BURSTAustrian photographer Tom Klocker has won the Climb category at The Illume Awards 2026 for his image of climber Mario Andexlinger in Iceland. The photograph was selected from 20 finalists – see the other 19 photos below.
Chosen by The Illume’s expert jidges, the image stood out for its technical climbing, striking atmosphere and distinctive colors. The panel included photographers Krystle Wright and Lena Drapella, Gripped photo editor Matt Stetson, and athletes Will Gadd and Stefan Glowacz.
“This shot was very challenging, and you had to have extremely good ice climbing experience. The mystical atmosphere that day went perfectly with the colors,” says Klocker.
Klocker receives a prize package featuring a Leica D-Lux 8, Angelbird storage, SCARPA Blackbird and Furia Air footwear, and a COOPH camera strap. His winning image will also appear in The Illume Photobook 2026. The winner was announced in Tokyo at Ishii Sports in Ikebukuro, hosted by Ishii Sports and Yodobashi, with all 20 finalists joining live online.
Rainer Eder – Fred Moix, Varzo, Italy
“This photograph was taken in Varzo, Italy, in a temporarily closed marble quarry. I was standing on the opposite side of the quarry, at a considerable distance, while Fred Moix was climbing high on the enormous marble wall. The crack Fred is climbing is completely unnatural — it’s an open drilling hole. He had originally equipped the line with bolts and climbed it that way together with Marco Rochat in 2024. Later, he returned to the route and climbed it clean, protecting himself entirely with specialized Totem camming devices.
“From my position across the quarry, I was fascinated by the scale and geometry of the marble. The huge wall, marked by cuts, cracks and dark streaks, almost looked like an abstract piece of architecture. Fred was tiny in comparison, almost disappearing into the structure of the rock. I deliberately stayed far away and composed the photograph so that the marble would dominate the frame. I wanted the viewer to discover Fred rather than immediately see him as the main subject.”
Alexa Flower – Fiona Layton, Astroman, Yosemite Valley, USA
“Fiona Layton and Jen Poe were climbing the infamous Astroman in Yosemite Valley, one of the true test pieces of the Valley. Here, Fiona is fighting through the notoriously insecure Harding Slot, a spot that can spit you out at any moment. A few more moves and she’ll be securely in it without having to try hard to avoid falling out. She pulled it off, not without a little grunting and some serious try-hard. Fiona passed away this year, and I’m even more grateful this photo exists. It’s how I like to remember her: fully in it, giving everything she had, her heart in it. I feel lucky to have captured that moment.”
Hamish Frost – Tim Miller, Carn Etchachan, Cairngorms, Scotland
“Early season mixed climbing conditions can arrive as early as November in Scotland. Though usually these are just brief cold snaps suited to snowed-up rock routes rather than the sustained cold needed for turf or ice to freeze. November 2024 brought one such snap, and my friend Tim Miller and I decided to check out ‘Time Traveller’ (VII 7) on Carn Etchachan.”
Hamish Frost – Graham McGrath, Unicorn (VIII, 8), Stob Coire nan Lochan, Scotland
“Unicorn’s (VIII, 8) 75m corner had been on my bucket list to photograph for a while. Clean lines, strong rock architecture, and a complex position to access – exactly the kind of feature I’m drawn to photograph. It was just a matter of waiting for the right conditions and team to align. That chance came on New Year’s Eve 2023. Good winter conditions in Glen Coe, a psyched team of Graham McGrath, Tim Miller and Jamie Skelton, and a deadline: get down in time for a friends’ Hogmanay party in nearby Benderloch. I split off early to rig in from the top, knowing from there was next to nothing at the top of the cliff in the way of easy anchors (bolting on Scottish winter routes is a big no-no), and that it would take time to get myself into position at the top of the corner. 30 minutes of digging into the deep snow and I’d assembled a collection of vaguely solid anchors I was just about happy with, before cautiously down-climbing to rebelay off better anchors lower down.
“By the time I peered into the corner midway up the cliff, Tim was still on the final moves of pitch one – grovelly, thrutchy climbing he’s impressively good at. Then Graham took the rack for pitch two, moving delicately upwards on terrain plastered with snow. Every micro hook and edge was buried and unknown. Forty metres of slow, clearing and calculated upward movement. 3 and a half hours later, as the light faded, he topped out on the corner. One heck of a lead. As darkness fell, Tim and Jamie followed the pitch by headtorch. Above us, a hard and rarely climbed direct finish, or an easier, more often taken escape leftwards and a timely retreat to the party. The choice was unanimous, there’s more to life than just climbing!”
