For photographers in the adventure-sports world, perhaps no stage is more regarded as an artist’s potential “breakthrough” as the annual Red Bull Illume Image Quest. Consider the Illume a Cannes Film Festival, if you will, of adrenaline-inducing imagery. It is an opportunity for photographers to make their work known worldwide. The 2023 awards were no exception, and at this year’s Red Bull Illume, photographers were turning heads with some stunning paddling imagery.
Through the vast number of entries, 52 judges cull selections across ten categories. Much of the contest takes place online. The Red Bull Illume Image Quest then culminates to the final award ceremony in Sölden, Austria, at the end of November. Australian photographer Krystle Wright took the Grand Prize for her shot of athlete Angela Vanwiemeersch climbing a Utah canyon in a sliver of light like a lightning bolt.
Paddlers had cause for celebration, too. The Emerging With Canon Award went to Gonzalo Robert Parraguez for his shot of Kilian Ivelic Astorga running a rumbling waterfall in Chile.
On the image submission, Robert Parraguez shared what it took to capture the shot.
“To get to the waterfall, you had to drive two hours, walk 10 minutes, and then to take this photo, I had to do a 15-meter rappel as the waterfall is in a deep canyon. To get in the position I wanted the only way to get there was to rappel in. With Kilian, we have been filming and looking for places for a couple of years now and continuing to do these missions with him is one of my favourite things to do.”
If Robert Parraguez’s name sounds familiar, the photographer’s work is catching fire lately. The award winner was part of the media team capturing Aniol Serrasolses’ recent descent of a glacial waterfall.
The Chilean wasn’t the only paddling image creator to get a nod from the venerable judges of the annual Red Bull awards. A number were also shortlisted as semi-finalists.
Here are a few stunning paddling shots that stood out from the Illume crowd at the 2023 Red Bull contest:
// Red Bull Illume 2023
Janessa Anderson—RAW Semi-Finalist
“Supraglacial lakes are a place of absolute wonder. Formed as meltwater accumulates on the surface of the ice, these fleeting lakes can drain at any time, adding to the allure of experiencing them. I had been scouting the area for a few months, watching as the glacial landscape began to change, waiting for a blue pool that would be ideal for a packraft exploration.”
Tim Retzik—Innovation by MPB Semi-Finalist 2023
“I found a way to wedge myself so I could get close enough for the angle I wanted. Because of the way I was set up to take the shot, I couldn’t see the paddlers until they were hitting the rock. Sean nailed the line, and through a 14mm lens, it looked like I was going to take a boat to the face. I had a feeling we nailed it. The image reminds me of photos in Thrasher magazine from the big air contests of the 80s.”
David Sodomka—Energy Semi-Finalist
“Santo Domingo River is the steepest section of whitewater kayaking in the world. It’s short, but extremely steep, linked up and consequential. We went there as a group of five kayakers. We spent five days on this section, and paddled it four times.”
Daniel Stewart—Lifestyle by COOPH Semi-Finalist
“Ever since I’ve seen my first salmon run, I’ve been addicted at getting some good photos of them. It’s one of the most challenging things I’ve ever really taken on. I am naturally not a wildlife photographer, so when I first got in the water, the only thing I’d ever capture was them running away from me.”
Anthony Pearson—Playground by Radiant Photo Semi-Finalist
“With a walkie-talkie in hand, Jemma sets off in a kayak, and paddles across the river. Having kayaked to the foot of the braids, there are many shallow sand banks which she cannot easily see. So, with a bit of guidance from above, Jemma finds her line, and gets into position whilst I snap away. High winds and two depleted batteries later, it’s time to retrieve the drone and move on.”
