The top 50 images have beaten out thousands of other entries for their place.

Ever since the top 250 selection was announced in October, the creative community has waited in anticipation. Which of these amazing images would make the cut and become top 50 for the seventh edition of Red Bull Illume? Now the top 5 from each category have been revealed, as selected by the jury of 52 photography industry experts.  For the successful creators it is a momentous achievement. The top 50 images have beaten out thousands of other entries for their place. Not only are they amazing in scope, showing both the most impressive moments as well as the quieter scenes around adventure and action sports, but they are also hugely varied. 

The stories behind the shots

Behind the top 50 images there are stories which show the challenges of documenting action sports. “I’m sweating, cold sweating. The tension suffocating the air is vulnerable to being cut with the tip of my ice pick.” Australian photographer Julian Morgan found out often it is only seconds that decide the outcome of the shoot. When shooting Mason Gardener climbing above The Remarkables, NZ, Morgan put his body on the line. As the light and his subject began to fade, he knew he needed to take the shot. “Mason flakes an arm, the pump causing him to vent out a pained scream as the blood drains. It was now or never, the frame is only centimeters off. In a split decision, I rip the screen out and thrust the back of the camera into the rock behind me.”

Only seconds decided the outcome of this shoot in New Zealand. © Julian Morgan / Red Bull Illume

  Ted Grambeau’s story “Worst nightmare” could have been much, much worse. The athlete Rodrigo Reinoso was captured suspended at the top of a virtual waterfall, to be launched backwards over the falls. Remarkably unscathed but ending up in an even more dangerous position exposed on dry reef, Rodrigo was rescued by surfer Matahi Drollet on his jet ski. What’s more, Grambeau found himself in the same situation days later, with the only casualty being his camera equipment. The Australian photographer remains stoic though: “The price we pay.” 

 Jan Faßbender’s life was turned upside down in 2017: “While on a trip to Chile I was diagnosed with brain cancer.” This turning point led him to question his work and redefine his approach. This resulted in a more artistic, architectural direction, he says about his finalist image: “In this case, the architecture is the built, structured, planned part of the work, and on the other side you see the skater, the natural, the living, the I-point.” 

The approach behind Jan Faßbender’s image is the result of a life changing story. © Jan Faßbender / Red Bull Illume

  Each of the images has a unique story behind them and shows the creativity, hard work, and dedication of the creators who go to extreme lengths to capture such outstanding moments. Find out all about the top 50 images at redbullillume.com. 

 Here is the complete list of the creators from the top 50 images of the Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2023 which includes nationalities from all around the world such as Australia, Chile, Columbia, France, Germany, Spain, South Africa, USA, Canada, India and Japan: 

Julian Morgan (AUS)                                                                                                    Jeremy Bernard (FRA)

Krystle Wright (AUS)                                                                                                    Léo Grosgurin (FRA) 

Luca Salisbury (AUS)                                                                                                   Ross Taylor (GBR)

Stu Ross (AUS)                                                                                                                       Tom McNally (GBR)

Timothy John Parrant (AUS/ESP)                                                                                Christoph Laue (GER)                            

Ted Grambeau (AUS)                                                                                                  Jan Faßbender (GER)

Felix Pirker (AUT)                                                                                                                    Lorenz Holder (GER)

Hannes Berger (AUT)                                                                                                  Sebastian Porral (GIB)

Lucas Tiefenthaler (AUT)                                                                                             Gabriel Marwein (IND)

Mason Mashon (CAN)                                                                                                 Filippo Frizzera (ITA)

Jeremy Blatti (CHE)                                                                                                     Satoshi Saijo (JPN)

Martin Bissig (CHE)                                                                                                     Volodya Voronin (LVA)

Gonzalo Robert Parraguez (CHL)                                                                                Kacper Spławiński (POL)

Juan Garcia Prieto (CHL)                                                                                             Kuba Golczyk (POL)

Kevin Molano (COL)                                                                                                    Ben Thouard (PYF)                            

Alex Berasategi (ESP)                                                                                                 Denis Klero (RUS)                               

Alvaro Herrero López-Beltrán (ESP)                                                                Dmitry Bulin (RUS)                                

Sergi Hernández López (ESP)                                                                         Jan Bruncak (SVK)                              

Victor de Valles Ibáñez (ESP)                                                                                      Daniel Bernstål (SWE) 

Yhabril (ESP)                                                                                                                           Christian Pondella (USA)             

Antoine Veillard (FRA)                                                                                                 Paris Gore (USA)

Delphin Montessuit (FRA)                                                                                            Taylor Shaffer (USA)

Jb Liautard (FRA)                                                                                                                    Todd Glaser (USA)

                                                                                                                                                            Keenan Meyer (ZAF)

The top 50 images of the Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2023 show all aspects of adventure and action sports.
© Kevin Molano / Red Bull Illume