| Copyright | All images submitted for consideration in the Illume Image Quest 2010 contest remain the sole property of the photographer. Entrants retain copyright over each of their images. Entrants grant Red Bull GmbH and its affiliates, subsidiaries and partners right to use the submitted photos without compensation in the context of Red Bull Illume. |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | Open to 18+ years of age professional and amateur photographers from any country in the world. |
| Finish | 28 February 2010 |
| Entry fee | Free |
Finished
Only action and adventure sports images and images that capture the culture and lifestyle surrounding these sports may be submitted. Qualifying sports are listed on the official web site.
Categories:
- culture
Images that visually capture the creativity of the culture, music and lifestyle that surrounds action and freesports, or represents what happens before, between, and after the action. - playground
Images that showcase the landscapes, locations, platforms, and environments in which athletes play. - energy
Images that demonstrate the force that powers an action and show the energy, speed and strength required for an athlete to perform. - spirit
Images that portray the spirit or personality that athletic performances produce, as well as the pain, emotion and struggles that go along with trying to achieve ones goals, whether due to injury, failure or simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. - close up
Images that show extreme detail of one or more aspects of an athletic feat: a tight shot of the action, the equipment, the body, the face, etc. - wings
Images that capture the point in a performance in which the athlete jumps, catches air, free falls, soars. - sequence
Images that tell the whole story in a single frame and capture the progression of an action at every stage. - new creativity
Images that reveal a unique angle, a visual idea, a different format, light and flash effects… something never seen before! It’s the purely creative image without digital alterations. - experimental
Images that have been enhanced digitally or in the darkroom through alterations made in the production or digital editing process. - illumination
Images that illuminate your artistic skill, your personal best, your unique style; this is an open category so anything goes – give us your best shot!
Prize:
- The overall winner of the 2010 Red Bull Illume Image Quest will receive a Leica S2 camera and equipment to the value of €30,000.
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Photos that have been digitally or otherwise enhanced to change the original impression are only eligible for submission in the Experimental category. If any doubts occur regarding the authenticity of the digital image, the original RAW file will be requested by the Red Bull Illume judges for analysis. You can only upload JPGs. JPG is a compression format that reduces file size. You cannot submit TIFFS, RAWs or similar. Please make sure not to exceed the maximum file size of 10 Mega Bytes (MB). Photographers may submit photos to every category. Photographers may not submit the same image to more than one category. Photographers may only enter a maximum of five images per category.
Official web site: http://www.redbullillume.com/contest/rules.html
Frequently asked questions — Free photography contests
Who can enter free photography contests?
Most free contests welcome photographers worldwide, regardless of experience level or equipment. Many explicitly encourage students, hobbyists, and emerging creators—always verify age requirements or thematic restrictions on the official contest page.
Are free photography contests really free?
Yes—entry is $0 across the board. Some contests offer optional paid perks like expedited feedback or printed certificates, but submission, judging, and basic participation remain completely free. Fee status is confirmed in the Quick Facts section on each PhotoCompete listing.
What prizes do free photography contests offer?
Prizes vary widely: cash awards range $100–$5,000, while non-monetary rewards include online features, publication credits, mentorship sessions, exhibition inclusion, or gear donations. Even without cash, free contests offer valuable exposure and portfolio-building opportunities.
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Prioritize contests whose theme or mission aligns with your work. Review past winners to gauge style preferences, confirm technical specs (resolution, file format), and read rights clauses carefully—even free contests may request usage rights for promotional purposes.
Frequently asked questions — International photography contests
Who can enter international photography contests?
Most international contests welcome photographers worldwide, regardless of nationality or experience level. Always verify eligibility on the official contest page—some restrict by age (18+), amateur/professional status, or thematic focus.
Are international photography contests free to enter?
Some are free; many charge $10–$50 per image, with early-bird discounts often available. Entry fees and deadline tiers are listed in the Quick Facts section at the top of each contest page on PhotoCompete.
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Align your strongest work with the contest theme and review past winners to gauge aesthetic preferences. Confirm technical specs (resolution, file format), check rights clauses carefully, and prioritize contests whose mission matches your artistic goals.