughron
    AthleteDuane Peters
    LocationLos Angeles, CA, USA
    Read more

    Toby Caughron

    CU10_001163_000098.jpg
    CameraCanon EOS 5D
    LensEF15mm f/2.8 Fisheye
    ISO50
    F-Stopf 10.0
    Shutter Speed1/125

    About the shot

    In November 2009 I was hired to shoot skateboard legend Duane Peters for a feature in Rebel Ink Magazine. Since the feature was mostly meant to highlight Duane’s tattoo collection, I spent most of the time shooting portraits and close-ups of his tattoos. we shot at a few different locations in downtown Los Angeles and Duane was following the crew in his ‘79 chevy conversion van.

    While setting up for the last shot, Duane was waiting in his van for me to give him the OK. Once the lighting was set up, I went to tell Duane we were ready. This was the first time I saw the inside of the van when I realized this was the ‘money shot’. I quickly rearranged my lighting that was set up outside the van and snapped off a few shots. Duane didn’t have time to rearrange anything or clean up so this was exactly how it looked on a daily basis. Even though the magazine didn’t run this photo, it was my favorite from the shoot because I felt like it captured the true Duane Peters in his natural environment.

    Toby_Caughron.jpg

    Biography

    Growing up in the Los Angeles area in the ‘90s, I was strongly influenced by the skateboard, music and graffiti culture that surrounded me. I wasn’t good at skateboarding, I couldn’t play an instrument, nor could I draw a stick figure if I tried. It was my passion for the culture and people I grew up with that inspired me.

    I developed an interest in videography early on, documenting skateboard sessions in old town Pomona and trips to the Embarcadero in San Francisco, but it wasn’t until the age of 18 that I discovered my passion for photography.

    During a semester abroad in Salamanca, Spain, I walked into a camera shop and bought my first camera: a 35mm film SLR. During my four-month stay I had the opportunity to photograph some of the most well known landmarks in Europe. Traveling opened my eyes to a world of possibilities and the potential that can be revealed through my lens.

    After returning to California, I attended Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara. During this time, I developed my techniques in lighting, composition, and portraiture, further enhancing my personal style. Now based in Los Angeles, I work as a freelance commercial and editorial photographer.

  • Eric Berger, Category finalist 2010: New Creativity
    Eric Berger, Category finalist 2010: New Creativity
    CR10_018940_004231.jpg
    Category finalist 2010New Creativity
    PhotographerEric Berger
    AthleteDan Treadway
    LocationWhistler, BC, Canada
    Read more

    Eric Berger

    CR10_018940_004231.jpg
    CameraNikon D3
    Lens10.5mm f/2.8
    ISO250
    F-Stopf7.1
    Shutter Speed1/1250

    About the shot

    This image was captured in a snowmobile access backcountry area just South of whistler. a friend of mine, Adam Topshee, had scoped out some interesting ice formations he thought would be good to shoot, so we asked mutual friend and skier Dan Treadway to join us.

    At first it didn’t seem like much, but as we began to explore we found interesting angles and got more comfortable working around the ice. Eventually, I was comfortable enough to position myself in one of the cracks in order to shoot out towards the opening. i was pretty nervous and excited at the same time, as I realized it was a unique angle and had some potential to be a great shot.

    On his first try, Dan sent too much snow down with him and I never saw him pass. i only saw a wall of snow pouring over the opening. The whole thing was coordinated with radios so that we could communicate effectively, and I could have an idea when to expect him. Even with the radios, the moment was very short-lived as Dan passed very quickly over the cave opening. Luckily, I managed to capture the shot on the second attempt when Dan kicked up less snow. It was pointed out to me later that the scene resembles a closing wave shot from within. Ice is just frozen water, so it’s ironic in a way. I think it’s one of my strongest images to date.

    <media 897 - download-grey>download wallpaper</media>

    Eric_Berger.jpg

    Biography

    Originally from Montreal, I took up skiing at the age of 13 which in time became a catalyst for a life in pursuit of adventure. I became interested in photography while in high school and studied it more seriously in college. In the early 80's I took on a job as a whitewater rafting guide and in 1986 moved west to Whistler where my life as an action sports photographer began to fall into place.

    My first job in Whistler was shooting video for the resort. During days off I would take photos of friends skiing and snowboarding. Eventually I tried submitting snowboard images to magazines and was subsequently hired as a Senior Photographer for Transworld Snowboarding. A position I held for a decade. Eventually I left the magazine in order to broaden my horizons and now contribute to publications worldwide. I also work as a marketing photographer for WhistlerBlackcomb resort.

  • Flo Hagena, Category finalist 2010: New Creativity
    Flo Hagena, Category finalist 2010: New Creativity
    CR10_018484_004107.jpg
    Category finalist 2010New Creativity
    PhotographerFlo Hagena
    AthleteEigo Sato
    LocationMexico City, Mexico
    Read more

    Flo Hagena

    CR10_018484_004107.jpg
    CameraCanon EOS-1Ds Mark III
    LensEF15mm f/2.8 Fisheye
    ISO1600
    F-Stopf2.8
    Shutterspeed1/50

    About the shot

    The idea for the image came about after I looked through the fisheye lens. i wanted a picture that covered all the angles to give a full picture of the event and the shape of the arena. I’d been shooting FMX in bull fighting rings for years, including the Plaza de Toros in Mexico where this picture was taken, but I had never quite shown this place in the right light. The arena is incredible, seating 45,000 spectators – but my pictures never quite conveyed my feelings for the location until this shot.

    I set up radio-remote flashlights to freeze the action in the best way possible, taking pictures from every possible angle. The final image is a combination of raw files out of my full-frame digital camera. The image for me represents all the emotions I feel when I’m down in the ring at red Bull X-Fighters.

    Flo_Hagena.jpg

    Biography

    I was dropped onto earth in 1973 in Munich. I grew up doing a lot of outdoor sports in the mountains and lakes, including snowboarding, windsurfing, surfing and skateboarding. These sports inspired me most, so I always wanted to shoot them as I had a feeling for them. I’ve always known what the adrenaline rush is like.

    I got my first film camera when I was 14 and used my dad’s SLR until I could afford my own. I learned photography by just working in my photo lab, analyzing the good and bad results. Photography has always been my passion, but I studied medicine for three years. I got bored with that and wanted to do something creative instead. i then began shooting for advertising agencies and magazines, and decided to study Media Design and informatics so that I could get ready for digital life.

    I like to work closely with athletes, and try to find out what they see – adding creativity and energy to my photos. I’m fascinated by being able to freeze a single moment in one image because it gives me my drive. I never like to miss a good shot. Whatever it takes, wherever I can find a better angle, I just go for it. if it’s worth it, I’ll risk it – no matter if I have to run, jump, climb or swim to get the picture. Photography is my love, a drug, my spirit.

