Will Saunders has won the Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2021 for his breathtaking image of a climber falling from a rock tower in Indian Creek, Utah, USA. The American photographer was announced as the overall winner at a ceremony in Aspen Snowmass, Colorado, USA, on Saturday evening local time. His shot of climber Jake Talley striking a pose as he took a lead fall was voted overall winner by a panel of 53 judges from around the world. Category winners were announced each day leading up the announcement of the overall winner. A judging panel of renowned photo editors and experts reviewed a total of 41,447 submissions, narrowing down the selection in five voting rounds to reach 256 semi-finalists, 56 finalists, 11 category winners, and ultimately, the overall winner of Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2021. The images are not only displayed in a limited-edition photobook, but tour the world in an exhibition. // Photographer: Victoria Kohner-Flanagan, Athlete: Jack Nugent, Location: Bishop, CA, United States About the shot: My friends and I spent the winter of 2021 living communally in an assortment of vans and cars amidst the Buttermilk's monstrous granite boulders in Bishop, California. Our days looked like this: wake up, drink coffee, go climb. With our bouldering season coming to a close, as the snow melted and thoughts of long Yosemite climbs loomed, Jack grew eager to test his fitness on 'Queen of Heartbreaks' in Pine Creek Canyon. Before tying into the sharp end Jack was clearly nervous. From the ground, the route's 39 meters were daunting and blank. The holds remained obscured to me even as I ascended the fixed line to find the best position to shoot from. The sky darkened and the winds picked up as Jack stepped onto the climb for his onsight attempt. Questing up the blank face, Jack found a cheeky no hands rest. Doubt cleared from his face as I snapped the shot. Even as it started raining upwards, Jack cruised to the chains. // All images are free for editorial use in the context of Red Bull Illume. We only ask that you credit the photographer and Red Bull Illume (© Photographer / Red Bull Illume). // Victoria Kohner-Flanagan / Red Bull Illume / Red Bull Content Pool via AP Images // For more content, pictures and videos like this please go to http://www.redbullcontentpool.com

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