Places Showcase ⇒ Balloon Glow

[Matt Quinn]

fire up happiness
warmth glowing on the inside
heavy becomes light

I agree Chuck. Matt

[St3v3M]

Last night, my wife and I visited the Preakness Hot Air Balloon Festival at the Howard County Fairgrounds in MD, about half an hour away from our home. They have rides during the day, but in the evening, the balloons are illuminated randomly after sunset. Toward the end of the evening, around 8:30-8:45, the MC takes the mic and has the crowd count down from 10. At 0, all the balloons are lit up; some flicker, some flash, some hold a flame for a few seconds. I didn't know the routine, so I was too close to get a panorama. Some friends in our neighborhood plan to go tonight so I alerted them to the strategy of getting on the far side of the field, where I took the first photo, facing west to get the razzle when they dazzle. They promised to send me some examples.

Here are some of mine that I took with my aging, reliable Sony Cybershot, using the camera preset for night photos.

Matt

I've always wanted to visit one of these, I especially love the forth! S-

[Matt Quinn]

Thanks, Steve. I couldn't move around much with my instability, the uneven ground and my tripod. I had wanted to get closer to some of the people working the gas jets, but the bride wisely held me. With my risky behavior, I would have tripped, fallen into a basket, and tripped the anchor rope. Around the world in eighty daze. Matt

[St3v3M]

Thanks, Steve. I couldn't move around much with my instability, the uneven ground and my tripod. I had wanted to get closer to some of the people working the gas jets, but the bride wisely held me. With my risky behavior, I would have tripped, fallen into a basket, and tripped the anchor rope. Around the world in eighty daze. Matt

Eighty daze! laf