Calling all "Extreme" photogs....

[grizzle6]

Bound to be ridiculously stiff competition, but you cain't win if you don't play the game...
Saddle up.

http://redbullillume.com/?cmd=fronte...vascript=false

ACTION SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY IS ILLUMINATED IN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION RED BULL ILLUME IMAGE QUEST HONORS THE ART OF SPIRIT, GRIT AND EDGY PERFECTION

Santa Monica, Calif. (April 18, 2006) - Commitment, passion and daring are all qualities necessary to persevere in action and adventure sports - and, they are the required elements to effectively capture the action on film. Beginning today, Red Bull Illume Image Quest will spotlight the individual behind the camera, praising the triumphs achieved in action and adventure sports photography.

Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2006 is the first-ever international photography competition that celebrates the world of action and adventure sports, inviting both professional and talented emerging photographers to participate. The quest will honor the unique expression and skill of the photographer, as well as the spirit of the action sports community. The top 50 finalists will have their work exhibited in larger-than-life outdoor venues across the globe, providing the most dramatic compilation of action and adventure sports imagery ever assembled. The 'Image of the Year' winner will be commissioned for the photo shoot of a lifetime with a Red Bull athlete of the winner's choice.

A skilled panel of image experts from the action sports world, lifestyle publications, and representatives from the design and photography industry will act as contest judges. Photo editors from National Geographic Adventure, Surfer Magazine, Men's Journal, The Skateboard Mag., Women's Health, Transworld Surf, Powder, Sports Illustrated, Bike, and others are among the 50 specialized individuals who will decide which photos stand above the rest.

Photography plays a crucial role in action sports. Dave Reddick, creative director for Powder and Bike Magazines, speaks about the emotional power imagery has in these unique sports, "The most memorable images are the ones that capture the raw moments. It could be the silhouette of a skier carrying alpine equipment in a moody environment, or a few mud covered mountain bikers after a grueling ride. Photos speak to your core about why you love this sport so much."

Images can be submitted through www.redbullillume.com, now through July 15, 2006. The quest will culminate in a picture perfect exhibition opening in November, unveiling the 50 finalists and kicking off the world-wide tour of the images.

Categories for submission include:

Wings - Capturing the point in a performance in which the athlete takes
flight, catches air, free falls, soars, and/or jumps.
Playground - Showcasing the landscapes, locations, platforms and
environments in which athletes play.
New Creativity - Revealing a unique angle, a visual idea, a different
format, light and flash effects: something never seen before.
Lifestyle - Representing what happens before, between and after the
action, that capture the camaraderie, the coaching, and the training
that comprise the world around a sport.
Spirit - Portraying the raw human emotion, energy, aura, spirit,
expression, inner focus, and personality brought out through an athletic
performance.
Energy - Demonstrating the force that powers an action and shows the
energy, speed and strength required for an athlete to perform.
Close-up - Showing extreme detail of some aspect of an athletic feat: a
full body tight shot of the action, the equipment, the body, the face,
etc.
Sequence - Telling the whole story in a single frame and capturing the
progression of an action at every stage.
Experimental - Enhancing images digitally or in the darkroom, or making
alterations in the production or digital editing process.
Illumination - Bring to life artistic skill, a personal best, unique
style: anything goes within the context of action and adventure sports.

THE BIG PICTURE

Established professional and talented emerging photographers are invited to submit their best action and adventure sports images.

Images must be submitted between April 15, 2006 and July 15, 2006. Entrants may submit up to three photographs in each of the 10 categories. Photos must have been taken after June 1st, 2004. All photos must be submitted digitally through the official Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2006 website. For complete rules and regulations visit www.redbullillume.com.

Official contest judges will determine the five finalists in each of the ten categories. Awards will be given to the winner in each category as well as to the winners of the People's Choice, the Athlete's Choice and the Red Bull Illume Image Quest Image of the Year. The judging will take place in August, 2006.

The 50 finalists will join judges, heroes of sport and special guests at the exhibit opening to take place in November, 2006. The evening will unveil the 50 finalist images as well as kick off the international tour. The top five images in each category will vie for first place honors at the launch exhibition. The 50 finalist photographs will be exhibited in spectacular outdoor venues across the globe.

[erica_z]

since I don't have a pot to piss in, and am too poor to buy a digital SLR...does anyone want to let me borrow their Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II?

[CS]

That's pretty dang cool.

Now, if I can just stop sucking so bad.....

[runethechamp]

WTF, at least 8 megapixels? So anything shot with a 6 Mp digital SLR camera does not qualify?

[erica_z]

my need for the aforementioned 16.7 megapixel beast

[mtbakerskier]

READ THE SMALL PRINT. Since it states that they get to use any image you submit to them for there advertising for no charge!

[BakerBoy]

WTF, at least 8 megapixels? So anything shot with a 6 Mp digital SLR camera does not qualify?

Apparently you aren't "Extreme" enough.

[watersnowdirt]

"Close-up - Showing extreme detail of some aspect of an athletic feat"

There's always the picture of phunk's phunky toes.

