# 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.
- Title: 20 Incredible Climbing Photos You Have to See | Shortify
- Summary: Austrian photographer Tom Klocker wins Climb category at The Illume Awards 2026 with Mario Andexlinger image in Iceland. Austrian photographer Tom Klocker…
- Keywords: tom klocker, mario andexlinger, the illume awards, climb category, iceland, photography, climbing, austrian, 2026, gripped magazine, the illume photobook, leica d-lux 8
- Source: Gripped Magazine — https://gripped.com/news/20-incredible-climbing-photos-you-have-to-see
- Author: Brandon Pullan
- Published: 2026-10-22T15:33:16+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: tom klocker, mario andexlinger, the illume awards, climb category, iceland, photography, climbing, austrian, 2026, gripped magazine, the illume photobook, leica d-lux 8
## 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.
## Key takeaway

Austrian photographer Tom Klocker won The Illume Awards 2026 Climb category for his image of climber Mario Andexlinger in Iceland.