Red Bull Illume exhibited in Germany for the first time ever at the Photokina in Köln (Cologne) last week. The top ten category winning photographs were exhibited in an exclusive exhibition space arranged thanks to SanDisk at the world’s most important trade fair for the photography and imaging industry.
After being unable to attend the unveiling premier in Dublin due to work commitments, Culture category winner Vincent Perraud (FRA) was delighted to finally collect his trophy and prizes from SanDisk and Lowepro in person.
“Winning at Red Bull Illume means so much to me. To win was a big surprise. I wasn’t in Dublin because I was on a photo shoot in the US. When I heard that I won, I was really astonished. There were so many good pictures in those 23,000 images. My family and friends were so proud and it gave me more motivation to shoot new pictures!”
With a record 180,000 visitors at the trade fair, Photokina proved itself again to be the world’s most important trade fair for the photography and imaging industry and also the most popular one for consumers and amateur photographers.
With 1,251 exhibits from 45 countries, the public could get up close with the latest innovations, meet world-class photographers in person and of course see stunning imagery – including the ten 2x2m back-lit lighboxes from Red Bull Illume.
For Perraud, seeing his image amongst the top 10 best action and adventure sport images is a huge career highlight.
“The lightbox is huge. It made me think ‘Wow is it really my picture?’ It's so much better seeing it exhibited large than seeing it small on a computer! And it's funny to look at the people watching it and to see their reaction – especially when they don't know it's you who took it!”
Vincent received 10 SanDisk 64 GB Extreme Pro memory cards and a Classified 160 AW shoulder bag from Lowepro. The French BMX specialist also received his limited edition copy of the Red Bull Illume Photobook. The 300 page book, featuring the best 250 images submitted to the 2010 Image Quest, was also on sale to the public.
“It's a really nice book – like wow! And it’s massive! It has selective varnish print which I’ve always liked too. I love photo books anyway and even if my pics weren’t inside I would also get it. It doesn’t happen often that there’s an action sports book as good as the Red Bull Illume Photobook.”
Other highlights of the week included a talk by Wings category winner Marcel Lämmehirt (GER) and Red Bull Illume project manager Sandra Viertauer on the Leica stage.
Further tour announcements for Red Bull Illume will be announced on www.redbullillume.com over the coming period.