Why should photographers enter Red Bull Illume?
I think every adventure sports photographer should take the time to submit their work. It’s such a great opportunity, and you never know what could happen!

Any advice?
Just look for a good location nearby and think of what sport would fit that location. Then find an athlete and start shooting!

What are you entering?
I have a couple of images that I’m very proud of, unfortunately, due to the restrictions this year I haven’t been able to travel as much, and I had to set aside a couple of sick projects until we go back to normal. Those are coming for the next one!

What makes an image good enough?
It’s a matter of many different factors. Things like composition, light, colors, action and location are important, but for me it’s more about the overall feeling I get from the image and if it’s inspiring.

What came first for you, surfing or photography?
Photography. Since I was a kid I’ve always been interested in surfing as a sport but never had the chance to try it. Time passed, and once I started photography, I found surfing very visually attractive and I really enjoyed shooting it. Not long after that I finally started surfing myself and nowadays those two are my main passions.

How did you get into photography?
When I was younger I was really into filmmaking and video editing, somehow I thought photography wasn't as interesting. I bought my first camera with the intention of just shooting video, but slowly and through a photographer friend of mine I started shooting stills around the city and in no time I was hooked with photography!

What’s been your most rad shoot?
With no doubt the time I shot ice climbing under the Northern Lights. It was freezing cold (-25°C), I waited, hanging from the ice wall for hours and when the show started I thought it was a dream. I will never forget that.

What comes first, location or idea?
It’s both actually. Sometimes an idea comes to my mind and I spend hours researching and looking for a location that fits that idea, and other times it’s the location that inspires me and makes me imagine what would be the craziest shot I can get there.

The hardest thing about surfing photography?
Not being in control of what’s going to happen. When shooting surfing you not only depend on your photography skills but also on the swell conditions, the wind, tides, currents and athlete. There are many different factors to take in consideration, but that’s the beauty of it. When everything aligns and you get the shot it’s one of the best feelings ever.

What’s the number 1 equipment you always take with you?
Food! And a wide-angle lens.

You can find more of Nicolas’s work on his website and @nicopinacalvin.

See yourself as a Red Bull Illume photographer? Enter your best adventure and action sports images over here. As Nicolás says, you never know…

Look for new angles
Don’t let your height determine your angle. Watch any photographer at work and they’re crawling on the floor, climbing ladders and trees, contorting themselves into crazy positions. Think of Laurence Crossman-Emms’ category-winning ground-level shot of a mountain biker parting a puddle of water. Or some of the overhead shots of Lorenz Holder or overall winner Ben Thouard’s shot of a surfer shot from underneath the wave. They all called for a unique angle.

Plan but also be spontaneous
Some Red Bull Illume winners are the result of months of dedicated planning, bringing numerous complicated elements together – the perfect stunt, the perfect light, the perfect angle. Yet sometimes it’s the spontaneous shots that do well. In the 2016 Red Bull Illume Quest, photographer Reuben Krabbe had a couple of images entered. One was his shot of a skier framed by an eclipse in Svarbard. It was the result of months of planning and a huge logistical feat to pull off. The other was a cellphone shot he grabbed in a moment while boot-packing up a slope. It was the cellphone shot that became a category finalist.

Red Bull Illume could be your dream career break. Enter here.

Work with your athlete friends
Time and time again we hear from previous winners that their work is the result of a collaboration with athletes. Think of them as equal partners in the creative process. Share your vision, get them on-side and work together to create magic.

It’s ALWAYS about the light
It’s something that all great photographers are obsessed about – the light. What’s it’s doing and when. Quite often photographers are as in tune with sunrise and sunset times and positions as a 19th century sailboat captain. It’s all about the contrast, sometimes subtle, sometimes bold – explore the gallery page and see what we mean.

Research your location
Finding the perfect spot for your winning shot can be the result of months of research, poring over maps, Google Earth and other apps. But equally, it can be the result of wandering around your hood with a camera slung over your shoulder and your eyes open to possibilities. That’s what Kevin Molano did. He strolled around Bogata with the b-boy Dawinson Murillo and got him to perform in front of the San Francisco church. The result was a category finalist. For more tips on finding the perfect spot, check out our series here.

