Tell us a little bit more about your journey, what was the goal?

Last year I completed my 37-day solo cycle through the whole of South Africa. Starting in Limpopo and ending in Cape Town, I covered 2,400km in total in order to raise funds and awareness for the Warrior on Wheels Foundation.
When I was 8 years old, I was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis, a virus that attacks the nervous system and can cause inflammation on your spinal cord. Not only could I not physically handle the everyday-life activities, I also wasn't able to do what the rest of the kids could do, like participate in sports and be active outdoors.
That's why I try to support the Warrior on Wheels Foundation. They aim to empower children with disabilities, enabling them with opportunities to be adventurous in nature. By completing this cycle - even with minor lasting nerve damage in certain parts of my body - I hope to inspire those children.

How did the relationship between you and wakeskating begin?

On the California Delta - Discovery Bay to be exact. It was my second summer at wakeboard camp and my wakeboard coach - Josh Smith - encouraged me to try wakeskating. I loved the freedom of being able to move my feet around the board and was instantly hooked. It’s all I could think about from that point forward. Shortly after, I purchased my first wakeskate. It was Nick Taylor’s Anna Maria Island 38.5 Integrity. I still have this board and take it out for a spin every now and then.

What came first: Wakeskating or photography?

I started playing around with my dad’s film cameras when I was about seven years old. However, wakeskating came before I began photographing professionally. It’s wild how a few planks of wood can rule over a decade of your life. Watching wakeskate films like Aquafrolics was proof that traveling the world with a wakeskate in hand was quite doable. And ever since that film I had dreams of doing just that. I purchased my first DSLR with the intention of documenting my wakeskate travels.

The Exhibit Tour will move to each shopping center and aims to bring the public closer to the world of adventure and action sports. You can be sure to catch tons of inspiration from the finalists of the Image Quest 2019 and the winners of the Red Bull Illume Special Image Quest 2020. Each exhibit will display these mind-blowing images on 2x2m lightboxes, an experience we're sure you’ve never seen before!

The next stop will be in EUROPARK, Salzburg, Austria, from August 17 to August 31, 2020. 

    •    SILLPARK, Innsbruck (AT) September 02 - September 25
    •    MURPARK, Graz (AT) October 02 - October 15
    •    HUMA ELEVEN, Vienna (AT) October 17 - October 31
    •    ZIMBAPARK, Bürs (AT) November 03 - November 18

It doesn’t matter if you're an aspiring photographer, a lover of nature, or just a shopaholic open to inspiration, these images will take your breath away.

Trust us, you don’t want to miss it!

Want to showcase this unparalleled exhibition in your venue or at your event? Contact us here today!

Can you give us some background about yourself? How did you become a professioal photographer?

I grew up in a small village called Rengsjö located in the Swedish countryside. My love for action sports started when I watched my older brother take his first turns on his snowboard. From that day on I was hooked. In 2010 I suffered a nasty knee injury that required multiple surgeries and years of physio. Somehow that made me get into photography. It felt good to still be in the sports that I loved but with a camera instead. Since then I've had covers on some of the biggest snowboard/skateboard mags out there and traveled the globe to shoot. A couple of years ago photography was my hobby. Today I'm stoked to say it's my profession.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Everywhere! From following other photographers to just scouting cool locations.

In your opinion: What makes your images unique?

I've always worked a lot with flashes and I think that adds quite a unique touch to my images.

What are your plans for the future?

I've got some cool photo projects on my to-do list that I'm going to make a reality. Who knows, maybe you'll see them in the next edition of Red Bull Illume!

If you take a look at Robin O'Neill's portfolio all you want to do is get outside and hop on your bike, put on your skis or simply go for a long run. Her images don't just capture moments outside, they are truly honoring them! But the Image Quest 2019 Finalist (Category: Energy) not only captures unique outdoor adventures, she's also focusing on the human perspective behind every image. Read our interview to find out more about Robin's projects, her inspiration and her advice!

Could you tell us a little bit about your the beginngs of your carreer as an outdoor photographer? How did it all start?

During the summer of my third year at university, I decided to do some international non-profit work to mix things up. I spent my time on a project in South America, documenting the world around me on my dad’s 35mm film camera that I taught myself to use en route. There was no turning back from there - I was hooked on both travel and documentary photography.

How do you choose what projects you like to shoot?

I am drawn to projects that involve self-propelled access by ski, bike, or foot; assignments that involve collaboration with like-minded impassioned people, and that contribute positively to the world. Sometimes I select these projects and sometimes I’m fortunate enough that they select me. I have built a body of work that shows my style and what I am passionate about, which has helped build momentum in attracting projects that I’m passionate about.

Any projects that you would describe as "close to your heart"?

There are the projects that are simply meant to create an advertising campaign, which I do enjoy, but the projects that are closest to my heart involve a philanthropic aspect. These are the ones that develop meaningful connections, cultural exchanges, and a good challenging adventure.

