Snap Happy

Red Bull Illume photography competition seeks entries

A mountain biker, frozen mid-jump, flies through the air with his bike flung above his head, holding on to just the handlebars and the seat; A man dives from a high bridge, the whole movement recorded in sequence and stitched together in a single photograph. These are two images shortlisted in the previous Red Bull ‘Illume’ photography competition. Now, adventure photographers are invited to submit for the latest competition.

Red Bull invites photographers to upload their best action and adventure sports photos online via the official website (see below). Photos can be considered in ten categories: culture, playground, energy, spirit, close up, wings, sequence, new creativity, experimental and illumination. Submissions are accepted until January 31st, 2010, and the winner will be announced in May.

The Red Bull Illume photography competition began in 2007, focusing on adventure and extreme sports. It is run by Red Bull, which sponsors sports ranging from Formula 1 to breakdancing and cliff-diving, and hosts the ‘Redbull Flugtag’ in which contenders attempt to fly in home-made, human-powered machines.

According to Red Bull, “the contest focuses on finding the world’s most outstanding and premium adventure sports images, illuminating the passion, thrilling lifestyle and culture behind these shots and honouring the people who brave the world’s harshest terrains to get them.”

Previous winning photos have included a shot of three kayakers nosing over the edge of the Victoria Falls in Zambia, and a shot of a man skateboarding on the roof of a Polish train station.

The competition attracted over 2,000 photographers last time it was run, and Red Bull says it expects even more entries this time.

www.redbullillume.com