  • Lorenz Holder, Category finalist 2010: New Creativity
    Lorenz Holder, Category finalist 2010: New Creativity
    CR10_011933_002901.jpg
    Category finalist 2010New Creativity
    PhotographerLorenz Holder
    AthleteMarco Smolla
    LocationRuka, Finland
    Read more

    Lorenz Holder

    CR10_011933_002901.jpg
    CameraCanon 40D
    Lens10mm
    ISO250
    F-Stopf5.6
    Shutter Speed1/250

    About the shot

    This shot was taken in Ruka, Finland, on December 16th 2009. Ruka is located close to the Polar Circle, and at that time of the year the sun shines for just three hours during the whole day before it sets around lunchtime. The temperature on the day was around -28°C, and everybody was really happy to get back to our apartment to warm up after a full day of shooting.

    Marco Smolla still had some energy left to hit a kicker right outside of our apartment window. I shot this picture from inside our apartment. I didn’t do this because I was cold from the weather outside; I wanted to show the lifestyle that goes on during a trip in the cold North - a lot of Facebook, sleeping and relaxing happens, as well as a lot of snowboarding.

    To frame Marco’s frontside 360 perfectly in the window took some time, but I was really happy that we finally managed to capture the photo the way I imagined it.

    lorenz_holder_013666.jpg

    Biography

    I grew up in Munich, close to the Bavarian mountains, and it is those mountains that have always played a major role in my life. Being outside with my friends was always the thing that motivated me most, be it as a snowboarder back in the days or nowadays as a photographer.
    I've never studied or learned photography but I was so impressed and fascinated, how one single image can describe a whole scene, a whole day or even a whole trip. This power of an image caught me straight away and passion became profession. I've finished my university for being a teacher and then went all in - All I wanted to do, is to shoot and create.
    The biggest influence on my style of shooting comes from outside the action sport scene. I love to get impressed by creative work from landscape-, architecture- and fine-art-photography. But for me, this was always a little bit too boring to shoot, so I tried to combine those genres with action sport and that's where I found my true love for what I'm doing. Walking through life with open eyes and seeing possibilities.

  • Silvano Zeiter, Category finalist 2010: New Creativity
    Silvano Zeiter, Category finalist 2010: New Creativity
    CR10_000576_000053.jpg
    Category finalist 2010New Creativity
    PhotographerSilvano Zeiter
    AthleteMartin Seiler
    LocationSimplon, Switzerland
    Read more

    Silvano Zeiter

    CR10_000576_000053.jpg
    CameraCanon 40D
    LensEF-S10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
    ISO200
    F-Stopf 8.0
    Shutter Speed1/200

    About the shot

    The resorts had already closed their doors, the season was over when I went together with my riders and friends, Martin Seiler and Rafael Imhof, to the Simplon Pass with the last snow of the season. In this shoot I finally wanted to try out my new flash for the first time. After we had built the snow wall, we waited until it became solid and shaped a 1.2-meter hole out of it.

    As we only had the dim light from car headlights and mobile phones, the spot was anything but easy to ride and to shoot. Martin needed several attempts to get his head through the hole. Since i was standing so close to the riders, I also had to jump away after taking the shot in order to protect my camera lens. Thankfully, we got some nice ollie-through-the-hole-photos.

    We noticed then that the battery of our car died, but fortunately some ‘army dudes’ were close by. they helped us out and we finally left and drove down the mountain pass – with smiles on our faces.

    Silvano_Zeiter.jpg

    Biography

    I was born in Switzerland in 1990 and I live in a small village close to the Swiss mountains called Fieschertal. Snow powder lies right in front of my door so I'm very fortunate. Riding some waves on a surfboard or splashing powder on the mountains are my passions, as well as playing the guitar after a ride at the beach or in an alpine cottage.

    I got into photography when I was about 15. One day I had the opportunity to join a snowboard crew, who were lodging at our place, on a road gap shoot on the Simplon Pass. A pro-photographer friend of mine, Thilo Brunner, lent me his canon 1D and immediately I was so stoked that I decided I wanted to do this professionally some day. I met some pretty ambitious riders and in May 2008 I had my first shot published.

    Today, I work with some snow and skateboard mags such as whiteout, Snowboarder MBM, Method Mag and others. i freelance also for some brands like eleven, nnim and my dear friends of hä?wear. Right now, I’m getting ready for university. Photography is still a hobby but it's my dream to become a professional photographer – but it's very important never to forget about the fun involved in shooting photos, not only in the art itself but also in every single shoot we take.

  • Thomas Stöckli, Category finalist 2010: New Creativity
    Thomas Stöckli, Category finalist 2010: New Creativity
    CR10_003788_000586.jpg
    Category finalist 2010New Creativity
    PhotographerThomas Stöckli
    AthleteMarkus Keller
    LocationDavos, Switzerland
    Read more

    Thomas Stöckli

    CR10_003788_000586.jpg
    CameraCanon EOS 5D
    LensEF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
    ISO100
    F-Stopf 5.6
    Shutter Speed1/250

    About the shot

    The idea was to only show the important details of the jump in a really simple way by shaping the light in a thin line going up the wall - no Photoshop was involved in getting the effect.

    Markus and I tried pretty much all season to get together to make this shoot happen, but we were always too busy or abroad. By the end of March, the time had finally come. Springtime was melting the snow and it was the last night to get that project done, otherwise we would have had to wait for another year.

    This meant I was a bit nervous, also because Markus didn’t know at all what my idea was. Of course, I told him about it, but he couldn’t follow my ideas. He just said: “Sure, I’m in." After his first attempt I showed him what it was going to look like and he was totally into my vision for the photo.

    We kept going. Markus jumped big and stylish as usual and after a couple of tries I got what I was looking for. All in all, the shoot took an hour. Everything went perfect, except from Markus breaking my light stand after he offered to help me pack up my gear. All forgiven now though, he replaced it! Thanks Markus, it was great working with you!

    Thomas_Stoeckli.jpg

    Biography

    I was born on august 11th, 1978, which is also Hulk Hogan’s birthday – but that’s about as far as the similarities between him and me go. In 1992 I found my big love: snowboarding. That was pretty much a life changing experience, however, somehow the worst snowboarder in the crew always gets the camera, and so my second love found me. On my birthday, one week after I bought my first real canon in 2001, I had an accident which took me off my board for nine very long months. At the time it was a nightmare, but to cut a long story short: I couldn’t be happier with how everything has turned out.

    Since 2001 I have documented snowboarding everywhere from the Alps, the Rockies and the Andes. I am senior-photographer at Pleasure Magazine, and work with clients such as Red Bull, Vans, eleven and Snowboard Mag. Nowadays, I live in Zurich, Switzerland, and I am pretty much into portrait, fashion and action photography in general. But whenever it's good outside, I go and get the goods or shred snow as if I am a 15-year-old kid again.

    I get inspired a lot during my assisting-work by city-trips; riding my bike through the city, watching magazines, movies, looking at people, thinking, nature, beautiful things, girls... everything!

  • Tim Korbmacher, Category finalist 2010: Playground
    Tim Korbmacher, Category finalist 2010: Playground
    PG10_005804_002305.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Playground
    PhotographerTim Korbmacher
    AthleteStefan Lantschner
    LocationKrefeld, Germany
    Read more

    Tim Korbmacher

    PG10_005804_002305.jpg
    CameraCanon EOS 20D
    Lens50mm
    ISO200
    F-Stopf 5.6
    Shutter Speed1/250

    About the shot

    I met Stefan for the first time that day. He was visiting Germany with well-known videographer Dominik Wrobel of Woozy BMX to gather material for a new video edit. I spontaneously grabbed my camera equipment and joined them for a few hours during their visit to Düsseldorf. We’d already visited some spots resulting in great material on video and film when I told them of a special place I used to skate at.