[bklyn]

Entrants agree to allow Red Bull and its partners to publish submitted photos in print or electronic form and use in Red Bull Illume promotions, the Red Bull Illume tour and marketing & event advertising without compensation.

Oh well... that's a deal breaker for me.

[Blurred]

Oh well... that's a deal breaker for me.

But you'll get an "award" if you win!!! (read $5 plastic trophy)

[MacDaddy]

But you'll get an "award" if you win!!! (read $5 plastic trophy)

Actually the over all winner signs up for a very nice contract with RB, where you will travel and party like a rock star for a year at least.

[Blurred]

Actually the over all winner signs up for a very nice contract with RB, where you will travel and party like a rock star for a year at least.

Well, that sounds pretty kick ass.

[funkendrenchman]

Actually the over all winner signs up for a very nice contract with RB, where you will travel and party like a rock star for a year at least.

And even if they use your stuff in an ad for free you can include it in your resume.

[Tippster]

Oh well... that's a deal breaker for me.

Wasn't really aimed at established pros, Trayc. I think these comps (and others like PHOTO magazine, etc.) are a great way to get initial exposure for photogs looking to break into the business or to reach a somewhat higher level of client. These "trophys" do actually impress some clients above and beyond the images. Don't ask me why.

[Lane Meyer]

Yeah - 8MP? Fuck that. I've got some great shit from my little old 6 mp blown up to poster size which looks just great. Contests like this should be about artistic creativity, not the MP size. What a stupid rule for a contest open to amateurs. Way to disallow 98% of the competition. I mean, I know they don't want to sort through hundreds of point-and-shoot blurry, grainy images, but a 6MP cutoff would have made much more sense.

[mtbakerskier]

And even if they use your stuff in an ad for free you can include it in your resume.

That doesnt mean jack shit in this industry.

"a great way to get initial exposure for photogs looking to break into the business or to reach a somewhat higher level of client. These "trophys" do actually impress some clients above and beyond the images."

All that it tells perspective clients is that your willing to work for free.

[Tippster]

Werd, Grant.

[mojorisin]

They're looking for cheap (free) ad's, and apparently they don't want to spend money on fractals to upres 6mp files. I'm with Grant on this one.

On second thought Grant, why don't you give them your entire portfolio, including shot's you've yet to sell. Bet you'll win at least a "trophy".

Then you can use that trophy to make a name for yourself, and maybe even leverage Powder into printing some shots for free.

[BakerBoy]

All that it tells perspective clients is that your willing to work for free.

So were you, once upon a time. I know, because I was there.

Another way to break into the industry... much like interning at Powder magazine.

[mtbakerskier]

So were you, once upon a time. I know, because I was there.

Another way to break into the industry... much like interning at Powder magazine.

There is a big differnce between interning and giving shit away for free. Its bad enough that most photogs undercut themselves when they first start out, charging way less than they need to even break even.

[cab9]

From what I read, you get 20,000 US towards a shoot with a red bull athlete of your choice, anywhere you want, plus 10,000 US payment, a trip to the awards in Austria etc etc. I didn't know about them having unlimited usage, but to promote the event, I can see that.
As for the file size, all the major stock agencies have gone that way already, with the Mark II N be the minimum, but over 10mp is recommended. Keep shooting film and scan that shit......sorry I am old school and bitter, too cheap/poor to spend 6g's on a digi.

[cj001f]

All that it tells perspective clients is that your willing to work for free.

Lifes a bitch when people are willing to work for less than you, whatever their reason.

[midget]

That doesnt mean jack shit in this industry.

"a great way to get initial exposure for photogs looking to break into the business or to reach a somewhat higher level of client. These "trophys" do actually impress some clients above and beyond the images."

All that it tells perspective clients is that your willing to work for free.

Couldn't say it any better. The grand prize is great but you have to kill it for that to happen, chances are you are just going to give your photos away for free.

[bklyn]

They are starting up a stock photo agency of royalty free sports images. Guess what happens to the really good quality pics of the 50 finalists? They get to go into ads for any and everything. And they only paid 20k for it.

If it was all about the love, any image quality would be ok. It would be about the composition and content. It's about the ads and that's why there's a minimum resolution and the images need to be recent ones.

I see many people come and go who just can't make a living at it and so my advice is never to do something so open ended or work for free.

You can pay more for me and get quality and experience or hire your uncle with the cash for an expensive setup and get his crap for free. I don't hate on your uncle, he serves a purpose also. Next time, when it's important, you'll be looking for me. Hey, that's the market economy, but I'm doing well in it for a reason.

[fiddler]

Don't know that this exactly relates to this contest but...Same thing happens in music. "We're paying jack shit, but you'll get great exposure!" No matter what your art is there will always be those who try to get your work cheap or free with the promise of "exposure". They don't care how good you are or whether you've been at it for week or 30 years. After you reach a certain point it just seems like a lack of respect.

Doing the occasional benefit for a good cause for free or a reduced rate on the other hand is a good thing, TJ and Plake's project comes to mind.