From Gripped Magazine · Brandon Pullan · · 3m
20 Incredible Climbing Photos You Have to See
Austrian photographer Tom Klocker wins Climb category at The Illume Awards 2026 with Mario Andexlinger image in Iceland.
In brief
Austrian photographer Tom Klocker wins Climb category at The Illume Awards 2026 with Mario Andexlinger image in Iceland. Austrian photographer Tom Klocker won The Illume Awards 2026 Climb category for his image of climber Mario Andexlinger in Iceland. Originally reported by Gripped Magazine.
Tom Klocker Wins Climb Category
Austrian photographer Tom Klocker won The Illume Awards 2026 Climb category for his image of climber Mario Andexlinger in Iceland.
20 Finalists Selected
The photograph was selected from 20 finalists, see the other 19 photos below.
Expert Judges Chose Image
Chosen by The Illume’s expert jidges, the image stood out for its technical climbing, striking atmosphere and distinctive colors.
Judges Included Photographers
The panel included photographers Krystle Wright and Lena Drapella, Gripped photo editor Matt Stetson, and athletes Will Gadd and Stefan Glowacz.
Klocker's Comments
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.
Klocker Receives Prize Package
Klocker receives a prize package featuring a Leica D-Lux 8, Angelbird storage, SCARPA Blackbird and Furia Air footwear, and a COOPH camera strap.
Photograph in Photobook
His winning image will also appear in The Illume Photobook 2026.
Announcement Location
The winner was announced in Tokyo at Ishii Sports in Ikebukuro, hosted by Ishii Sports and Yodobashi.
Rainer Eder's Photo
Rainer Eder, Fred Moix, Varzo, Italy.
Fred Moix's Climb
This photograph was taken in Varzo, Italy, in a temporarily closed marble quarry.
Quarry Details
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.
Unnatural Crack
The crack Fred is climbing is completely unnatural, it’s an open drilling hole.
Original Climb
He had originally equipped the line with bolts and climbed it that way together with Marco Rochat in 2024.
Clean Climb
Later, he returned to the route and climbed it clean, protecting himself entirely with specialized Totem camming devices.
Marble Wall
From my position across the quarry, I was fascinated by the scale and geometry of the marble.
Wall Appearance
The huge wall, marked by cuts, cracks and dark streaks, almost looked like an abstract piece of architecture.
Fred's Size
Fred was tiny in comparison, almost disappearing into the structure of the rock.
Composition
I deliberately stayed far away and composed the photograph so that the marble would dominate the frame.
Viewer Experience
I wanted the viewer to discover Fred rather than immediately see him as the main subject.
Alexa Flower's Photo
Alexa Flower, Fiona Layton, Astroman, Yosemite Valley, USA.
In short
Austrian photographer Tom Klocker won The Illume Awards 2026 Climb category for his image of climber Mario Andexlinger in Iceland.