    The setting was perfect by the time we arrived. Stefan entered and had fun. He rode it intensively for a while, so I had the chance to test various techniques. But it took me a while to realize how massive this pipe actually was when looked at from the outside, thinking that this was only a piece of what was destined to become part of an even bigger industrial pipeline system.

    Thanks to Stefan’s huge motivation I had the chance and luck to take this photo – we were all stoked about it afterwards. That day and this final location was an unforgettable moment, which I tried to capture with this picture.

    <media 896 - download-grey>download wallpaper</media>

    tim_korbmacher_013646.jpg

    Biography

    I was born and raised in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany and now live in Düsseldorf. My story of being a photographer matches those of many other guys sharing my passion. I’ve been addicted to skate and snowboarding most of my life. Through my job I’ve had the chance to meet and contact many different photographers who have inspired me greatly.

    Growing older, I had to face the negative aspects of these sports and with my health in mind I decided to become more professional behind the camera. Pushing the trigger doesn’t hurt at all – at least most of the time.

    So I started to take photos back in 2008 with a digital SLR and I’m gaining more and more experience with the analogue medium format and 35mm cameras. It’s so much fun to go out with friends and all the other guys I meet to see new spots, nice places and then to capture my point of view with the camera. That’s what I like.

    In 2012 I became a freelance photographer mainly focused on action sports, as well as many other fields. I’m working as a senior photographer and editor in chief at the German BMX Rider Magazine and I’m a member of the staff pro team at f-stop Gear.

     

  • Derek Frankowski, Category finalist 2010: Playground
    Derek Frankowski, Category finalist 2010: Playground
    PG10_008691_001763.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Playground
    PhotographerDerek Frankowski
    AthleteMike Hopkins
    LocationBig Water, UT, USA
    Read more

    Derek Frankowski

    PG10_008691_001763.jpg
    CameraNikon D2X
    Lens17.0-35.0 mm f/2.8
    ISO200
    F-Stopf 4.5
    Shutter Speed1/1000

    About the shot

    We had been scouring the landscape looking for unique lines to ride and shoot for the film Life Cycles. This opportunity was spotted from pretty much the angle this photo was taken from, on an opposing ridge. The large hoodoo type formation in the foreground is massive. I love the sense of scale that I get when I look at the size of the rider compared to where he is riding.

    A lot of things need to come together to get shots that really work and this one had all of the elements. To get it, we came back on a sunny day, waited and watched the evening light transform the shapes of the desert landscape into a more interesting world.

    The rider is a professional biker, but also a ski athlete, so the line catered to his style. It’s really important to be working with people that can help you achieve the results you’re searching for. What I think this photo has done well is show mountain biking in a slightly different context and hopefully it has a nice balance of nature and action.

    Derek_Frankowski.jpg

    Biography

    I mostly find inspiration from light. I’ve never been that attracted to flash or contrived set-up type photos. Not that I don’t find them intriguing, but I’m more interested in working with natural light and reacting to real life situations.

    When I was young, I used to look at national geographic Magazine, wonder how the photos were made and ask myself: who are these lucky people that get to go and experience these cool things? That fueled a passion that fortunately turned into a job around 1998 when I began to work with Bike Magazine. To accommodate my newfound direction, I moved to British Columbia, Canada. Finding my way to the mountains after growing up in the prairies, I found a place that fits me and my lifestyle, which now includes life with my young family.

    My photography took a turn four years ago when I began to co-create the film life Cycles. Merging my experience in photography and my business partners’ background in film, we set out to create a different kind of action sports film. The future of photography meshing with cinematography is an interesting merge of mediums and I hope to explore the balance of the two more.

  • Rainer Eder, Category finalist 2010: Playground
    Rainer Eder, Category finalist 2010: Playground
    PG10_009169_002037.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Playground
    PhotographerRainer Eder
    AthletesWalter Hungerbühler
    LocationWolfenschiessen, Switzerland
    Read more

    Rainer Eder

    PG10_009169_002037.jpg
    CameraNikon D3
    Lens300.0 mm f/2.8
    ISO200
    F-Stopf 4.0
    Shutter Speed1/1000

    About the shot

    The icefall is not far from where my home in central Switzerland is, and I noticed it a while ago when passing nearby. It is such a bold line. pretty exposed with several sections of freestanding ice columns, but it takes the reference of a climber to show its whole majesty. The problem was that good, safe conditions, with a thin ice line from top to bottom are rare. After a period of cold weather I decided to check out the condition of the icefall. It looked good and I had a quick talk to Walter Hungerbühler who lives right next to the icefall’s exit.

    As luck would have it, Walter told me he was going to climb the icefall the next day. I decided to take the chance and get some ‘wide’ shots from the opposite side of the valley. So, when I went back, fresh snow had covered the landscape – breathtaking! I did not have to do much more than wait for the climbers to get in the right position. later, they told me that during their ascent, the whole icefall ‘settled’ (released tension) with a ‘whoom’ sound. Scary if you are climbing, but I did not even notice. Walter and Stefan Suhner, who is belaying in the photo, topped out without any problem.

    I have shots that required a lot more effort from my side, both physically and mentally, but in the end, that’s not what makes a great photo. Sometimes, all it takes is being at the right place and not missing the ‘magic’ moment!

    Rainer_Eder_01.jpg

    Biography

    Being at the right place at the right time – and then doing the right thing in the right moment, that’s the name of the game for every photographer! A native Austrian living in Switzerland for the past two decades, I became a photo professional about six years ago.

    I am a climbing enthusiast and natural networker, knowing literally everyone in the climbing scene, which has given me the chance to shoot the world’s best rock and ice climbers. However, I apply the same kind of passion to shooting other extreme sports such as BASE jumping, freeriding, speed flying or whitewater kayaking.

    Originally, I started out as a painter, but even before my time as a professional, I regularly shot assignments for popular outdoor brands such as ODLO, Mammut, Black Diamond and Red Bull, to name a few. When doing shoots for them, I always try to put less spectacular activities such as hiking, running or golfing into perfect focus. One of my skiing shots was awarded “Best Mountain Adventure Photo” at the Banff Mountain Photography Competition and I was a finalist of the 2010 Red Bull Illume contest.

    What I like most about my job is being outside, as well as the variety, traveling and being in contact with many extraordinary people. My road to success as a professional photographer was long and difficult and in the past I didn’t even think I would ever be able to make a living from photography. But obviously I was at the right place at the right time – and did the right thing often enough!

  • Ricky Adam, Category finalist 2010: Playground
    Ricky Adam, Category finalist 2010: Playground
    PG10_001562_000721-1.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Playground
    PhotographerRicky Adam
    AthleteOwain Clegg
    LocationDungeness, Kent, United Kingdom
    Read more

    Ricky Adam

    PG10_001562_000721-1.jpg
    CameraNikon FM2
    FilmKodak TMax
    Lens70-200mm
    ISO400
    F-Stopf 5.6
    Shutter Speed1/500

    About the shot

    Make art not war! This large concrete structure is a sound mirror. There were a few dotted around the coast of the UK and were used to detect enemy aircraft in World War Two, but made redundant soon after due to the invention of radar. What you can't see is the body of water surrounding part of the structure. The night before owain tied a length of rope across only to return the following morning to discover someone had taken it!

