Hot Air Balloons

[Scottwdw]

The annual balloon festival was held last weekend. Perfect weather and lots of balloons makes for a happy photographer. :mrgreen:

http://scottwdw.smugmug.com/photos/161968568-M-1.jpg

http://scottwdw.smugmug.com/photos/161973744-M-1.jpg http://scottwdw.smugmug.com/photos/161979267-M-1.jpg

[BetsyAnn]

Wonderful Scott - thanks for sharing the pictures. You ever ridden in a hot air balloon?

[Scottwdw]

Wonderful Scott - thanks for sharing the pictures. You ever ridden in a hot air balloon?

You're most welcome.

No, I haven't had the pleasure. I am thinking I will next year so I can get pictures from the air. I think that would be trés cool!

[FLSharon]

Thanks for the pictures ...this is sooo pretty! I'd love to try this!!

ps..I had to see where you're from... i thought maybe this was New Mex.

[MissBianca]

Great photos!

And guess what--I've ridden in a hot air balloon! It was wonderful--noisy when the fan/flame runs but otherwise so silent just driiiifffting along. I totally recommend it to anyone.

There was a balloon festival while we lived in Kent WA and one morning we woke up to the sound of the balloons--some of which were landing in our condo's back yard area and others were skimming along looking for a landing spot. Balloon festivals are awesome :yes:

[Robin]

Those are great shots.

Somewhere packed away I have slides I took in Philly years ago when they had hot air balloons taking off near the art museum. They are colorful and beautiful to watch.

[Scottwdw]

Thanks for the pictures ...this is sooo pretty! I'd love to try this!!

ps..I had to see where you're from... i thought maybe this was New Mex.

You're welcome. This festival is held just east of Syracuse, NY. It's called the Coors Light Balloonfest. There's great food and entertainment to enjoy along with the morning and evening balloon launches.

[BetsyAnn]

You're most welcome.

No, I haven't had the pleasure. I am thinking I will next year so I can get pictures from the air. I think that would be trés cool!


I was thinking that pictures from the air of the hot balloon in the air and on the ground would be fantastic

[FLSharon]

And guess what--I've ridden in a hot air balloon! It was wonderful--noisy when the fan/flame runs but otherwise so silent just driiiifffting along. I totally recommend it to anyone.

There was a balloon festival while we lived in Kent WA and one morning we woke up to the sound of the balloons--some of which were landing in our condo's back yard area and others were skimming along looking for a landing spot. Balloon festivals are awesome :yes:

landing in your backyard?????planned or did they go off course somewhat??? I've heard that landing is real tricky sometimes.. :confused:

[Carrie]

Those are great pictures! Very vivid colors.

I rode in a hot air balloon once and it was the most thrilling thing I've ever done. I'd do it again if I had the chance.

[DebWills]

Scott, These are awesome photos!!!!

Gotta love those picture perfect blue skies.

Deb

[Big Red]

Wonderful Scott - thanks for sharing the pictures. You ever ridden in a hot air balloon?

I have never ridden in a hot air balloon (but i did stay in a holiday inn express last night) (just kidding) but the first time we went to the Soleburg-Hunterdon Airport Annual Balloon Festival here in Jersey we were picked to be part of the chase team for one of the balloons. Basically we rode in the balloon owners van with his wife and son and tried to keep an eye on the balloon so we could be there when he landed. Then we got to help fold up the balloon and put it back in the van. This part was not fun seeing how it was August and about 95 degrees outside.

We did get this nice picture of DD, DH (WDWNJ) and myself in the basket and a picture of the balloon in flight. Not as beautiful as your's Scott. We had sort of a hazy day.

http://tagrel.com/photopost/data/500/IM000541.JPG

http://tagrel.com/photopost/data/500/IM000544.JPG

[MissBianca]

landing in your backyard?????planned or did they go off course somewhat??? I've heard that landing is real tricky sometimes.. :confused:

Yeah, you can never predict exactly where they'll land because the wind can change and is different at different altitudes. They only have "up and down" controls--nothing for left or right except picking the altitude where the wind is going where you want to go.

