Lorenz Holder’s shot of Senad Grosic is all the proof you need to understand that athletes are artists as much as anything else. Grosic is riding his BMX bike across a bridge in Germany, with a simple nose manual the only action on of the shot. No massive, death defying stunts. No dynamic or violent distractions from Mother Nature, promising doom if Grosic falls. Just a lot of fall colors mirrored by magnificent still waters below.
No amount of Jamie O’Briens set on fire in the barrel or Robbie Maddisons riding a motorcycle at Teahupo’o will make you stop and pause like the simplest and even most serene moments.
Holder’s photo turned enough heads that it was announced the Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2016 Overall Winner, giving the German photographer the honor for the second time. Of the 34,624 images submitted it won top honors, with Holder also taking the Masterpiece by Yodobashi and Playground categories, along with the coveted Athlete’s Choice Award.
The 11 winning images come from 9 different photographers across the world. They’ll all be on display at the Art Institute of Chicago until October 9th, then displayed in Toronto, Canada, Yonkers, NY and San Francisco, CA.