    We had driven a long way to get here and Owain was determined not to let this get in his way, so, he stripped to the waist and waded through freezing cold water with his bike held above his head ‘army style’ and with his trousers and shoes in his backpack to change into on the other side. Bear in mind that we shot this in the middle of winter and it was freezing! Of course, riding the thing wasn't its original purpose but it's great to see this particular sound mirror being put to good use in a more positive way than its intended use during the war.

    Ricky_Adam.jpg

    Biography

    I was born and raised in Northern Ireland and first discovered photography at the age of 16 after I took a few photos with a camera from my friend’s dad. I never had the money to buy a camera of my own until I turned 19. As soon as that happened, I was terminally hooked.

    I was attracted to the immediacy of photography, I was always good at art and painted a bit at school, but found the painting process too slow. I've always been a collector of things: records, books, magazines – so taking photos is sort of an extension of this.

    Being from a hardcore BMX/punk background myself, I began to shoot photographs of friends in the different scenes that I was involved with and made regular contributions to DIG BMX Magazine who are based in Belfast. The mag has a passion for stylistic BMX riding alongside a D.I.Y. punk ethic, so I could really tune into the magazine’s vision. These days, I’m the staff photographer, editor and janitor at their office in Belfast.

    I'm lucky enough to be able to travel the world with fellow weirdos, documenting the many unique aspects of BMX life. What I’ve learned is that if you have a real passion for photography or anything else, follow your heart and believe in what you do. It’s 2010, let's keep the energy going. It's all about what's happening today, now.

  • Will Wissman, Category finalist 2010: Playground
    Will Wissman, Category finalist 2010: Playground
    PG10_006584_002739-1.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Playground
    PhotographerWill Wissman
    AthleteReggie Crist
    LocationHaines, AK, USA
    Read more

    Will Wissman

    PG10_006584_002739-1.jpg
    CameraCanon EOS-1D Mark II N
    LensEF70-200mm f/2.8L USM
    ISO100
    F-Stopf 5.6
    Shutter Speed1/1250

    About the shot

    Reggie Crist was one of the first skiers to pioneer heli-skiing in Haines over a decade ago. Here, he unlocks the door to a tricky first descent of The Tongue, located on the east-facing flank of Mount Kraus. It was the beginning of April and we were locked into perfect conditions.

    I distinctly remember my first look at Mount Kraus. It sits high above the surrounding peaks at a lofty 7200-feet. The eastern flank of Kraus is riddled in ice and contains a perfect ramp right down the gut, as seen in the photo. To enter the line Reggie had to manage a difficult maze of cracks and cliffs. Once he opened the door, it was clean all the way through.

    At first glance I knew an opposing view would offer the best angle on the ice field. I was able to find the perfect perch looking right in on the slope. as I set up my equipment tension began to build. Was reggie going to find his way in? Were the cracks filled in enough for a skier to bridge? Would he ski it fast and fluid? These were the essential ingredients to making the shot stand out. Before Reggie reached the bottom of his run I knew the image would be strong. He had flashed the line leaving a perfect track. Stoke was high as everything had come together.

    will_wissman_014827.jpg

    Biography

    I grew up in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico. Born from a tattoo artist and an artisan consignment shop owner, I never did quite fit in with the normal crowd. Let’s just say, the other kids’ parents didn’t seem to appreciate art like we did.

    I moved to Alta in 1995 to follow my childhood passion of skiing powder snow. I ended up getting on the snowmaking crew, which to this day has been my favorite job. I got to roll around in the mountains all night and watch the most amazing sunrises.

    After that first year I bought an old Minolta camera with a blazing four frames per second shutter from a buddy and started shooting my friends. My photography has grown along with the arsenal of equipment but the premise has always remained the same.

     

  • Miguel Angel Lopez Virgen, Category finalist 2010: Sequence
    Miguel Angel Lopez Virgen, Category finalist 2010: Sequence
    SE10_016004_000255.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Sequence
    PhotographerMiguel Angel Lopez Virgen
    AthleteAlfredo Salcido
    LocationGuadalajara, Mexico
    Read more

    Miguel Angel Lopez Virgen

    SE10_016004_000255.jpg
    CameraCanon EOS 30D
    Lens28.0 mm
    ISO1000
    F-Stopf 3.5
    Shutter Speed1/250

    About the shot

    I took this picture in Guadalajara, which is very well known for its skateboarding culture and locations. I was a little worried because I didn’t have any pictures to enter into the Red Bull Illume contest and there were only a few days left. So, I decided to take pictures of my friends’ shadows while they skated at night.

    I talked with a good friend of mine who is a skateboarder and I asked him if he could help me take the sequence. It was hard because I only used a Sunpak flash and my radio slave pointing at the wall of a very overcrowded place. When I got the sequence, I quickly went to my office and edited the pictures together. But something came to my mind and I didn’t want to do a usual sequence that has been done many times before.

    I wanted to make the sequence different so I only used the image of when Alfredo first jumps in the air with his skateboard – and then used his shadows to create the rest of the sequence. From the moment it begins, all his movements can be seen right through to their completion. To give the image a title or describe the concept, I would name it “The Climax” because you see the best moment in the trick's execution.

    <media 895 - download-grey "DATASET, Red-Bull-Illume-2010-SE-Miguel-Lopez, Red-Bull-Illume-2010-SE-Miguel-Lopez.zip, 798 KB">download wallpaper</media>

    miguel_angel_lopez_virgen_011210.jpg

    Biography

    My name is Miguel Angel Lopez Virgen and I'm from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. It was through another of my passions – skateboarding that I started taking pictures. I have never studied in a school of photography, but it’s thanks to skateboarding, my family and friends who supported me, and a love of learning new things that I’m here.

    I have been a photographer for 15 years and have spent most of this time dedicated to the promotion of skateboarding in my country. I have learned many things, traveled and met amazing people. I have also given some non-profit workshops in my community. Photography has changed me as a person and I now see the world from another perspective.

    Currently I continue with my personal photography projects and try to keep learning and experimenting with it. I've become so passionate about photography that I never leave the camera at home!

    I hope to continue bringing different things to people and learn from everything that photography can offer. My motto remains the same - when you take a picture, feel the picture, live the picture and do not think too much about the picture.

     

  • Agustin Munoz, Category finalist 2010: Sequence
    Agustin Munoz, Category finalist 2010: Sequence
    SE10_013002_003297.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Sequence
    PhotographerAgustin Munoz
    AthletesOrlando Duque
    LocationNegril, Jamaica
    Read more

    Agustin Munoz

    SE10_013002_003297.jpg
    CameraCanon EOS 40D
    Lens10.0 mm
    ISO250
    F-Stopf 8.0
    Shutter Speed1/1600

    About the shot

    In January 2009 I was called to cover the Nitro Circus Caribbean Tour show. I was told that Orlando Duque was going to be in Negril, jumping from a cliff to be shown in the program. Fortunately, I always travel with most of my toys and I discussed with Orlando which angle we could shoot from.

