It’s back! Can you believe it’s already been three years since we wrote about Red Bull Illume, the world’s biggest photography contest for action and adventure sports? (Remember the incredible winners?) Beginning in June, Red Bull has been slowly leaking its top 250 finalists, and today, we’re happy to announce that the gallery has been complete! We just spent the last few hours looking over each image and all we can say is, “Wow!”
Similar to last time, there are 10 different categories in this contest: Close Up, Creativity, Energy, Experimental, Illumination, Lifestyle, Playground, Sequence, Spirit, and Wings. From tens of thousands of entries, 50 finalists will be announced and invited to attend a grand ceremony in the city of Hong Kong where the winners will be unveiled. Though you’ll have to wait for August 29 for all that, you can enjoy our top 20 right here. We love how each of these is either inspiring (in terms of travel and extreme sports) or artistic (check out the cool shadows and unique perspectives)!
Above photographer: Lucas Gilman, Athlete: Rush Sturges
Tallinn, Estonia
Photographer: Jaanus Ree, Athlete: Gard Hvaara
Zakynthos, Greece
Photographer: Dimitrios Kontizas, Athletes: Hubert Schober, Kedley Oliveti
Saas-Fee, Wallis, Switzerland
Photographer: Willi Nothers, Athlete: Teddy Berr
Aniak, AK, USA
Photographer: Scott Serfas, Athlete: John Jackson
Helmcken Falls, Wells Grey Provincial Park, BC, Canada
Photographer: Christian Pondella, Athlete: Will Gadd, Tim Emmett
Peniche, Portugal
Photographer: Miguel Nunes, Athlete: Hugo Pinheiro
Kiroro, Hokkaido, Japan
Photographer: Yves Suter, Athlete: Dominik Betschart
Frejus, France
Photographer: Sebastian, Athlete: Unknown
White Sea, Arctic Circle, Russian Federation
Photographer: George Karbus, Athlete: Katerina Hamsikova
Margalef, Spain
Photographer: Bernardo Gimenez, Athlete: Olivier Favresse
Are, Sweden
Photographer: Elias Kunosson, Athlete: Fredrik Berggren
Dehab, Egypt
Photographer: Rafal Meszka, Athlete: Emilia Biala
Spirit Falls, Little White Salmon River, WA, USA
Photographer: Mike Leeds, Athlete: Rush Sturges
Tamokdalen, Norway
Photographer: Rami Hanafi, Athlete: Miikka Hast
Manitowish Waters, WI, USA
Photographer: Ryan Taylor, Athlete: Ben Horan
Vila Franca do Campo, Azores, Portugal
Photographer: Romina Amato, Athlete: Todor Spasov
Tuamotus, French Polynesia
Photographer: Ben Thouard, Athlete: Manu Bouvet
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Photographer: Miha Godec, Athlete: Timotej Lampe Ignjic
Oahu, HI, USA
Photographer: Zakary Noyle, Athlete: Gabriel Medina
Isn’t Zakary Noyle’s beautifully crafted sequence of Brazilian surfer Gabriel Medina just amazing (immediately above)?