Focus on your fitness
If you’re shooting in extreme locations, it goes without saying that you need to be able to look after yourself. That means working on your outdoor skills – and fitness. As a photographer, you’re probably carrying 10kg more than anyone else and you need to be able to run around, grabbing shots, without slowing anyone else down. That means you need to be fitter than everyone else to keep up. When Red Bull Illume Kelvin Trautman covered the Red Bull X-Alps, he hiked almost as much distance and vertical altitude as the athletes themselves.

Shoot when you don’t want to
Sometimes you just don’t want to get your camera out. It might be cold, it might be raining, it might be hard going or even insensitive – but these are also the times when you capture authentic moments of emotion; like Tal Roberts’s shot of pro skier Karl Fostvedt getting stitched up or Hamish Frost’s shots of climbers in Scotland, which required pre-dawn starts, cold hands and much suffering. No pain no gain, is also true for photography.

The submission phase is open until July 31, 2021. More details on how to enter can be found here.

Your plans for Red Bull Illume this year?

I haven’t yet completed my submission for 2021, however I’m excited to go through some new imagery that I’ve captured the past two years! I’m also planning a trip to the Pacific northwest in pursuit of a crazy image I’ve had stuck in my head for a few years now, and the submission deadline is the perfect motivation.

What tips do you have for a winning image?

Surround yourself with passionate and hard-working individuals. Most importantly, just have fun, that’s why we’re all creating, right? Finally, have persistence, laugh at the negative circumstances, and keep stepping up to the plate with a positive attitude.

Tell us more!

Incredible moments are constantly occurring around the world, sometimes in the most obscure and unpredictable locations. Capturing something special comes down to putting yourself in the right position. As a photographer, there are times when I happen to be in the right spot at the right time, and there are also instances where I have a very specific vision of what I want to create. Regardless, those incredible moments are fleeting and very difficult to capture. With experience it’s easier to recognize opportunity, however regardless of skill level you still have to capitalize on the opportunity. With that said, it’s important to pursue YOUR vision, not allowing outside opinion and or common methods to dictate YOUR imagery outcome.

What impact did Red Bull Illume have on your career?

Red Bull Illume has provided me with an amazing platform to showcase my imagery and also gather inspiration from around the world. Simply put, Red Bull Illume has given me an opportunity to connect with a larger audience of adventure seeking individuals, talented photographers and cinematographers to help inspire future imagery, and industry professionals to collaborate with on future projects.

What’s the best part about being an action and outdoor photographer?

My favorite aspect of my career is interacting with talented, creative, passionate, and hard-working individuals, while sharing special experiences with them in memorable places. It’s truly amazing how interconnected the outdoor community is, and each individual within has such a unique skill set of tools and experiences, which creates an endless resource to tap into and learn from. I love watching those relationships develop and grow overtime, linking up with an athlete or a client for shooting purposes, and overtime they become your friends and family.

How and when did photography first come into your life?

At 12 years old, I saved money from mowing lawns, cleaning vehicles, and my birthdays to purchase a Pentax ZX-M film camera. I don’t remember a specific reason for purchasing the camera, however my older brother Sam purchased one at the same time which was a huge motivator. Looking back at my childhood, I recently realized that my Grandpa loved photography, and after he passed, my Dad acquired his camera…therefore it was always around while growing up, my Dad often shooting us playing sports.
 
When did you know that photography was going to be your career?

For many years leading up to self-employment, I questioned my path often. I almost went in a different direction many times. After years of staying productive, trying new things, working hard and having fun, I began to pick up more and more photography jobs and publication. With that said, in the summer of 2015 (a year before I went self-employed), I vividly remember shooting mountain-biking one evening and capturing some incredible images. That evening I immediately knew where to focus my energy for the future. I was a photographer.

If you look back now, what are some stand out memories in your career?

The images themselves stand out as the most important accomplishments. But my first published full page in 2008, and my first cover in 2015 will always carry weight. Finally, most importantly, the Red Bull Illume RAW Category win in 2019.  

Inspired to enter? Submit your images here!

You can find more of Noah’s work on his website and on Instagram @noahwetzel and Facebook  @NoahWetzelPhoto.

On May 09, 2021, the Wings for Life World Run will see more than 120,000 people from all over the globe running to raise funds for spinal cord injury research. To inspire you to take part, we’re sharing some of the best images of the Wings for Life World Run taken by Red Bull Illume photographers, Dean Treml, Denis Klero, Marcel Maragni, Mirja Geh, Predrag Vuckovic and Samo Vidic.