I think they must have taken off in iffy conditions because we were on top of a big hill to the east of the launch site. They no doubt planned to go north or south in the broad valley which would follow the prevailing winds.

The "backyard" was a large treeless common area surrounded by the townhouse units. It was a prime spot because of the size and the flat mowed grass. Better there than the blackberry bushes and cow pastures to the east of us. I believe we counted 13 balloons right there!

The landing was absolutely perfect on the flight we took. Just kissed the ground and landed in a big soccer field area. No jarring at all. Even the pilot was pleased.

One more note for photographers--the Kent festival had a "balloon glow" which was held in the twilight. It was even more beautiful than balloons in the blue sky. Basically they inflated the balloons without taking off--and the flame units created enough light for the inflating balloons to glow. Picture the world's largest most colorful lampshades.

[Scottwdw]

The festival here does the "glow" as well. I'll have to put it on my "to-take" list for next year. :)

[FLSharon]

Wow!! That Balloon Glow must be a site to behold!! We have no balloon festivals of any kind around here... :(

[dinkybean758]

Scott, These are awesome photos!!!!

Gotta love those picture perfect blue skies.

Deb

Well said Deb!! I can't agree with you more, :D Scott, these are great photos!! Thanks for sharing!!

[Barrie]

Great photos Scott! I LOVE hot air balloons. When I was younger I wanted to be a pilot but found out that it's a pretty spendy hobby. For my birthday once I got to go on a balloon ride. It was so fun, one of my favorite memories.

The landing was kind of exciting. The pilot couldn't find a good place to land and finally ended up coming down in a corn field. The corn made it so we couldn't get the gondola out without destroying a bunch of the corn so we had to go back up and find somewhere else to land. The unfortunate thing was that by then we were low on fuel and had to jump some nearby telephone wires so everyone except me and my friend had to get out there. He needed a couple of people to help him with the second landing. Getting the balloon to rise above the wires was kind of scary. Then when we landed the second time, my friend and I had to jump out and try to hold down the balloon while it was getting deflated. Those things are heavy. This one had a very big gondola too. We got dragged around a fair bit. But still - it was one of the funnest things I have ever done.

We have a balloon fest here in Portland this month and they have a glow too. I've never made it because it's way out in the suburbs but this thread has me wanting to go. Maybe I'll make it this year.

[Scottwdw]

Thanks, Masayo & Deb! I had a lot of fun taking them. Lots of action once the balloons started to get inflated with multiple launches happening all around me.

Barrie, you should make the time if the weather is good for flying or to capture the glow event. Do a Goggle search on 'balloon glow'. The photos look amazing!

[Barrie]

Darn - I just looked at the schedule and it doesn't look like they are doing it this year. :(

[Frogman]

We did get this nice picture of DD, DH (WDWNJ) and myself in the basket and a picture of the balloon in flight. Not as beautiful as your's Scott. We had sort of a hazy day.

You never say it was hazy. You lie and tell everyone it was blue skies all day long. How else can you make family and friends jealous? If you have to you even fake evidence. ;)

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g67/Frogman1983/Clouds2.jpg

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g67/Frogman1983/Clouds.jpg

[Big Red]

You never say it was hazy. You lie and tell everyone it was blue skies all day long. How else can you make family and friends jealous? If you have to you even fake evidence. ;)

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g67/Frogman1983/Clouds2.jpg


http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g67/Frogman1983/Clouds.jpg


Hey Frogman looks like I had a much better fishing trip I mean ballon experience.:winking:

Thanks

[Jennifer]

Just found this. If you want to see Hot Air Balloons I would like to invite all of you to Albuquerque, New Mexico for the first 2 weeks of October. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta brings balloons from all over the world. If the weather co-operates we can have up to 800 balloons in the sky at one time. (I will have to look through my pictures to give you an idea)

The Balloon Glow is a favorite event, as is the Special Shapes Rodeo and the Glow-deo (Special Shapes Glow)

Check out http://gallery.balloonfiesta.com/main.php?g2_itemId=11831 for an idea on what 800 balloons might look like. :)