The Red Bull Image Quest 2010, the world’s biggest action and adventure sports photography competition, has announced its winner at a ceremony in Dublin.

The number one photograph, taken by Chris Burkard, shows surfer Peter Mendria riding crashing waves on his board, set against a backdrop of Chile’s stunning West Coast.

(We'd love to include the image here but due to possible copyright issues - you'll have to check it out on the Red Bull Photo competition site. It's well worth it.)

The winning image was selected from 22,764 entries by nearly 5,000 photographers from all over the world. An exhibition of the top 50 entries was also on display in Dublin, displayed on two-metre high light boxes. Fifty-three judges from picture desks across the world voted over three rounds to determine ten category winners as well as the Overall Winner.

Chris Burkard, 24, said, “I’m overjoyed, it’s hard to put into words being able to be nominated and to win this award on front of all your peers and people I respect. I’m truly blessed.”

Red Bull Illume judge Alan Sparrow said, “The pictures were fantastic, every one of them was a difficult choice: it was hard to make a decision between the ones that won and the ones that didn’t. The defining line between them was really close,” he added.

Burkard won a £25,000 Leica S2 camera and lenses for his efforts. “I would never have imagined owning a camera like this. It’s worth more than the house I live in!” he said.

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