Action and adventure sports photographers from 90 countries vied for victory at the Red Bull Illume. The 50 finalists are currently being exhibited in Aspen.

For weeks a panel of judges comprising top photo editors from around the world had been comparing, evaluating and cataloguing the 7,200 competition entries by photographers from 90 countries. Nonetheless, the exhibition of the Red Bull Illume took their breath away: “This is the most incredible collection I have ever seen assembled in one place,” gushed Anne Telford of Communication Arts. “The biggest bonding meeting of photographic minds I have ever witnessed,” enthused Peter Taras of Transworld SURF.

Aspen in a new light

In the open-air exhibition in Aspen, USA, the winning photos of the first international action and adventure sports photography competition are displayed in the middle of a bizarre installation of mirrored, illuminated steel and glass cuboids – an unforgettable sight in the middle of the snowy mountain landscape of Colorado’s legendary upmarket ski resort. The exhibition of the 50 best sports photos of the year is open to the general public between 25 January and 4 February.

“Say cheese” is not enough

The Red Bull Illume winners were established in ten categories – including Lifestyle, Close-up, Energy and Experimental. Among the evaluation criteria for finding a winner were creativity, technical execution, personal effort and overall impression conveyed. The perfect composition of a jumping skateboarder helped the Frenchman Fred Mortagne to become the overall winner. His prize is a “photo-shoot of a lifetime”: with a Red Bull sportsperson of his choice in any location in the world. By next week Montague will have to decide who he will be inviting where.

Kick-off for the world tour

Red Bull Illume is on display in Aspen Mountain until 4 February and will then take off on a world tour: through the USA and Canada in 2007 and through further major cities in Europe and Asia in 2008. Californians will be able to enjoy the remarkable photo show next: after Aspen, Huntington Beach will be hosting the Red Bull Illume.

The winners:
Lifestyle: Desré Pickers/South Africa
Sequence: David Blazek/Czech Republic
Close-up: Dawn Kish/USA
Energy: Thomas Stöckli/Switzerland
Spirit: Brian Bielmann/USA
Playground: Wojtek Antonow/Poland
Wings: Fred Mortagne/France
New Creativity: Jimmy Wilson/USA
Experimental: Tim McKenna/Australia
Illumination: Gian Paul Lozza/Switzerland
Ulrich Grill
Red Bull Illume
Christian Pondella
Tim McKenna, Australia, winner in the category 'Experimental'
Christian Pondella
Thomas Stoeckli, Switzerland, winner of the category 'Energy'
Christian Pondella
Dawn Kish, USA, winner of the category 'Close Up'