His photo of pro surfer Brian Pacheco missing a wave during the Pipeline Masters won top honors in the Spirit category.

The Illume Image of the Year was awarded to French photographer Fred Mortagne for a stylized skateboarding image.

There were about 7,200 submissions from more than 90 countries.

Bielmann was the only photographer from Hawai'i to participate in the action and adventure sports photography contest.

"This is the most incredible collection I have ever seen assembled in one place," said contest judge Anne Telford of Communication Arts, in a press release. "(And it's) the most phenomenal experience I have had in my 17 years of photo editing."

The exhibit is open to the public starting today through Feb. 4 in Aspen, Colo.

The other winners in each category are:

i Lifestyle: Desre Pickers (South Africa)

i Sequence: David Blazek (Czech Republic)

i Close-Up: Dawn Kish (Flagstaff, Ariz.)

i Energy: Thomas Stockli (Switzerland)

i Playground: Wojtek Antonow (Poland)

i Wings: Fred Mortagne (France)

i New Creativity: Jimmy Wilson (Melbourne Beach, Fla.)

i Experimental: Tim McKenna (Australia)

i Illumination: Gian Paul Lozza (Switzerland)

For more information visit www.redbullillume.com.

The Advertiser featured a profile on Bielmann on Sunday. To see it, along with three video clips of Bielmann talking about his career and gear, go to the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Jan/21/il/FP701210314.html