Most recently, I was approached by an Arc’teryx sponsored ultra runner wanting to do a story in Nepal. So I began to dig deeper into how we could plan an adventure that would also make a contribution to the area we would explore. I landed on an NGO called the Mira Rai Initiative. This is a group that sponsors five young Nepalese girls every year to train as trail runners, teach them English, and give them training to become guides. This is something I could get behind and incorporate into our project. Not only do I get to trek and trail run while shooting for a company I love, I could also give a young female guide​ ​the opportunity for leadership ​training​ and exposure.

Why did you choose to submit your image to Red Bull Illume?

To be honest, I had never considered entering an image to the Red Bull Illume contest - an intimidating competition, packed with testosterone, and talent. But luckily and to my surprise I was messaged directly by Red Bull Illume saying that they liked my work, and would I consider entering the competition this year. This invitation stripped away the intimidation of entering, and I submitted to the esteemed event with no thoughts I would ever make it past the first round.

What makes a great story?

Aah! Such a hard question to start with.
To me, there are several ways to make a story a great story, but for now I will only speak about actions sports filmmaking, because it’s a big big big topic.

Firstly, the action tells the story. At some point, you don’t need to say more because all the action that you show in the video actually makes the story, telling you something about the athlete. It can be fun, original, crazy, unbelievable or totally new… or just well executed. No rules here, it’s the athlete’s mind and skills that speak for itself.

Secondly, you have the documentary side of action sports. 
To me, the great story also comes from the characters and the subject. 
The film is there to make you understand and feel something about them and what they are doing. At the end, if you feel something this means it is good, and the more you feel the more great the story.

It really is a personal point of view. I mean, I really loved some movies that other people didn’t like.

Lastly, a great story comes along with the cinematography.
The story in filmmaking is not only about the words, it’s about the cinematography, the music, the sound design, the colorgrading, the concept, and the set design.
As a filmmaker, you have the biggest toolbox of all the storytellers, because you can use everything to tell your story.

So yeah, a good story in action sports is about the sport first, and on the other side comes the people and the background story. And last but not least, the package. Great filmmaking is about making the story even more great.

How do you find great stories?

Maybe I’m lucky on that, because most of the time stories come to me, from a friend, an athlete or a brand I’m working with.
Stories are all around us, sometimes you just have to open your eyes and your mind to find them.

As we speak, I think I have more than 10 personal film ideas on paper. It’s too much, haha. 
Some of them are in my head for years now. Year after year the time eventually comes and I get to make one of them.  

For me, the most important part is to work on writing the ideas of the story you have to tell. I mean, this is a long process, you have to understand the subject, the people, the sport. You have to find the way you want to tell the story, with your personality. 
And you have to find the way you want to film it.
I feel that the stories I’m the most proud of, are the ones where I was truly capable of making it personal. Like, I was using these stories about people for sharing something that I am really concerned about. It’s the feeling of connecting with the people in the story, when you recognize something in yourself, something you care about- that’s when great things happen.
 

In a world where it seems everything has been done already, what does “unseen” mean for you?
Wow! … This is where you can mix something technical and simple with some cool ideas.

Sometimes it’s really the simplest ideas that are actually unseen. Like this very, very simple water silhouette animation made by Kevin Parry few days ago. It is SO simple!! The idea, the technique, the realisation, all is simple, but all together it has definitely never been seen before.

How would you describe yourself as a creative?
I like to find unexpected simple ideas. Usually it comes from the everyday life surrounding us. I love to give life to still stuff. I think of imagination as a muscle, if you train it, ideas will come naturally. Even if they are not always the best. 

How did you become a stop motion artist?
By doing stop motion! Stop motion is a good way to start telling stories. It’s easy to set up on a corner of a table. You can start to make cool stuff with almost nothing. It’s easier than building up a full cinema crew with actors, DOP and stuff. So that’s what I did, what I liked and that’s why I kept doing it.

Talk us through the process of creating your short clips – where does your inspiration come from?
When I have a new idea, I really have to go for it. I can’t stop thinking about it, until I get to shoot it. And sometimes - the moment I’m facing the project - it becomes harder than expected…

What were the three most significant things that happened to you since the Winner Award Ceremony back in November?

The first one got to be the trip to Atlanta, GA, for the Big Air World Cup back in December where I was offered a job to follow Jamie Anderson for the rest of her contest season. We’ve been on some trips before, so I was extremely excited to join the journey. It was a great few months of traveling together, shooting at every top event and doing some fun stuff in-between.

Second must be the two weeks that I spent just snowboarding in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, over the Christmas holidays. This doesn't happen too often when I can simply go up and do some turns or shred in the park, so that was awesome, aIso because I was riding with my boyfriend Vlad and his friends. By the end of our time there I was able to hit the middle jump line which is pretty crazy for me! We also got a really cool sunset session going one day. I was pretty hyped to shoot at a new location and see a 9-year-old talented shredder, Nico Bondi, in person.