Tara Kerzhner – Paige Claassen, Smith Rock, USA
“The night before, Paige belayed me while I hung a line on the opposing wall. For such a famous climb, I wanted to find a perspective I hadn’t seen before. We returned a handful of hours later and waited in the darkness like two little wall barnacles, about 40 feet away from each other. Finally, first light spilled across the rock while the geese howled.
“There’s something special about the trust you build with athletes over the years. As a photographer, I’m incredibly grateful when it takes very little convincing for someone like Paige to work with me on an artistic vision, especially when that vision involves hiking in the dark and waiting on a wall for the light to arrive.
“Paige first climbed To Bolt or Not to Be in 2013, describing its relentless style as “mental warfare.” More than a decade later, after years of shooting together, it felt especially meaningful to photograph her there. The route has a famous history, but this image also holds a small piece of ours.”
Tony Kim – Mary Eden, Canyonlands, USA
“We left before dawn. The crisp morning air, the sun peeking over the white rim – strangely close, yet far away. From afar, Century crack was a dream. From Moab, a bumpy 4 hr drive only accessible via 4wd. From above, it was unsuspecting – a hidden sandstone cave. From below, it was a temple to the roof cracks and wide climbing. Each lap, an offering to gods & goddesses of heel toe cams & hand fist stacks. That slow, fierce battle measured by showing up to work every day. That mantra echoing in the silence of sandstone dust, grit, & faith – Mary Eden paying tribute in the Appalachian way.
“Midway, the energy had shifted – the light had changed. Evening sun streaking across the desert & into the cave – a low angle light flared in the face. A fight so true, a moment deep in prayer. ‘It’s just another training day.”
Moritz Klee – Michael Piccolruaz, Mallorca, Spain
“This was not a famous line. It was not even a line at all. Jakob Schubert and Michael Piccolruaz were scouting the south coast of Mallorca for new deep water soloing spots, and we walked the coast until something looked promising. When we found this cave we abseiled down to get into it.
“The first surprise was the jellyfish. There were plenty of them at the start and they burn properly, but after a while they drifted off and the place was ours. It was my first time shooting with an aqua dome, and it opened up a whole new world for me. It is also harder than it looks. I had no snorkel, so I was holding my breath, looking through swimming goggles at a camera display, and trying to keep my own body still enough in the swell for the framing to work. A good number of attempts were lost simply because I had to come up for air.
“There was no pressure that day. Nobody was projecting anything, we were exploring, and Micha climbed because the rock looked good. He tried the move a few times, and at some point everything lined up at once.”
Thomas Monsorno – Dani Arnold, Scoresbysund, Greenland
“During our expedition to Svalbard, we spent several days exploring the remote Arctic landscape together with Dani Arnold. Surrounded by glaciers, frozen fjords and vast stretches of untouched terrain, we were looking for unique places to climb, explore and photograph.
“One of the most extraordinary moments came inside the frozen heart of a glacier. Hidden beneath the surface, we discovered a vast ice cave filled with towering crystal formations and walls glowing in countless shades of blue. In this surreal environment, Dani began to climb, moving through what felt like a cathedral of ancient ice. The silence, the cold and the constantly changing light created an atmosphere unlike anything we had experienced before.”
Jan Novak – Nicolas Favresse belayed by Mélissa Le Nevé on Tough Enough (8b+, 380m), Tsaranoro, Madagascar
“In July 2024, Nico Favresse and Melissa Le Nevé were attempting to climb the hardest route in Tsaranoro, Madagascar, on one of the most beautiful 400m tall walls, called Karambony. They put in a promising and brave 10-day push, but unfortunately didn’t succeed. We had been bivouacking on top of the wall for Melissa’s birthday, to make her day even more special. Nico brought a birthday cake, and a Malagasy friend from our base camp at Camp Catta joined us.
“During the climbing, conditions were far from perfect; it was too hot for holding small, tiny crimps, and the skin on the fingers wore through fast. This day was a good opportunity to try the key pitch before sunrise, in search of better conditions. This unique light, which you can see in the picture, is just a minute before the sunrise hits the wall.”
Julia Roger-Veyer: Jeff Mercier, Mer de Glace Glacier, Chamonix, France
“Every year, with climbers, we explore the glaciers, hoping to find beautiful lines to climb and shoot. We look for ice caves or “moulins” — enormous wells dug in the summer by the water of the melting ice, which can plunge more than 80m into the depths of the glacier. The Mer de Glace, the famous glacier of Chamonix, is our playground. In recent years, during our days up there, we have sadly noted the disappearance of the glacier. In 25 years, it has retreated 800m and lost 100 metres in thickness, and in the last three years the phenomenon has greatly accelerated. The ice has given way to a chaos of granite blocks — the Mer de Glace has become a sea of rock.