Everybody can be a part of the Wings for Life World Run, and this year’s race will be another colorful mix, with the field including everyone from novice runners to ultra distance specialists. The unique race format makes it possible for runners and wheelchair users with completely different levels of training, fitness and goals to take to the course together with elite distance runners.

Participants from all around the world start at exactly the same time at 11 am UTC. Then, 30 minutes after the start, the virtual Catcher Car, a rolling finish line, starts moving and will gradually pick up speed as it catches and then passes participants one at time until the winners are determined. The name of the game is to stay ahead of the car for as long as possible.

During the virtual run, which for the top runners could last up to four and a half hours, participants will be kept informed, motivated and entertained by the so-called Audio Experience. Well-known personalities from the world of sports and entertainment have lent their voices to the latest feature of the Wings for Life World Run App and will help push the participants forward by serving as drivers of the virtual Catcher Cars or designated motivators during the race. Enjoy and see you on the start line.

Registration is open until one hour before the official start time of 11:00am UTC, on May 09, 2021. For more information go to wingsforlifeworldrun.com.

They are the unsung heroes in every photographer’s camera bag – the SanDisk memory cards that capture great adventure and action sports moments. Without them, digital photography would not be possible, and the quality of images would not be the same. It’s the ability to shoot practically unlimited images with no concern for the cost of film that helped revolutionize the adventure and action sports genre.  

So we’re super stoked to have the iconic brand on board once again as an official partner of the Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2021. They are to support this year’s contest by giving away innovative storage solutions for use in both the studio and in the field with an overall value of €30,000. Enter now to ensure you don’t miss this opportunity to win.

“It’s really great to welcome on board the world’s leader in storage solutions for content creators,” says Red Bull Illume founder Ulrich Grill. “I have used them throughout my career as a photographer and believe this partnership offers a great incentive for photographers thinking of submitting images.”

SanDisk’s partnership with Red Bull Illume goes back many years. For the 2010 edition they supported the People’s Choice award, which was won by Sterling Lorence. He took home a bumper pack from SanDisk.

In 2019 SanDisk also supported Red Bull Illume by giving prizes such as memory cards and portable SSDs to category and overall winners. They also gave the SanDisk Extreme Award to Philip Platzer for his amazing sequence of a record-breaking mountain bike speed descent in the Atacama desert.

“Every day, millions of people count on the performance, quality and reliability of SanDisk products,” says SanDisk. “Whenever and wherever inspiration strikes, we’re there to help you shoot, store, and share every experience. So we’re pleased once again to be supporting a contest that shines the light on photographers who need 100% confidence in their equipment in some of the world’s harshest locations.”

The submissions for Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2021 are open until the end of July. Head over here for details on how to enter and put yourself in with a chance of winning stunning SanDisk prizes!

We talked to Mikko about snowkiting, Finland and working with his brothers. Mikko and his brother Antti created the Toisnemi project where they specialize in backcountry photography in Scandinavia. The Finnish brothers are passionate about the outdoors and what they love to shoot most is snowkiting. With their photography they try to mirror the stoke, thrills and emotions they feel when they step outside.

What came first, snowkiting or photography?

Out of the two, photography. But skiing is where it all started. I’ve been on skis since I can remember and skiing and outdoor life has always been a big thing in my family. So, when I got into photography as a teenager, it was natural to take my camera with me in the backcountry. I had already been shooting skiing for a few years when snowkiting came along.

How did you get into snowkiting?

My two brothers had moved to Norway at the time and every chance I got, I traveled up there to go backcountry skiing in the mountains with them. Snowkiting started getting popular, and the idea of just cruising up the mountain, pulled by a kite instead of skiing up felt irresistible. We got our first kites and haven’t looked back since.

What’s your favorite snowkiting image?

It’s always the latest one I’ve taken! Until I go out the next time.

Where is your favorite location?

Anything with no other people or signs of human life. Our work has always been as much about the location and surroundings as about the snowkiting or skiing. Luckily the wilderness in Finnish Lapland and Northern Norway provides ample opportunities for that.

How would you describe yourself as a photographer?

I feel most comfortable shooting documentary work and pictures that tell a story. Especially with my outdoor and travel work, my goal is to capture the feeling of being outside on that day, in that particular place. I get a big kick out of photos that balance action and landscape just right. Sometimes it feels more like I’m shooting landscape photos that just happen to include people and action in it.

You and your brothers shoot together. How does that work?