    The idea of having part of the picture inside the water and the other half outside popped into my head. Orlando's skills, the great weather conditions and the crystal water were the main factors that made the shot possible.

    One of the things I love the most about my job is when ideas become a reality.

    Agustin_Munoz.jpg

    Biography

    I started to take pictures in 1995 as a hobby with an old Nikon F1. The surfing, the ocean and the wildlife of Costa Rica made me move here some years ago from my native Argentina.

    Then I started taking pictures as a way of life. I've always been very motivated towards extreme sports and activities – being a photographer allowed me to intertwine both as a way to make a living.

    During my career as a photographer I have always been drawn to try new things, concepts, ideas and different techniques. Playing with light and motion, pushing my ideas with an open mind has always been my dream and it is now turning into reality.

  • Jeremy Koreski, Category finalist 2010: Sequence
    Jeremy Koreski, Category finalist 2010: Sequence
    SE10_007117_000274.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Sequence
    PhotographerJeremy Koreski
    AthletePeter Devries
    LocationVancouver Island, BC, Canada
    Read more

    Jeremy Koreski

    SE10_007117_000274.jpg
    CameraCanon EOS-1D Mark II N
    LensEF600mm f/4L USM
    ISO125
    F-Stopf 8.0
    Shutter Speed1/400

    About the shot

    I've been shooting a lot of surfing with Peter Devries, and we are always trying to mix things up with different angles, lighting, locations and so on. This location on Vancouver Island is actually at the beach where Peter grew up.

    This evening, instead of setting up front lit, I decided to shoot backlit with the trees and Peter as silhouettes.

    Sequence images of surfing are tough, because the waves are always changing – not like skating or snowboarding with static locations. But with Peter and the trees as black shapes it was easier to make this sequence image work. I think the image turned out really well.

    Jeremy_Koreski.jpg

    Biography

    I am a professional photographer based on the West coast of Canada. Born and raised in the small town of Tofino, B.C., I have been shooting outdoor life, coastal culture and action sports since my teens.

    I believe I have a strongly individual style and an affinity for working in cold and challenging environments – the backcountry surf breaks of Vancouver Island and the zero-degree waters of Nova Scotia among them.

    I am currently working as the photo editor of SBC Surf and my work has appeared in most of the world's major surf magazines. My other clients include Ocean Minded, ESPN and Patagonia.

  • Riccardo Monti, Category finalist 2010: Sequence
    Riccardo Monti, Category finalist 2010: Sequence
    SE10_017154_000304.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Sequence
    PhotographerRiccardo Monti
    AthleteVanni Oddera
    LocationDorno, Pavia, Italy
    Read more

    Riccardo Monti

    SE10_017154_000304.jpg
    CameraNikon D200
    Lens36.0 mm
    ISO200
    F-Stopf 2.8
    Shutter Speed1/640

    About the shot

    This picture is the output of my continuous search for a new photographic angle – it happened at a shooting with FMX rider Vanni Oddera.

    I was close to the ramp in front of a puddle of mud and during the jump I saw Vanni’s image reflected on the water. I tried to find the right angle to show the whole trick, the rider actually being in shot.

    I had to address a problem of water ripples when the rider was motoring up the ramp. Choosing the right moment was crucial to the photo. The result is a real ‘rock solid’ trick.

    Ricky_Monti.jpg

    Biography

    I'm 23 years old and my hometown is Como, Italy. I have been a self-taught freelance sports photographer for six years. My passion for pictures began during my early teens when I used my father’s Olympus OM2 for the first time.

    At the end of my school studies I followed freestyle motocross thanks to film friends, travelling around the world to USA, Japan, South Africa and throughout Europe. I got to know the sport very well, the people in it, and I got to co-operate with many different magazines. Then I began to diversify by shooting BMX, wakeboarding, skateboarding, jet skiing and snowboarding in many different countries. Now I’m collaborating with brands such as ESPN, etnies and FIAT.

    I’m always looking to find a unique shot, configuring it in my mind to achieve exclusive, never- seen-before pictures for advertising or magazines. To me a picture is always a portrait that expresses my sensations.

  • Thomas Stöckli, Category finalist 2010: Sequence
    Thomas Stöckli, Category finalist 2010: Sequence
    SE10_003787_000586.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Sequence
    PhotographerThomas Stöckli
    AthleteSteve Gruber
    LocationHoch-Ybrig, Switzerland
    Read more

    Thomas Stöckli

    SE10_003787_000586.jpg
    CameraCanon EOS 5D
    LensEF15mm f/2.8 Fisheye
    ISO100
    F-Stopf 6.3
    Shutter Speed1/250

    About the shot

    Every year I do an advertisement campaign for Eleven, the Swiss outerwear-brand. It’s the coolest thing since they let me more or less do totally what I want. Every year we do something special and last year, I got inspired a lot by their collection, which has lots of colors and combos.

    So the logical thing for me was showing as many color rotations as possible in one photo. Normally I hate doing sequences, but this time was different.

    It was May when Steve Gruber and I got together at my local resort Hoch-Ybrig in Switzerland. There was a bit of snow left and during the afternoon I shaped the hip jump until Steve arrived to help as well. Around 8pm, I took the first photo and at 4am the last one. So we shot eight hours straight for this ad! Crazy.

    After packing all the lights, stands, generators and stuff I jumped into my hippie-car next to the spot and slept on the bed in the back. Good times! Thanks to the Resort Hoch-Ybrig and Eleven for letting me do my thing.

    Thomas_Stoeckli.jpg

    Biography

    I was born on august 11th, 1978, which is also Hulk Hogan’s birthday – but that’s about as far as the similarities between him and me go. In 1992 I found my big love: snowboarding. That was pretty much a life changing experience, however, somehow the worst snowboarder in the crew always gets the camera, and so my second love found me. On my birthday, one week after I bought my first real canon in 2001, I had an accident which took me off my board for nine very long months. At the time it was a nightmare, but to cut a long story short: I couldn’t be happier with how everything has turned out.

    Since 2001 I have documented snowboarding everywhere from the Alps, the Rockies and the Andes. I am senior-photographer at Pleasure Magazine, and work with clients such as Red Bull, Vans, eleven and Snowboard Mag. Nowadays, I live in Zurich, Switzerland, and I am pretty much into portrait, fashion and action photography in general. But whenever it's good outside, I go and get the goods or shred snow as if I am a 15-year-old kid again.

    I get inspired a lot during my assisting-work by city-trips; riding my bike through the city, watching magazines, movies, looking at people, thinking, nature, beautiful things, girls... everything!

  • Adam Kokot, Category finalist 2010: Spirit
    Adam Kokot, Category finalist 2010: Spirit
    SP10_001843_000504-1.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Spirit
    PhotographerAdam Kokot
    AthleteMichal Krol
    LocationSpisske Tomasovce, Slovakia
    Read more

    Adam Kokot

    SP10_001843_000504-1.jpg
    CameraCanon EOS 350D DIGITAL
    Lens10.0-20.0 mm
    ISO100
    F-Stopf 4,0
    Shutter Speed1/80

    About the shot

    Tomaszowski Vychlad is the name of a rock wall near Spisske Tomasovce village in Slovakia. I made the photo shoot in that region for the polish magazine ‘Gory’, which means ‘Mountains’.