Last, I would say our experience volunteering during the outbreaks of COVID-19. A random circumstance brought Vlad and me to Novosibirsk in March (right when all the international snowboard events got cancelled), and none of us expected getting stuck there. So, we joined the organisation in early April after we watched the newscast covering some students who were helping elderly people in the city. It’s been an amazing and fulfilling experience being able to give back to seniors. It is something that has always been on our minds and that we would periodically bring up in conversations with each other. I’m happy we did it. If you have the opportunity, research some local organisations and try it yourself.

How did Red Bull Illume affect your professional (and personal) life?

In 2016, Red Bull Illume gave me a lot of motivation and showed me that people value my work. My submission 2019 kind of woke me up and reminded me that it’s not about the event photography, it’s about those meaningful journeys and a love for the sport and nature. Plus, the ceremony was such a good vibe, Red Bull knows how to throw a good event and bring so many talented people together. I got to see many friends I had not seen in a long time and meet new people. It was fun! Many of us kept in touch and we still support each other.

Where do you usually find inspiration/motivation for your images?

Back in the days it was the good old snowboard and skateboard magazines and movies that fueled my inspiration. Now it’s more about new destinations, people and other sports, or even something that doesn’t have anything to do with sports. New equipment also helps me to go out there and play more.

Have you ever thought about shooting other action sports or do you stick to snowboarding?

Before snowboarding, I was taking photos of BMX and skateboarding, because it was more realistic to make these happen in my hometown of Moscow which is a concrete jungle. Nowadays, I get to shoot other action sports in summer when I have time. I think it’s so much fun to explore and shoot other sports and it’s definitely something that I would look more into. Maybe even more music, urban or fashion maybe. Hit me up!

What makes your images unique in your opinion?

The colors, I would assume. This is just the most common thing that people ask me about. Also, minimalism. I can’t say all of my photos follow this style, but I’m certainly a big fan of keeping it simple.

You already talked about your personal experience during the last few months. What impact has the global situation had on your work? Is it still possible for you to shoot?

It has had a big impact. Almost all my jobs are outside Russia and my job as an action sports photographer literally depends on being able to travel. I haven’t really picked up my camera for work since February 29th. That was the last day of the Burton US Open in Vail, CO. Given the situation in Russia at the moment it’s not really possible to shoot the way I used to. It forces me to be creative and find new opportunities. While we wait it’s a good time to learn new skills and maybe explore different sports and different industries even. Though, the most important thing now is that my family and friends are staying safe and healthy.

Under "normal" circumstances: What would your plans for this year be? Any projects along the way?

Snowboard-wise, I would try to go to one of my favorite places - Folgefonna in Norway, we usually go there in late May - early June. A mandatory surf trip would’ve happened, of course. My idea was to go to California and maybe finally Hawaii, but at this point I would be glad to go to any country that reopens its borders to tourists and that has waves. There are some non-snowboard projects scheduled that I’m keeping my fingers crossed that some of them will take place later in the year.

In the Top 260 images from the Image Quest 2019 were only 4 female photographers, you included. How do you feel about the male dominated action sports photography scene?

It always depends on the people and the setting. Some days it would not even cross my mind that I’m pretty much the only girl, but other days it can be frustrating, and guys throw comments that are not ok. Some guys can be sceptical at first, having this image in their head that all girls are just drama and having a girl in the crew would ruin the “dude-vibe”.  If you really mess it up, guys will be like, "Oh, girls…" and that can definitely add some pressure. Earlier this year, I was shooting at one of snowboarding’s most prestigious events, and one guy came to me and said something like “I’ve always been curious - how do you travel so much? I see you everywhere. Like, do you get paid for your photos?”. I don’t think this guy would walk up to another guy and ask the same question. I would say it’s a bit more challenging and uncomfortable, however it keeps me on my toes. It’s so cool to see that there are far more people and companies who are stoked to invite and work with girls now than it was even five years ago. Hopefully, we will see more girls in the industry in the near future!

Find more of Dasha's work on her Instagram!

Take your content creation to the next level with the amazing prizes to be won when you enter Red Bull Illume Special Image Quest 2020. Every week a set of category finalists are selected through the Red Bull Illume internal jury and put to a community vote. These weekly finalists each receive a full license for Luminar 4 photo-editing suite by Skylum. A tool that can be used to make even more amazing adventure and action sports content.

That’s just the weekly winners, as one of the three overall winners you will win an out-of-this-world experience from Red Bull; a COOPH gift card valued at €250 for stylish photography apparel and accessories for your next shoot; furthermore, your content will be added to the current Red Bull Illume Exhibit Tour where it will be shared with the world.

Red Bull Illume Special Image Quest 2020 is the perfect opportunity to get your work recognized by a community of like-minded creators and the prizes are designed to give you that extra headstart. Go on, enter today and share your adventure and action sports creativity with the world.

It’s super easy to enter, click here to find out how!