On August 29, the top 50 images from the 2013 Red Bull Illume photo contest will be unveiled in Hong Kong, China. While “top 50” generally doesn’t indicate any sort of outstanding claim to fame, consider this: the finalists come from a pool of nearly 30,000 total photographs, most of which were captured by many of action sports’ best photographers. In this case, top 50 is certainly an honor.

Recently shared with Freeskier were this year’s top 250 images; among them, the twenty skiing shots you see above, from a total of 17 different photographers. Other images in the top 250 highlight snowboarding, skateboarding, biking, surfing, BASE jumping and sky diving, kayaking, rock climbing and beyond. Each and every Red Bull Illume submission was entered into one of the following categories: close-up, energy, experimental, illumination, lifestyle by Leica, new creativity, playground, sequence and spirit and wings. On the 29th—in addition to the announcement of the top 50—winners will be announced for each category, with prizes being awarded in the form of Leica X2 cameras, broncolor Para 88 P Kits and an assortment of Sun-Sniper gear. One overall winner will also walk away with a new Leica S camera, broncolor Move Outdoor kit as well as Sun-Sniper gear worth over $2,500.

The finalists and winners will be selected by an international panel of esteemed photo editors. While that task is exciting, it’s also a difficult one, given the high quality of the imagery. “It was really quite mind blowing [to see this year’s selections], ” says James Mullinger, Photographic Director at British GQ. “I have never seen such a high standard in a competition before and I can’t wait to see the final winners unveiled.”

Following the Winner Award Ceremony, the top 50 images will be on free public display along Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbor, displayed in illuminated light boxes, every night through September 15. Following the premiere in Hong Kong, Red Bull Illume will hit the road, making stops in the U.S. and around the world, providing a chance for many to experience and appreciate the images against their large, back-lit displays.

For now, feast your eyes on this stunning ski photography. On the 29th, return to freeskier.com for a run-down on who took home the big prizes, with a banger photo gallery to accompany the news.

Which of these images would you like to see among the top 50? Share your opinion in the comments section below.

2013 Red Bull Illume by the numbers:

• – Red Bull received a total of 28,257 images, almost 25% more than the 2010 Red Bull Illume.
• – A total of 6,417 different photographers submitted images, an increase of 50% from 2010.
• – Photographers from 124 countries submitted images, the top three being USA, Brazil and UK.
• – Playground was most popular, w/ total of 4,608 images followed by Energy w/ 3,699 images.
• – Roughly a third of the total submissions were submitted in the final 36 hours of the entry period.

About Red Bull Illume:

Red Bull Illume is the world’s premier international photography competition dedicated to action and adventure sports. Its purpose is to showcase the most exciting and creative action sports photography on the planet as art to the wider public. The 2013 Red Bull Illume Image Quest will be the third edition of the competition after 2007 and 2010.