    The main problem was to talk the climbers into going there, as the region is known for its very dangerous and unsafe routes. The idea for the photo came into my mind only on the spot, during the climb of Micha? Król, who was resting before the difficult final section of the route. I asked him to lean against the wall and enjoy the views. The use of a wide-angle lens created an amazing effect.

    <media 894 - download-grey>download wallpaper</media>

    Adam_Kokot.jpg

    Biography

    I’m 29 years old and since I can remember my life has been connected to mountains and traveling. I became interested in photography a couple of years ago. I bought my first good camera in 2007 and initially I wasn’t really ambitious, treating the activity just as a great hobby and a springboard from my profession.

    But things went in a different direction. Together with my friends I went climbing in the Tatra Mountains and took some photographs of their achievements. The photos turned out to be interesting for prestigious polish outdoor magazines. Since then I’ve looked at photography in a different way, I’ve learnt and experimented. Now, I’m a regular contributor to mountain magazines in Poland and Czech republic.

    I try to combine traveling with photography. I try to show everyday life as well as the uniqueness of that part of the world. My trip last year to Tian-Shan Mountains in Kyrgyzstan taught me a lot in terms of photography and in terms of life itself. At the beginning of 2010 I became a member of the photographic agency ‘Babel images’, which focuses on presenting social problems and respecting human rights. I am also now an ambassador for Clik Elite.

  • Brian Bielmann, Category finalist 2010: Spirit
    Brian Bielmann, Category finalist 2010: Spirit
    SP10_012991_003727-1.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Spirit
    PhotographerBrian Bielmann
    AthleteAndy Irons
    LocationTeahupoo, French Polynesia
    Read more

    Brian Bielmann

    SP10_012991_003727-1.jpg
    CameraCanon EOS 40D
    Lens10-17mm
    ISO100
    F-Stopf 3,5
    Shutter Speed1/800

    About the shot

    Another photographer and I were shooting with Andy and Bruce irons in Tahiti. The waves were really bad at the usual Teahupoo break so we searched up and down the coast and came across a wave three times bigger than anywhere else. The other photographer shot above the surface and I reluctantly decided to shoot below. You could be giving up on a lot of really good photos if you choose to go under the wave and sometimes it is not the right call. That day I really felt like I blew it because the other photographer got some insane shots.

    Andy took off on a big wave. I swam underwater as close to the breaking wave as possible and waited to see Andy's image going by. Instead, the wave closed out and Andy's body came exploding through it as he attempted to keep from getting sucked over on to the reef. For a while after I felt like I had made the wrong choice, but the photos I got that day ended up being run in all different magazines and helped separate me from the rest of the pack as having helped to create a new progressive look – that can't be bad.

    Brian_Bielmann.jpg

    Biography

    I was born in New York in 1957 and started surfing in 1970 at the age of 13. in the last two years of high school, all I could think about was graduating and moving to Hawaii. In 1975 I did just that, and so at age 17 I was living in paradise. Since then I've never looked back. When I was 21 I decided that I would be a surf photographer, but it still took a near death collision with a reef to get me off my surfboard and behind the camera.

    It has now been 30 years of surfing and photography for me, and what a long, strange trip it has been. Lots of crazy people, lots of exotic places. Not much money, but a fantastic life. I have been lucky enough to see – and in a small way be a part of – the evolution of the sport of surfing. i have seen surfing champions come and go and i have visited and photographed places that were once unknown and have seen them become world famous hot spots.

    I have seen technology change the way a wave is ridden and I have watched the pictures I used to draw on my notebook of surfers riding giant waves become a reality. My goal is to try to keep taking the viewer to places they have not visited and to see things unlike anything they have seen before. I work for Transworld Surf in the USA and Volcom clothing, and contribute to most surfing publications outside of America.

    I pray that I continue to see the beauty in what God has created and be able to continue to spread that beauty with my own vision. Thank God for this fantastic world.

  • Fred Mortagne, Category finalist 2010: Spirit
    Fred Mortagne, Category finalist 2010: Spirit
    SP10_004025_002002-1.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Spirit
    PhotographerFred Mortagne
    AthleteAlex Gavin
    LocationMontréal, QC, Canada
    Read more

    Fred Mortagne

    SP10_004025_002002-1.jpg
    CameraNikon FM2
    FilmKodak Tri-X
    Lens35mm
    ISO400
    F-Stop2
    Shutter Speed1/250

    About the shot

    In the summer of 2008, I was trying to gather photographs for a special black and white article and travelled to Montreal, Canada. I had the idea to make a photo article based on style and aesthetics, rather than action and performance.

    I hooked up with a guy I'd previously met, Alex Gavin. We went to the stadium that was built for the 1976 Olympics, and I was blown away. It was imposing, amazing, and it's design offered original skate spots all over it. Alex showed me another spot that was next to the stadium. It was on a huge pillar supporting a bridge. It looked great, but the problem was getting to it.

    Alex used a shoelace to tie his skateboard around his back and used his socks as gloves to get extra grip. I shot photos of the whole process. I was scared for Alex as the climb up was sketchy, but he made his way up there in true high mountain climbing style. Sometimes things come super easy, but the part of chance remains tiny. All the ingredients were there, they just had to be gathered and mixed up correctly.

    fred_mortagne_011128.jpg

    Biography

    I’m a self-taught french director and photographer, with the focus of my work being mostly around skateboarding. My graphical and geometrical photography is almost exclusively shot in black and white, and focuses more on the aesthetics and style of the sport, rather than the performance, while also playing around a lot with architecture.

    Spending so much time out in the streets, I keep a curious eye for other interesting things of life happening, and am always ready to capture those unique moments. My pictures are a feast of lines and angles, and my specific compositions – blending the skateboarders into their environment – make this skateboarding photography accessible to non-skateboarders.

    This is the third time my work has been recognized by Red Bull Illume. In total I’ve had seven finalist images in the 2007 and 2010 contests. My first retrospective book was published in the fall of 2016.

     

  • Mike Killion, Category finalist 2010: Spirit
    Mike Killion, Category finalist 2010: Spirit
    SP10_018732_002020-1.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Spirit
    PhotographerMike Killion
    AthleteBrad Tunis
    LocationHammond, IN, USA
    Read more

    Mike Killion

    SP10_018732_002020-1.jpg
    CameraCanon EOS 40D
    LensEF28-105 f/3.5-4.5 USM
    ISO125
    F-Stopf 7,1
    Shutter Speed1/125

    About the shot

    This photo is of Brad Tunis, shot on December 4th, 2009, in Hammond, Indiana. I had brought my camera to the beach as I always do, hoping to get some good photos in- between my surf session but never expected something like this. I typically don't plan on what my pictures will look like unless I'm on an assignment or setting something up for fun. I like to capture the moment as it happens as best as I can.

