North Shore-based surf photographer Brian Bielmann earned first-place honors in the Red Bull Illume Image Quest competition this week in Aspen, Colo.

Bielmann's photo of pro surfer Brian Pacheco missing a wave during the Pipeline Masters won in the Spirit category.

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

The action and adventure sports photography competition attracted about 7,200 submissions from more than 90 countries; Bielmann was the only photographer from Hawai'i.

"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 through Feb. 4 in Aspen.

For information, go to www.redbullillume.com.

Reach Catherine E. Toth at ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.