“Ice has always fascinated me — its endless shapes, colors, and that special atmosphere you can only find inside glaciers, that deep blue that reminds you of the ocean’s depths. Through my photography, I explore this wild environment, where ice becomes both subject and space.
“In October 2025, we returned to a cave we had photographed a few months earlier. Intense summer heat had caused it to expand significantly, merging with another cave to form this massive ice arch. While Jeff was getting ready for the climb, I decided to abseil down to a small ledge five metres below. This gave me better access to the ice formations at the back of the cave. That’s how, from that spot, this heart appeared in my viewfinder as I was framing the shot. I let Jeff climb and focus, and when he came back down and asked how the photo turned out, I told him: “Look, it’s incredible! You’re climbing an ice heart!” I think the glacier gave me a unique gift that day.
“This shoot sums up everything I love about photography: the interplay of textures and colors, ice as that ephemeral, ever-changing element, and the creative process that allows me, through sport and mountain exploration, to capture the beauty of our world. Jeff Mercier, a high-mountain guide, travels the world’s ice in search of ephemeral lines. He is one of my exploration partners.”
Tyler-Lekki – Pedro Odell, Fabian Buhl, Thomas Odell, Bauti Gregorini, Cerro Torre, El Chaltén, Argentina
“This image was captured during a traverse of Cerro Standhardt, Punta Herron, and Torre Egger, a classic and demanding line through the Cerro Torre massif in Patagonia. The climbing team, Fabi Buhl, Pedro Odell, Thomas Odell, and Bauti Gregorini, pushed through the traverse during the summer, tackling one of the range’s signature challenges: the rime ice mushrooms that cling to the ridgelines and summits.”
Miya Tsudome – Leo Houlding and family, El Capitan, Yosemite Valley, USA
“This was one of my more memorable shooting experiences. The Houlding family was on day five of their ascent of the Muir Wall on El Capitan, and I was sleeping on the summit so I could rappel down and capture them climbing. After getting caught in a huge snowstorm, I rappelled down to their camp the next day and shot into the dark with the plan of jugging back out and sleeping on top. But they had an extra portaledge and sleeping bag and asked if I wanted to stay and I said, why not!
“The surprise sleepover party allowed me to capture some great moments the next morning and was way more fun than sleeping alone at the summit. I love this photo because it shows how some of the best shots happen in those unexpected in-between moments, and that you should always say yes. And it also highlights how incredible it is that 8-year-old Jackson and 11-year-old Freya lasted 6 days on the wall with their mom and dad. Not your typical family vacation!””
Jeremiah Watt – Miles Watson, Castle Valley, USA
“Excommunication is 5 pitches of desert splendor on a sliver of sandstone on a windy ridge in Utah’s Castle Valley. Our paths first crossed nearly a decade ago when I approached as a climber without a camera. I’ve been intrigued since. The first three pitches follow a striking arete that place the climber in wild positions of extreme exposure as they balance back and forth. This image is the fingers of Miles Watson as he grapples with the arete as the desert falls away to the Colorado.”
Jürgen Westermeyer – Benjamin Aguado, Silla del Diablo, San José de Maipo, Chile
“I met Benjamín at a completely random electronic music party. At the end of the night, I noticed a group of shirtless, ridiculously strong guys. I joked with them about it, and we started talking… Somehow, we discovered that we shared a passion for climbing. Years later, Benja had become a close friend, and we found ourselves climbing together whenever we could.
“This photograph was made during one of those days at Silla del Diablo, in the Andes near Santiago, Chile. Four friends, one car, and a full day of climbing—no assignment, no client, just the simple pleasure of being in the mountains together. I brought my camera, as I always do, just in case something happened.
“By the time Benja made his last attempts on Tokyo, a V12 boulder, it was completely dark. The only world that existed was the small circle of light from our headlamps, the boulder, and the next hold. I shot this frame with a Canon 50mm f/1.2, trying to preserve that sense of intimacy and isolation. The funny part? My car had no registration. On the way home at 2 a.m., the police stopped us and gave me a very expensive reminder of the adventure. Worth it.”
Evan Wong – Connor Runge & Sean Bradbury, Canadian Rockies
“In summer 2025, I got tipped off by a local friend for a photo composition combining a waterfall, some of the best limestone in the Rockies, and one of the most impressive cliff faces anywhere. I pitched the idea to my good friend Connor, and we were off to the races.
