Press Release: Red Bull Illume 2023 – World’s Best Adventure and Action Sports Photos Announced

The Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2023 has once again set the stage for a stunning exhibition of skill, creativity, and human spirit in adventure and action sports photography. This year’s contest, highlighted by remarkable stories and breathtaking images, culminated in an award ceremony in Sölden, Austria earlier this month, where the winners were announced.

Here’s all you need to know:

– The contest’s focus on pure talent was ensured by a blind selection process. An international jury of 52 members, including blunt magazine South Africa editor Miles Masterson judged the photographs without any information about the image or the photographer, highlighting the raw power of each shot.

– Australian photographer Krystle Wright, nabbed the Grand Prize as the overall winner, the first female overall winner at the event in seventeen years. Wright has a history of excellence in the contest. A finalist in 2013 and in the top 25 in both 2013 and 2019, her journey culminates in this year’s win with her captivating photo of Angela Van Wiemeersch in Long Canyon, Utah. 

– Krystle Wright was overwhelmed with the result, she said: “This is incredible. I wanted to earn my place in this industry and my work to get recognized. Red Bull Illume is the only platform that truly recognizes what we do.”

Masterpiece by Sölden Winner – Photographer: Lorenz Holder, Athlete: Senad Grosic, Location: La Muralla Roja, Calp, Spain.

– Lorenz Holder, a two-time overall winner, continued his legacy by winning the Masterpiece by Sölden category. His collaboration with BMX rider Senad Grosic in a post-modern setting is a testament to his continued innovation in photography.

Emerging with Canon Winner – Photographer: Gonzalo Robert Parraguez, Athlete: Kilian Ivelic Astorga, Location: Maipo, Chile.

– Emerging talent shone brightly, with Gonzalo Robert Parraguez winning Emerging with Canon for his dynamic kayaking shot, showcasing the next generation’s drive to redefine the boundaries of adventure photography.

Energy Winner – Photographer: Ted Grambeau, Athlete: James McKean, Location: Shipstern Bluff, Tasmania, Australia

– The Energy category was brilliantly captured by Ted Grambeau’s shot of Jimmy McKean, a stunning portrayal of human resilience amidst nature’s formidable power.

– Jan Fassbender, who won Best Boardsports Photo by Blue Tomato, presented an incredible comeback story, returning from battling brain cancer to capture an outstanding image, embodying the spirit of resilience that defines extreme sports.

The Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2023 event brought to light diverse styles and narratives across categories like Creative, Lifestyle by COOPH, Playground by Radiant Photo, RAW, Photos of Instagram, and Reels of Instagram, each celebrating the unique interplay of adventure, art, and human endurance.

Full List of Category Winners

Innovation & Overall Winner – Krystle Wright (AUS)
Masterpiece by Sölden – Lorenz Holder (GER)
Creative – Delphin Montessuit (FRA)
Energy – Ted Grambeau (AUS)
Emerging with Canon – Gonzalo Robert Parraguez (CHL)
Lifestyle by COOPH – Ross Taylor (GBR)
Playground by Radiant Photo – Jb Liautard (FRA)
RAW – Léo Grosgurin (FRA)
Photos of Instagram – Yhabril (ESP)
Reels of Instagram – Gabriel Marwein (IND)

Red Bull Illume seeks to showcase the incredible creativity of photographers and the stories they tell. As Krystle Wright notes, “These images are not just photographs; they are windows to a world of extraordinary stories.”

Check out the Red Bull Illume website.

Check out all the winners in our gallery below: