Red Bull’s Illume Image Quest photography competition happens every three years, attracting 5.645 photographers from 120 countries, submitting a record-breaking 34.624 images. View the 2016 finalists over on the Red Bull Illume website.
The categories in the 2016 competition included: Wings, Sequence, Close Up, Playground, Mobile, New Creativity, Masterpiece, Energy, Enhance, Spirit and Lifestyle.
Table of Contents
The Best Surf Photos from the 2016 Competition
Surf photos were entered into every category in 2016, including images taken on mobile phones. Some of the world’s best surf photographers submitted entries, with masterful shots by Russell Ord, Zak Noyle and Corey Wilson receiving accolades.
We’ve selected 12 of the best surf photos for your viewing pleasure.
1. Kenny Martinez’s wild Waimea Bay
Photographer: Kenny Martinez Red Bull Illume 2016 Category: Energy Athlete: Koa Rothman Location: Waimea Bay, Hawaii, USAReminiscent of the Guinness Wild Horses ad, this photo captures the majesty and power that is Waimea Bay, and the rare warriors prepared to take her on.
2. Sophie Zander’s Norwegian black & white
Photographer: Sophie Zander Red Bull Illume 2016 Category: Lifestyle Athletes: Carl Werner Roper, Oyvind Starheim Nilsen and Simon Brian Hansen Location: Lofoten Islands, NorwayNorway is one of the last surfing frontiers and this shot captures the essence of the surfing lifestyle up there. It’s not all clean waves and northern lights. Here you feel the journey and it’s all about friendship, rocks, fog, and neoprene.
3. Fred Pompermayer shows Kai Lenny at his best
Photographer: Fred Pompermayer Red Bull Illume 2016 Category: Energy Athlete: Kai Lenny Location: Peahi, Hawaii, USAKai Lenny is changing surfing one water craft at a time. He does what he does and he does it better than anyone. Here he dominates Jaws on a SUP.
5. Leroy Bellet gets insanely barrelled
Photographer: Leroy Bellet Red Bull Illume 2016 Category: Energy Athlete: Scott Dennis Location: New South Wales, AustraliaNothing can beat a good barrel shot and Leroy Bellet really got himself in prime position for this one. His masterful timing, composition and willingness to take a thrashing produced a gift for us all.
6. Ben Thouard captures Teahupoo perfection
Photographer: Ben Thouard Red Bull Illume 2016 Category: Masterpiece Athlete: Landon McNamara Location: Teahupo’o, French PolynesiaThis shot is perfect. That is all.
7. Zak Noyle shows another side of Pipeline
Photographer: Zak Noyle Red Bull Illume 2016 Category: Energy Athlete: Shinpei Horiguchi Location: Pipeline, Hawaii, USALens flare is not usually a good thing, but Zak nailed it here, with his effervescent entry into the Energy category.
8. Corey Wilson captures Mick Fanning’s joy
Photographer: Corey Wilson Red Bull Illume 2016 Category: Spirit Athlete: Mick Fanning Location: O’ahu, Hawaii, USAMick Fanning is one of surfing’s favourite sons. Corey Wilson captures his spirit in this glittering swirl of Hawaiian blue.
9. Jean Louis de Heeckeren gets truly intrepid
Photographer: Jean Louis de Heeckeren Red Bull Illume 2016 Category: Spirit Athletes: Ramon Navarro and Dan Malloy Location: Antartica, ChileCold, but happy. Looking forward to the action shots.
10. Gaps Sabuero’s full immersion
Photographer: Gaps Sabuero Red Bull Illume 2016 Category: Masterpiece Athlete: Manuel Melindo Location: Siargao Island, PhilippinesSeek and you will find… the light, the surfer, the wave.
11. Seth de Roulet gets close to the action
Photographer: Seth de Roulet Red Bull Illume 2016 Category: Close Up Athlete: Eithan Osborne Location: Outer Banks, NC, USAIn a cocoon of moving ocean, surfer Eithan Osborne finds a home.
12. Nathaniel Harrington’s perfect timing
Photographer: Nathaniel Harrington Red Bull Illume 2016 Category: Lifestyle Athlete: Blake Speir Location: Sebastian Inlet, Florida, USAIt’s true. Only a surfer knows the feeling.
All images are © copyright the respective photographers / Red Bull Illume