    We're used to getting ice on our wetsuit or face in the winter while surfing Lake Michigan, but I'd never seen anyone as covered as Brad was. This was after a few hours of surfing small, glassy, waist to chest high waves and Brad had come in to get warm. i think i actually shot this photo from my hip right after he had climbed out over the shelf ice, as we were all amazed at the icicles hanging off his beard. Being the happy and joyful person that Brad is, he was still able to sport a smile from ear to ear despite his frosty face.

    Everyone is usually amazed by his appearance in the photo but the best reactions I ever got were from some of the locals in Ecuador last year, they couldn't resist calling us “loco”!

    Mike_Killion.jpg

    Biography

    I don't think there ever was a time I didn't have a camera in my hand. I have always been intrigued with capturing an image and saving it to look back on. As a kid I remember walking up to wild buffalo on vacation in Wyoming with a disposable camera just to get a picture.

    Throughout high school I took photo classes and it wasn't until I finished my first year of college without taking a photo class that I realized photography was my passion and what I love to do the most. I’m currently finishing my BA in photography at Columbia College in Chicago and am pursuing another passion of mine at the same time: surfing. I love to be outdoors photographing in natural light, living in the moment and capturing it as best as I can.

    Over the past few years my work has been published with Transworld Surf Magazine, ESM, Hardcore Magazine, ESPN, Surfline, and many other media outlets. In the summer of 2008 I started an online magazine called Great Lakes surfer. I felt the Great Lakes surfing community needed a place to be recognized and appreciated – a place to bring us all together and share what we love to do. The freshwater surf scene seems to be growing and I hope to ride this wave as long as I can.

  • Mike Smolowe, Category finalist 2010: Spirit
    Mike Smolowe, Category finalist 2010: Spirit
    SP10_019100_003145-1.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Spirit
    PhotographerMike Smolowe
    AthleteCJ Hobgood
    LocationMundaka, Basque Country, Spain
    Read more

    Mike Smolowe

    SP10_019100_003145-1.jpg
    CameraCanon EOS 5D
    LensEF24-70mm f/2.8L USM
    ISO200
    F-Stopf 8,0
    Shutter Speed1/500

    About the shot

    A good friend of mine and I bought a van for 700 Euros in San Sebastian and we spent two months travelling through Spain, France, Portugal, and Morocco. We decided to make the drive to Mundaka, Spain for the WCT contest because we had heard such amazing things about not only the wave, but also the town itself.

    I had seen footage from the previous contest where Bobby Martinez got thrown off the wall in the harbor after he won and remember thinking how amazing it must look from the water. CJ won his final heat against Joel Parkinson in the waning minutes of the contest and on a whim I ran back to the van, put my housing together, and jumped in the water.

    Within seconds I could see something was wrong. Condensation began building in my fisheye port and I could see drops of water beginning to accumulate under the base plate of my camera. I frantically swam to the wall, climbed out, ran back to the van and quickly exchanged my fisheye lens for my 24-70mm and changed ports. Not sure if the port had even been the issue, I crossed my fingers and ran back down to the harbor, jumped in the water, and anxiously awaited CJ's arrival. Minutes later he got hoisted up and tossed in. My 35mm focal length ended up being perfect. One of those seemingly shot-ruining things that ends up creating an even better image.

    Mike_Smolowe.jpg

    Biography

    Shooting surfing was never the plan. I grew up in Pennsylvania, 70 miles from the coast of New Jersey, and went to college to become a vet. Now I'm 24, a graduate of Brooks institute, and making my living shooting freelance action sports of everything from surfing to fashion.

    It's funny where life takes you and I can't think of anywhere else I'd rather be. The ocean and the creative people around me inspire me, and I wake up every morning feeling blessed to be able to live the life I live. Current and past clients of mine include surfing, surfer, and surf Europe magazines, Surfline, and GQ.

    Innovation keeps me determined, traveling to new places keeps me excited, and creating successful images from mere ideas keeps me looking forward to what tomorrow will bring.

  • Marcel Lämmerhirt, Category finalist 2010: Wings
    Marcel Lämmerhirt, Category finalist 2010: Wings
    WI10_000645_000260.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Wings
    PhotographerMarcel Lämmerhirt
    AthleteJosé Eber Pava Ordoñez
    LocationHamburg, Germany
    Read more

    Marcel Lämmerhirt

    WI10_000645_000260.jpg
    CameraCanon EOS-1D Mark III
    LensEF24-70mm f/2.8L USM
    ISO125
    F-Stopf 8,0
    Shutter Speed1/1600

    About the shot

    In September 2008 I went to Hamburg, Germany, for the Red Bull Cliff Diving event, which was at three different locations over four days. The first spot was Speicherstadt, the largest warehouse complex in the world, built on oak pile foundations.

    It wasn’t easy to get permission to shoot there because the buildings are protected as they are historically important. For a safe dive the organizers needed to dig out a bit of the canal bed to get the four meters of water the divers needed for the high dives. We had just one hour of high tide to get as many shots as possible.

    I used 2 cameras, one overhead above the platform connected with flashes, and the second on the opposite bank for the sequences. Just before the session was over I changed my position to a bridge over the canal to get this angle. It was 4pm and I shot against the sun. Because of the bad light conditions I decided to shoot in HDR to get more information in the picture. In order to avoid the typical HDR look, I manually put the five single exposures together.

    <media 893 - download-grey "DATASET, Red-Bull-Illume-2010-WI-Marcel-Lämmerhirt, Red-Bull-Illume-2010-WI-Marcel-Lämmerhirt.zip, 0.9 MB">download wallpaper</media>

    Marcel_Laemmerhirt.jpg

    Biography

    Some years ago I moved from Germany, where I grew up, to Arlberg in the Austrian mountains. During this time I began shooting snowboarding action photography with friends. What could be more stunning than to work outside in nature with some good buddies, having a good time in the snow? I decided I liked the idea of turning my photography hobby into a serious job.

    Since 2005 I've been shooting professionally, specializing in action sports photography. With sports photography, I love to catch the right moment and put the action in a smooth frame to show the spirit and passion of the sport.

    I travel around the world for various shoots and since July 2010 I have been a member of the SanDisk Extreme Team. I have worked for numerous international magazines and clients, including Blue Tomato, Adidas and Burton snowboards.

  • Camilla Stoddart, Category finalist 2010: Wings
    Camilla Stoddart, Category finalist 2010: Wings
    WI10_005650_000942.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Wings
    PhotographerCamilla Stoddart
    AthleteJosie Symons
    LocationRob Roy Glacier, Mt Aspiring National Park, New Zealand
    Read more

    Camilla Stoddart

    WI10_005650_000942.jpg
    CameraCanon EOS-1D Mark III
    LensEF28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM
    ISO400
    F-Stop10,0
    Shutter Speed1/640

    About the shot

    People usually assume BASE jumper Josie Symons is just there to watch, and get surprised when she too launches off cliff edges. I told her I knew what it was like to be a female in a male dominated industry!

    After crossing a thigh-deep river near Mount Aspiring national Park one morning and bush- bashing our way up through some thick foliage we stood at the base of ‘The One’. This 1000-meter wall stared at us in all her glory with a waterfall cascading down her sheer face.

