Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Festival

[larryj]

A few shots made at the hot air balloon festival held in Albuquerque the first weekend in October each year. We spent 2 days at the festival and were treated to a great feast of color and interesting balloon designs. THe sheer number of balloons going up into the air was mind boggling!

Funny Balloon

My favorite balloon at the festival!

 

[DES]

It's a great event, and you have some really good photos that capture the spectacle!

 

[AlanLichty]

Wow - quite the variety of colors and patterns on these balloons. It would be hard to compose a shot with an array of distractions like this.

 

[larryj]

It's a great event, and you have some really good photos that capture the spectacle!

Thanks DES for the nice comments, appreciated!
I was out in the takeoff field and the balloons were going up 360 degrees all around me, I almost got dizzy turning and shooting. The colors were outstanding and the balloons were popping up like colorful mushrooms!

 

[larryj]

Wow - quite the variety of colors and patterns on these balloons. It would be hard to compose a shot with an array of distractions like this.

Thanks Alan it was like nothing I have ever experienced before. After 2 days of shooting I was worn out and my senses swamped with all the shapes and colors.

 

[JimFox]

Love the cow one! That is so unique. I really like your images.

I have got to get there some year. My son lives near Santa Fe, so it's not that far away. My problem is the timing, that it hits when the Upper midwest of Minnesota, Michigan, etc get their fall colors. So I always choose the fall colors over the balloons.

 

[larryj]

Love the cow one! That is so unique. I really like your images.

I have got to get there some year. My son lives near Santa Fe, so it's not that far away. My problem is the timing, that it hits when the Upper midwest of Minnesota, Michigan, etc get their fall colors. So I always choose the fall colors over the balloons.

Thanks for the comments Jim, they are very much appreciated!
The Balloon festival only last 2 days over the first weekend in October, and missing a few days of fall colors to capture the balloon colors and characters displayed is well worth the time. I have been to a few small balloon festivals in Colorado and they were pale by comparison to the Albuquerque Festival! It is are real 'Bucket List' event!