Following a lengthy submission phase, the three best collegiate photographers were chosen and flown to Chicago, which will be the home of the 2016 Red Bull Illume Winner Award Ceremony to spend three days learning the ins and outs of photography from some of the best action and adventure sports photographers around.
The three Collegiate Winners spent three days working one-on-one with Red Bull Illume photographers Christian Pondella, Ryan Taylor and Dave Lehl, who were joined by athletes Alex Mason (slacklining), Timmy Theus (BMX) and Ian Jacobson (SUP).
"It's incredible what I learned from Christian in just one day," says Carlee Hackl, who captured slackliner Alex Mason in the early-morning Chicago sunrise, adding that "the one-on-one mentoring was key."
Dave Lehl mentored the contestants on the importance of using lights, shadows and style to bring the image to life but, according to him, an image is just an image if there is no "emotion, vibrancy of feel."
The three photos chosen as winners (visible in the gallery below) were selected because they perfectly showcase "the feel of the athlete at the height of his craft, in his peak element."
“Seeing everyone’s individual style and approach was awesome... for someone who doesn’t get to see different styles often, seeing all the unique approaches was refreshing,” says paddleboard mentor Ryan Taylor.
Dolly Nguyen, Dean Crockett and Ben Jackson, the three Collegiate winners, will be able to wow the public with their results as part of the Red Bull Illume Exhibit Tour, which kicks off in Chicago on the 28th of September.
Make sure to witness Red Bull Illume history in the making as the winners of Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2016, the National Collegiate Contest as well as the U.S. National Mobile Contest are revealed to the world for the first time as part of the Red Bull Illume Exhibit Tour on September 28th.