Tim Rochas Wins 2026 Illume Aerial Category
French paraglider and photographer Tim Rochas took top honors in the Aerial category of the Illume Awards with an image of a paraglider over Utah's Factory Butte.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Photography
Tim Rochas won the Aerial category at the 2026 Illume Awards, a major outdoor and adventure photography contest. The winning image shows paraglider Pierre Bottero flying against a jagged landscape at Factory Butte in Utah, US.
Why it matters
The award places a paraglider-focused aerial image before an international audience of outdoor and adventure photography enthusiasts. Rochas says the photograph captures the contrast between the fragility of a human in flight and the raw power of nature.
The winning image was shot with a Nikon Z7 II and a Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II lens at 1/6400 sec, f/4.5, ISO 200. Factory Butte, the site of the photograph, rises 6,302 feet (1,921 meters) and about 2,000 feet (609 meters) above the surrounding desert floor.
The players
Tim Rochas
Tim Rochas is a French paraglider and photographer whose aerial work earned him the Aerial category title at the Illume Awards.
The Illume
The Illume is a major outdoor and adventure photography contest that runs an annual awards program and publishes a photobook of winning images.
The details
Rochas started a flight above the Factory Butte landscape to capture the image of paraglider Pierre Bottero. Years of wind and water erosion sculpted the sandstone and shale monolith into the setting used for the photograph.
Timeline
2026: Winners of the Illume Awards announced, including Rochas in the Aerial category.
2026: Winning image featured in The Illume Photobook 2026.
Season Trajectory
The Illume Awards recognize outdoor and adventure photography through an annual competition and photobook. Rochas's Aerial category win adds to the body of paraglider-focused work the contest has showcased.
Photographers following outdoor and aerial work can view the winning image in The Illume Photobook 2026. The award highlights equipment and exposure choices, including a Nikon Z7 II and a Leica D-Lux 8 prize camera, that readers can compare when planning their own shots.
The takeaway
Aerial photography depends on precise timing and exposure, as the 1/6400 sec shutter speed in this winning image shows. Readers interested in similar work can study the metadata behind award-winning frames to inform their own technique.
Further reading
Explore more photography coverage on Wisevoter for context on competitions like this one.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Digital Camera World.
