After my parents retired they volunteered at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta for a number of years. Three years in a row I went down and spent a few days watching as these beautiful craft took to the skies.
If you ever get a chance to go, I would highly recommend it. It is held the first full week of October each year so it is coming up soon.
The main image below was taken in 2004 as the balloonists readied for the mass ascension. Scroll down to view some of the images I took the times I attended the event.
Balloons light up the pre-dawn sky
Mass ascension
Light it up! "The Crew Balloon" prepares for flight
Mass ascension
In the air with "The Crew Balloon"
In the air with "The Crew Balloon"
In the air with "The Crew Balloon"
The massive RV parking area at the Balloon Fiesta
In the air with "The Crew Balloon"
In the air with "The Crew Balloon"
The Crew Balloon
The Crew Balloon and a few others
Mass ascension
Mass ascension
Smokey
Freedom Flight IV
Spirit of Colorado
Norman
Freedom Flight V
Freedom Flight V
Spirit of Colorado
Mass ascension
Patriotic balloon
Mass ascension
Little Bee Lilly and Little Bee Joey
The Energizer Bunny
Hot air balloon from below
Balloons over the RV park
Sarah the Witch flies over a cemetery
Off the Wall
The Eagle Balloon
The Eagle Balloon
Sea Fantasy
Airabelle, The Flying Cow
Little Bee Lilly and Little Bee Joey
America One
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