The Red Bull Illume is the most important photo contest for extreme sports photographers. Launched in 2007, it takes place every 3 years and is divided into different categories in which photographers can submit their most original photos. The categories evolve over the editions but the observation remains the same, the selected images are breathtaking and among the most original in the field. The selection system is based on the opinion of influential people within specialized publications in the sports world. The competition has seen the crowning of immense talents such as Fred Mortagne, Chris Burkard, Ben Thouard and Lorenz Holder who have helped create the reputation that this competition currently enjoys.
Since my selected image in 2019, I have gotten into the habit of sending a certain quantity of images to each edition, curious to know if my work can please the jury. It’s always a strange process since it’s hard to predict what will please, in which category and at what time, but that’s part of the principle of competitions, where opinions are personal.
So this year again, I was surprised to learn that my photo of Tim Bisso taken in Teahupoo during the French Federation training camp had been selected among the last 25 images in the Innovation category. Taken during the only day of swell, at the end of the day with falling light, I was able to use my favorite tool, blur, to the great misfortune of Tim who was clearly hoping for something else.
Very happy to be part of the book and this list again, the finalist phase may come one day for me, or not. To see all the images selected for this edition, it’s on the Red Bull Illume website that it’s happening and for those who want to get the book in limited edition, it’s on the Cooph website that you have to go.
Winners 2023:
Overall Winner – Krystle Wright
Masterpiece – Lorenz Holder
Creative – Delphin Montessuit
Emerging – Gonzalo Robert Parraguez
Energy – Ted Grambeau
Lifestyle – Ross Taylor
Photos of Instagram – Gabriel Marwein
Playground – JB Liautard
Raw – Léo Grosgurin