Sometimes, to create the perfect shot, you need a synergy of two elements: the energy of sports and the beauty of nature. The best photographers from the most prestigious outdoor sports photography competition on the planet, Red Bull Illume, reveal where and how they captured “that moment.” We give them the floor.
Switzerland, photographer Adi Geisegger
Athlete Michael Maurer
The idea of filming a paraglider reflected in the water of a lake in the embrace of mountains has haunted me for a very long time. But turning the plan into reality was not so easy. In the highlands, days with little wind are very rare, and the opportunity to take “that” shot at the right time in the right place is one in a million.
We spent more than one day searching for a beautiful place with suitable lighting and space for flying. Luck smiled at us not far from Interlaken, in the middle of the Swiss Alps: a mountain lake near Lobherner in the Bernese Oberland turned out to be the ideal point.
After climbing to a height of almost 1000 meters with heavy photographic equipment, we had very little time left to capture the paraglider, the mirror surface of the lake, and the rays of the setting sun in one frame.
Time passed by minutes, but we still had to find an interesting angle. I almost died of happiness when Michie (Michael Maurer – MT) perfectly hovered above the water. The shot was taken that very second, and when we saw the result on the camera screen, we could not hold back our tears of joy. It was unforgettable.
France, photographer Antoine Mesnage
Athlete Hael Soma
Finding this alien landscape on the Les Périades ridge in the Chamonix valley and setting up a 60-meter slackline at an altitude of 700 meters took us three difficult days.
But what a stunning sight it was when Hael soared in the void between two rocky giants, and beneath him the ice of the Mer-de-Glace, frozen in eternity, sparkled. There was something both frightening and breathtaking about it.
Add to this picture a fantastic sunset that made the shot even more incredible. For me, this photo is a reminder of how emotionally powerful a moment can be.
Mexico, photographer Petr Polach
Athlete David Duszek
I took this photo during our dive into Otoch Ha Cave in the northern Yucatan Peninsula. There are no rivers on its surface, and water flows through an underground labyrinth of caves hundreds of kilometers long. Each of them has its character and appearance, starting from the stalactite decor and ending with the color of the walls.
In this photo I showed the underground kingdom, similar to a blue eye, tirelessly watching over anyone who dares to disturb the peace of these waters.
To reveal all the magic of a place hidden in pitch darkness, I needed five diving flashes: I mounted two on the camera body and installed three external ones inside the cave. I admit, it wasn’t easy, but it was worth it!
Canada, photographer Mark McKay
Athlete Jackson Goldstone
Nature has always been my main source of inspiration. Winter in British Columbia is a godsend. Up north, Whistler always has plenty of snow, while down south, just 40 minutes from Squamish, milder temperatures make for ideal mountain biking conditions.
I took this photo there. I was inspired by the unusually green forest, like a jungle, as if it had come to life after the winter rains. It’s funny that this was just a test shot – due to several days of precipitation, the ground between the jumps became wet, and it didn’t work out to film the entire track, as we originally planned.
But in the end, the photo turned out well – I was able to convey the greatness of both of its heroes: the forest and Jackson.
Australian, photographer Kamil Sustyak
Athlete Doug McConnell
This photo of Doug was taken in the Grampians National Park shortly before a strong storm blew in from the west. From a photographic point of view, most of the day was quite boring: cloudy weather that did not provide any interesting lighting that could somehow liven up the frame and add the necessary dynamics and drama to it.
Towards the end of the day, I could no longer wait for favors from the weather and decided to work with what I had. I pulled myself up to Doug on a rope, and it turned out that this was the best decision, made at the right time: just for a couple of moments, the clouds suddenly opened and let in a few rays of sunshine, which perfectly illuminated the rock and the surrounding landscape. The mood of the shot ended up being simply fantastic.