S-Portland, Oregon

Red Bull Illume travels the US: The fifty greatest sports photos in the world have been on show at various spectacular outdoor galleries since January this year. The Red Bull Illume Exhibit comes to Portland, Oregon, from August 2.

The winter wonderland that is Aspen and the shores of the Pacific Ocean on Huntington Beach have already provided the setting for Red Bull Illume Exhibit. Now it's time for an urban environment to play host to the action and adventure sports photo exhibition: From August 2 to 12, large-format pictures of snowboarders and climbers, surfers and kayakers will provide a thrilling contrast to the industrial landscape of Portland, Oregon. Starting in historic Pioneer Courthouse Square, the exhibit will line the downtown streets, creating an awe-inspiring urban gallery that takes passers-by on a journey through skateparks, powder snow slopes and motocross tracks – a gallery comprising the best 50 sport and action photos in the world.

7200 photos, ten winners

The judges – photo editors from top sports and lifestyle publications around the globe – were impressed not just by the quality, but also by the number of entries: Photographers from 90 countries submitted a total of 7,200 pictures for entry into the contest. The judges had to choose the best photos from ten categories, which included "Sequence", "Closeup", "Spirit" and "Energy". The Red Bull Illume Exhibit – which will be coming to both Europe and Asia following its tour of the USA – comprises the winning photos together with 40 other selected photographs.

Let the hunt for new masterpieces begin

Whilst the inhabitants and tourists of Portland are enjoying the finalists' photos, surreptitious preparations for the next Red Bull Illume are already under way. Any photographers wishing to take part in the 2008 contest can now register on the official website at www.redbullillume.com.