Working with Antti brings a competitive element to both of our photography. You always want to be the one to get the best shot of the day, and that pushes you to do better.
Also, the fact that you’re always out snowkiting with the same people helps with communication. My brothers know what I mean with each hand wave and gesture while we’re out on the mountain. Antti being a photographer, and my other brother Jukka shooting video, means that they also understand what works visually and what doesn’t. That makes getting the photos I want a lot easier.

How does the Finnish landscape influence your photography?

I shoot a lot in both Finnish Lapland and northern Norway. They’re both big areas with lots of places to roam around, free of other people. That remoteness and sense of exploration has had a big effect on how I approach photography. Also, being out and taking pictures so far up north where the sun doesn’t rise above the horizon in December, but shines 24/7 in June really teaches you about light and how it transforms images.

Talk us through the process of your shoots - do you usually find the location first and then have the idea? Or is it the other way around?

It’s always location first. We always set out to explore a specific area: It can be the local spot where you can spend an afternoon or a week-long expedition deep in the wilderness. That experience and the surroundings is what defines the feeling I want the photos to have.
Once we’re on location, then it’s a very free-flowing process that’s always different. With snowkiting, it can be difficult to get everything right: You have to think about the rider, the background, light, composition, etc. but also wind direction and how to frame the kite perfectly in the shot as well. You can’t top the feeling when all the pieces fall into place!

What do you always have with you, equipment-wise?

I almost exclusively shoot wide angle, like 99% of the time. So, a good ultra-wide angle lens goes with me wherever I go.

Are you planning to submit to the Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2021?

For sure! I still have a few non-snowkiting ideas that I want to try out, so I’ll probably wait closer to the deadline before I submit anything.

Follow the brothers’ work on their website and via @toisniemi.

Chris Burkard is a world-renowned photographer, filmmaker and storyteller. In his images, he captures nature and its many wonders in a spectacular and truly authentic way, which could be due to the fact that he approaches his subjects with caution and humility. Chris is very committed to his work and it seems like nothing can stop him from getting that perfect shot.

We talked to Jb Liautard about his project with his mate and Red Bull athlete Thomas Genon. Jb is a 25-year-old professional photographer based out of Lyon, France. He’s fond of all things outdoors, but his real passion lies with mountain biking which he started doing at 14, since then he has been infatuated by the sport. He started shooting once he turned 18 and bought his first DSLR. His pictures really show the relation between humans and their environment.

Red Bull Illume Image Quest is back for even more of the world’s greatest adventure and action sports imagery. We’re ready to shine a light on all of your hard work and creativity in capturing the passion, lifestyle, and culture within the sports scene. The contest returns for its sixth edition after a record-breaking 2019 one with 59,551 entries. The Image Quest is here again and has 10 categories for you to enter on redbullillume.com and on Instagram from March 1 to July 31, 2021. We can guarantee that this edition is going to be full of breath-taking imagery and fresh perspectives.

There are 9 categories returning for the 2021 edition, which are: Masterpiece by SanDisk, Emerging, Energy by Red Bull Photography, Creative, Innovation by EyeEm, Playground, Lifestyle by COOPH, and RAW by Leica. Best of Instagram, which is now sponsored by Lenovo, is also back and has a few updates. The first is that content creators can submit still or moving image, which will be judged separately resulting in 2 Category Winners. One thing stays the same, and that’s that the people get the final say through community voting on our website.

This edition also introduces a brand-new category for people to enter called Photo Story. Sometimes there’s more to a scene than a single image can convey, so Red Bull Illume is giving creators the opportunity share their stories using a slideshow format, from 30 seconds up to 3 minutes. We’re excited to see the submissions, because this category opens up the contest to a whole new level of creativity.

There’s a category for every kind of adventure and action sports imagery creator and a bunch of reasons to take a shot at it and enter your work. The category winners and overall winner will each receive a beautiful trophy, as well as incredible prize packages from our partners worth more than €100,000! Some of the prizes include the latest products from global computing leader Lenovo, to empower even more creative self-expression; storage solutions from SanDisk to ensure you never lose a shot; as well as high-quality cameras from Leica and stylish photography apparel and accessories from COOPH.

Every finalist earns their spot at the Winner Award Ceremony, taking place in November 2021. It’s the event that everyone gets excited about because they gain immense exposure and their work is shared with the world. It is also the release of the esteemed Red Bull Illume Limited Edition Photobook, a prize possession even during the digital age.

For more information on the submission process click here!

Want to know more about the categories for the Image Quest 2021? Head this way!