Awe-inspiring Capture: Australian Photographer Clinches Victory with Stunning Shot of Long Canyon Climber
Krystle Wright creates history as the first female grand prize winner at Red Bull Illume, the world's largest adventure and action sports imagery contest Witness the electrifying shot of a climber in Long Canyon, capturing the power of nature, vibrant pastels, sandy stairs, and enchanting waterfall wonders
Photographer Krystle Wright made history by winning the Red Bull Illume contest, the largest adventure and action sports imagery contest in the world. She became the first female photographer to take home the grand prize in its 17-year history. Wright's winning image captures climber Angela VanWiemeersch illuminated in a crack deep within Long Canyon, Utah. "This is incredible. I wanted to earn my place in this industry and have my work recognized. Red Bull Illume is the only platform that truly recognizes what we do," Wright said.
"I was struck by the idea like a lightning bolt, and it only came to me after embracing boredom in my life," she explained.
"It was truly a spectacular feeling to watch the crack come to life as the darkness enveloped us," Wright added.
The power of nature
There were several other spectacular shots that were recognized in various different categories at the contest.
The below image - taken by Ted Grambeau - of surfer and "local legend" Jimmy McKean, took home first place in the Energy Category.
McKean navigates the "giant southern ocean swell" in Australia.
Ted Grambeau/Red Bull Illume
A plethora of pastels
Grambeau recounts his encounter with capturing the shot as "a day of utmost intensity at the highly demanding Shipstern Bluff on a secluded coastline in Tasmania, Australia."
A colorful image of BMX rider Senad Grosic on the La Muralla Roja apartment complex in Calp (near Alicante), Spain, was named the winner of the Sölden Category.
The postmodern complex is located in Calp, Spain.
Lorenz Holder/Red Bull Illume
Photographer Lorenz Holder marveled, "The building itself is a wonder with its stairs, small corridors, platforms, and concrete walls. It's so easy to lose your sense of direction. Just walking through this masterpiece is breath-taking; it feels like being instantly transported to a different world. For Senad and me, it was like a playground with almost limitless possibilities, allowing us to fully unleash our creativity."
Sandy stairs
The winner of the Playground by Radiant Photo Category was this shot of freerider Kilian Bron taking on one of the highest sand dunes in the world, located in Peru.
Bron cycles across the dune in Nazca, Peru.
Jb Liautard/Red Bull Illume
"The perfect weather conditions had to align for this image," explained Jean-Baptiste Liautard, the photographer behind the stunning photo. "Despite a knee injury, I had to scale the 500m (approximately 1,640 feet) high dune using mostly one leg."
"[The pattern] was so perfect it almost looked fake."
Waterfall wonders
Gonzalo Robert Parraguez won the Emerging with Canon Category with this striking image from Chile.
The shot captures kayaker Kilian Ivelic Astorga making his way down a rumbling waterfall in Maipo, Chile.
Delphin Montessuit/Red Bull Illume
Parraguez detailed the dedication required to capture this shot.
"Reaching the waterfall required a two-hour drive, followed by a 10-minute walk. To capture this photo, I had to rappel 15 meters (roughly 49.2 feet) down into the deep canyon where the waterfall is located," he said.
"This photo is definitely a favorite of mine because it captures a little bit of everything."
According to Red Bull Illume, it highlights the most innovative and captivating adventure and action sports pictures, shining a light on the passion, lifestyle, and culture of the photographers who take them.