“We made quick work of the easy hike in, and split off at the base of the cliff. I went around to access the cliff from above (a rare possibility in the Rockies), and Connor and Sean made their way to the base of the cliff. To be in the right position for the shot, I figured I needed to be on one of the climb’s neighbouring routes. Unfortunately, the route directly beside our chosen line looked like it didn’t finish to the top of the cliff, so I knew some shenanigans would be required to get into position. Upon reaching the top of the cliff, my fears were confirmed: not an anchor in sight for the route I wanted to shoot on.
“I carefully rapped off the last anchors on Connor and Sean’s route, located the final anchors of the neighbouring climb, about 20 m below the top, and jumarred back to the top to figure out how I’d get down. Ultimately, I could only find a tree that was too thin for comfort. Judging this to be unacceptable, I decided to deploy one of the Rockies anchor-building tricks I’d hoped to never use again: choss bollards. A choss bollard involves tying off to a large and long rock, then stacking other loose rocks in front and on top until it can withhold the weight of a rappel without moving.
“I made a primary anchor on the thin tree, backed it up to my choss bollard, and bounce-tested it until I was certain it would hold. I then made one of the scarier raps of my life, over horrifying loose and sharp blocks on my makeshift anchor well back from the cliff face, thankfully making it to the bolts just in time to catch Connor and Sean on the money pitches of the climb.
“This shot is perhaps my best success using the “human drone” method while shooting climbing. The waterfall was occluded from view while right against the wall, so as Connor pulled incredible moves over wild exposure, I repeatedly launched myself as far off the wall as I could, firing bursts of photos at my apex. To my delight, all the elements came together, making one of my all time favourite images.”
Evan Wong – Julian Larsen, Chilliwack, BC, Canada
“When people think about amazing alpine climbing in Canada, their thoughts usually don’t go to Chilliwack: a town in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. But tucked behind the town, the North Cascades offer one of my favourite zones for alpine rock climbing, with splitter granite, towering spires, and a long, steep approach that both makes every trip a worthy adventure and subsequently keeps the crowds at bay.
“On this particular trip, we were on a shoot for Rab, tasked with creating sleeping bag imagery that fit their rugged, high alpine brand aesthetic. It was mid-May, still early for alpine rock season in Canada, so we set off unsure of what to expect. After bashing up the 1400 m vertical gain on the approach (a good chunk of it snow-covered), we arrived at the base of the spires to find bone-dry rock and perfect temps – it was on!
Having gone ultralight and packed less than a single rack of cams, we decided on a variation to the Nesakwatch Traverse, which takes you over the 3 main peaks of the range. We climbed an enjoyable 5.9 to the first summit. Despite the grade, the climbing was made somewhat “real” by our overnight packs and lack of gear.
“Unfortunately, the route up the second summit weaved onto its north face, and was still completely covered in snow. No traverse for us. Thankfully, the connecting ridge provided the bivy location we were hoping for, and we found a perfectly flat rock just big enough for the two of us. By some miracle, we were treated to the most perfect open bivy conditions you could ask for – clear skies, moderate temperatures, and not a hint of wind. I woke up some time before sunrise the next morning and snapped this shot of Julian sound asleep under the striking South Nesakwatch Spire. A terrific early-season alpine adventure, capped with the best alpine bivy I have experienced.”
Evan Wong – Anton Korsun, Canadian Rockies, AB, Canada
“Anton Korsun has no social media and does not brag about his achievements. But readers of the American Alpine Journal or Alpinist magazine will likely have read some of his stories, from first ascents on Mt. Huntington (Alaska) to solo speed records and A4+ ascents on El Cap.
“This past winter, I was lucky enough to get the chance to shoot with him on a classic ice climb. After a brutally early start, a long ski down closed highways, and a rad approach deep into a slot canyon, we arrived at the base. A pitch of WI4 wild ice mushrooms followed by steep WI5+. This shot is of Anton on the second pitch, experiencing the breakable characteristics of ice at their finest – gritting through pellets of shattering ice from swings. Magically, it coincidentally timed with the first and only light to touch the climb – right at golden hour. It ended up being one of the wettest climbs I’d ever shot.
“By the end, my ropes were a frozen wire, I was breaking my zoom and focus rings out of ice, and my hard shells looked like they’d gone through the shower three times over. Living out of my van, I was predictably unsuccessful at drying any of my gear out for the next day, but it was well worth it for the time spent with good friends creating beautiful imagery.”
Guillaume Meyer – Marc Daviet, La Chambotte, France
“When the climbing session is coming to an end, there’s nothing like a back flip to come back.”
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