    It was a further one-hour climb up to the top for the jumpers. When they were ready to jump, clouds had rolled in to my dismay. Usually I would ask for them to wait for a clear patch, but not with BASE jumpers. They are in no state of mind to be waiting around for the light. Before I knew it Josie had launched herself, performing a beautiful laid out back flip. The clouds made it easier to see her, and made this image what it is. This moment captured sends a small shiver down my spine. She looks so small, yet fascinatingly elegant as she becomes part of the mountains.

    Camilla_Stoddart.jpg

    Biography

    It is something to do with nature, light and people that inspires me to shoot photos of freesports. I grew up in Scotland and have worked as a freelance photographer for the past five years since graduating in Theatre Design at St. Martins in London. As a snow sports photographer, I chased winters for four years before having my first summer in Wanaka, New Zealand, which is where I am now based.

    There is not one sport in particular I crave to shoot, it is the act of a human using our landscape to play on that I find inspiring – be it sliding on snow, biking down exposed ridges or jumping off 1000-meter cliffs. Beautiful things happen when people and mountains meet.

    I think my theatre background occasionally shows its face in my work. Capturing the performances of athletes in their element is critical. A photo must tell a story and inspire you to look deeper wondering how this moment in time came about.

    The sports that I shoot take me to incredible parts of the world. My job allows me to travel to places I could never have dreamed of, meeting inspiring, passionate and like-minded people. I can go on adventures that can be both extremely challenging and daunting, but equally as rewarding. I never plan to stop this search.

  • Christophe Margot, Category finalist 2010: Wings
    Christophe Margot, Category finalist 2010: Wings
    WI10_001393_000537-1.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Wings
    PhotographerChristophe Margot
    AthleteReine Barkered
    LocationSquaw Valley, CA, USA
    Read more

    Christophe Margot

    WI10_001393_000537-1.jpg
    CameraCanon EOS 1D Mark III
    LensEF300mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x
    ISO100
    F-Stopf 8,0
    Shutter Speed1/1000

    About the shot

    The beauty and the magic of photography is that you never know when you will get a good picture. You can plan everything but the thing that might make a difference is often unexpected. Sometimes the best plan is no plan, just be ready to trigger the camera. Or sometimes you can burn liter and liter of gas oil on a helicopter shooting in a remote location where no one has been, and get good images.

    But sometimes, you get a great shot in a normal place in the middle of a crowd. That is what happened in this picture. As one of the two official photographers for the Freeride world Tour, I shot this picture from the piste in the middle of the public area facing the freeride contest in Squaw Valley.

    Dozens of photographers were also present but I was the lucky one to be at the right spot with the perfect angle to see that Reine was detached from his slough. An important lesson for a photographer is to always be ready when luck shows up. When I checked my screen I knew I had a very good picture. But by turning it into a black and white image, i knew that would make it special.

    Christoph_Margot_2.jpg

    Biography

    I am 38 years old, born and raised in Switzerland and living in the beautiful Swiss Alps with my wife Anne and daughter Meryll. I started photography by printing my pictures in the darkroom (my parents' bathroom) at night then delivering the photos the next morning to a local newspaper.

    Fifteen years later and step-by-step from local to international clients, I have made my way as a professional photographer working for different media such as Bike Germany, Powder and Bike USA, 7 sky (Switzerland), The new York Times and other international brands. I have skied since I was four years old and I started mountain biking 22 years ago, so logically I shoot these two sports the most. I love to ride my bike for myself or go skiing in the backcountry with my friends.

    Now I travel around the world more and more but I still like to discover and shoot in the swiss Alps, which is my favorite studio on earth. The magic of outdoor photography is that you don’t know the word ‘routine’ and for 15 years i never felt like it is ‘work’. i think that my main task as a photographer is to try to share a moment, an emotion and information. When you achieve these three things you can say, “i have a good picture.”

  • Erik Boomer, Category finalist 2010: Wings
    Erik Boomer, Category finalist 2010: Wings
    WI10_018992_002999.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Wings
    PhotographerErik Boomer
    AthleteTyler Bradt
    LocationPalouse Falls State Park, WA, USA
    Read more

    Erik Boomer

    WI10_018992_002999.jpg
    CameraCanon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT
    Lens70.0-200.0 mm
    ISO100
    F-Stopf 5,6
    Shutter Speed1/800

    About the shot

    On April 21, 2009, Tyler Bradt set the world record for the highest waterfall ever run in a kayak, the 198.5ft high Palouse Falls in eastern Washington.

    Tyler held the previous record at 107ft off Canada's Alexandria Falls, but his descent of Palouse Falls was a major step up from any previous waterfall descents and a journey into the unknown.

    Despite many other artistic possibilities, I decided to shoot the drop from a distance and as tight and straightforward as I possibly could, to show Tyler paddling with the sheer power and majesty of Palouse Falls. To accomplish my goal, I had to set up a considerable distance from the falls itself.

    Erik_Boomer_2056.jpg

    Biography

    Erik Boomer is a professional kayaker, professional photographer, Polar Guide and featured athlete in numerous adventure films. With many first descents of rivers and waterfalls to his name, Boomer specializes in kayaking some of the world’s toughest rivers.
     
    More recently he has branched out into Polar Expeditions - in 2011, Boomer became the first to circumnavigate Ellesmere Island on a 100-day ski and sea kayak expedition. Since he has embarked on a 60-day sea kayaking expedition in the arctic, on a 120-day dog sledding expedition around Baffin Island, and has kite skied across Greenland towing his kayak to access the source of a remote river and paddle the first descent to the ocean.
     
    Boomer is not only an adventure photographer, but also works as a commercial and editorial photographer. His work has appeared in, among others: National Geographic Magazine, the New York Times, Outside Magazine, and as a finalist in the Red Bull Illume competition.

  • Rutger Pauw, Category finalist 2010: Wings
    Rutger Pauw, Category finalist 2010: Wings
    WI10_009761_003265.jpg
    Category finalist 2010Wings
    PhotographerRutger Pauw
    AthletesDaniel Ilabaca
    LocationMumbai, India
    Read more

    Rutger Pauw

    WI10_009761_003265.jpg
    CameraCanon EOS-1Ds Mark II
    Lens24.0-70.0 mm
    ISO160
    F-Stopf 13,0
    Shutter Speed1/250

    About the shot

    The shot was taken in Mumbai, India, during one of the super-short sunsets. The light disappears in minutes, so you have to be fast. You can actually see the sun going down.

    Daniel ilabaca has a very nice style to his movements. I think freerunning and parkour might be one of the most photogenic sports around, simply because there is no bike or board that asks for any attention, it's pure flying.

    Rutger_Pauw.jpg

    Biography

    I grew up around Rotterdam, a city that today is known as one of the better places to ride street BMX in. Thirteen years ago when I started riding BMX I could have never imagined that I'd be living in London now, travelling all over, working with the coolest people I've ever met. I also wouldn't have guessed that I'd be shooting photos of the people I saw in magazines back then. It's been quite an interesting journey when I think of it now.

    The difference between riding bikes and photography isn't all that big, I think. Even when shooting all the other sports, you meet the same kind of determination, and the same amount of fun.

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