46th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Wrap-up, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

Recently I published a series of posts about the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (at this link). The final summary numbers and facts from the event are now in and included below. I have also re-published some of my favorite images from the event. Enjoy! (Click on an image to view a higher resolution version if your device supports that action).



Event Theme: Inflate your Imagination



Final Numbers: Following are the official numbers for the 46th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta held October 7-15, 2017.

Total number of registered regular shape balloons: 571

Total number of registered special shape balloons: 93

Total number of registered gas balloons: 8

Total number of registered primary pilots: 557

Total number of estimated spectator visits: 887,970*

Total number of media organizations: 216

Total number of registered media representatives: 978



Total numbers of countries represented (21): Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Russia, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom and United States.



Event Sessions: Weather was mostly agreeable, with 12 of the 14 ballooning events taking place. Due to poor weather conditions, the evening session on Oct. 14 was cancelled, as was the Farewell Mass Ascension on the morning of Oct. 15.



Balloon Competition Winners: The first prize in the hot air overall competition was awarded to Maurice Petrehn, of Kansas. Second overall highest ranking score went to Nick Donner of Kentucky and third to Rhett Heartsill of Texas.



Switzerland’s Nicolas Tièche and Laurent Sciboz won the 22nd America’s Challenge, establishing a new distance record for the gas balloon race.



























Additional information about the 2017 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta can be found at www.balloonfiesta.com.

The 2018 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta will be held October 6 -14. Mark your calendar now and plan to attend this fantastic event!

A Walk in the Foothills, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

I recently published a series on the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta at this link.  If you are not interested in ballooning, there is plenty to do otherwise - like take a hike in the nearby foothills of the Sandia mountains. There are numerous public conservation and parklands to enjoy. This view is looking westward across the Rio Grande valley. (Panorama - click to view full width if your device supports that action).



The conical hill is "U-mound," located where Copper Avenue NE dead-ends into the foothills. There is dedicated parking there for maybe a half dozen or so cars at the trailhead. The vertical climb to the top is about 330 feet increase in elevation.



Not just people on the trails either.











The cactus is a reminder that I am far, far, far away from my home in the verdant northeastern State of Massachusetts.

46th Annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Part 6 of 6 - Evening Glow, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

For nine days in early October, the beyond spectacular event known as the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta unfolds in the mile-high city of Albuquerque, New Mexico in the southwestern United States. As many as 500+ balloons may participate daily at the Fiesta. It is the largest balloon gathering in the world and unimaginable in its size and scope.

The above image illustrates the evening glow event. On many nights of the nine-day Fiesta, the balloons remain tethered to the ground and demonstrate coordinated illuminations wherein each pilot fires his/her burners simultaneously. And what a sound that creates, hundreds of roaring fires of flaming gas - like giant blowtorches, lighting up the colorful, towering nylon envelopes. These are truly amazing moments.

This blog post is Part 6, my final post, of a multi-part series about my recent experience at the Balloon Fiesta and covers the last part of the evening glow event. Part 1 covered the pre-dawn activity. Part 2 covered the dawn activity. Part 3 covered the daytime morning activity. Part 4 covered some of the special shape balloons that participated in the event. Part 5 covered the first part of the evening glow event. Links to each post are provided at the bottom of this post.

(Click on an image to view a higher resolution version if your device supports that action).























The sun is gone, the sky is dark, the stars are twinkling - it's time to deflate and get ready for the laser show and fireworks which follow.



As the last few balloons deflate, the laser show begins, and I slowly walk toward the exit taking mental stock of what a grand and inspired experience and place this event has been.

The stated purpose in the masthead of this blog is that it is about " beautiful and/or interesting sights in our world." The 46th Annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta certainly met that goal and more by demonstrating beauty, grace, drama, and eloquence - these huge droplet shaped dreams floating along on the breeze or tethered in place - simply stunning -  the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta was bigger, better, and more beautiful than I could imagine in a setting of natural grandeur in the American Southwest - the storied land of open spaces, warmth and sunshine, cowboys and Native Americans, cactus and canyons.

Definitely a "bucket list" life event.

The sheer scale of this event - spread out over 78 bustling acres with hundreds of 70+ feet tall balloons changing colors as blasts of fiery air briefly illuminate them from within like exploding super novas all against the backdrop of a 10,000-foot mountain range. (See my first post on the pre-dawn images). The Fiesta provided wonderful views of natural beauty and man-made beauty all in the context of great drama!

Note to photographers: all my images in these six blog posts were made with a Sony RX100M2 point and shoot camera.  Imagine what a full-frame, tripod mounted, HDR-enabled, top quality glass camera would/could have created. You should come next year and see if you are up to the photographic challenge to surpass this point-and-shooter's results!

Links to my other blogs on this event:

Post 1 - Pre-dawn
Post 2 - Dawn
Post 3 - Daytime
Post 4 - Special Shapes
Post 5 - Evening Glow

46th Annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Part 5 of 6 - Evening Glow, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

For nine days in early October, the spectacular event known as the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta unfolds in the mile-high city of Albuquerque, New Mexico in the southwestern United States. As many as 500+ balloons may participate daily at the Fiesta. It is the largest balloon gathering in the world.

This image illustrates the evening glow event. On many nights of the nine-day Fiesta, the balloons remain on the ground and demonstrate coordinated illuminations wherein each pilot fires his/her burners simultaneously. It is quite a visual and auditory spectacle and very well attended!

This blog post is Part 5 of a multi-part series about my recent experience at the Fiesta and covers the first part of the evening glow event. Part 1 covered the pre-dawn activity. Part 2 covered the dawn activity. Part 3 covered the daytime morning activity. Part 4 covered some of the special shape balloons that participated in the event.

(Click on an image to view a higher resolution version if your device supports that action).



The crowd begins gathering in the late afternoon light at Fiesta Park. The 10,000 feet high Sandia mountains at right tower over the valley. (Panorama, click to view full width).



After the sun has set, the balloons are unfurled on the ground and the inflation process begins.



A quick blast of flame to check the burners are functioning properly.



The balloon and basket are lying on their sides and inflation is underway. A cooperative pilot poses for a budding young photographer.



A warming blast of flame heats the air inside the envelope and raises the balloon off the ground into a vertical position.



They are incredibly beautiful against the darkening sky with their colorful and ethereal glow.



Getting the timing right when multiple balloons were igniting without over-exposing the image was often elusive to me.



Imagine the sound that accompanies this blast of flaming fuel.











This is almost the same as the previous image except a different balloon is illuminating.



I count twenty simultaneous lightings including the small distant ones.



I can still imagine hearing the thunderous roar of the burners during the coordinated glow, all firing simultaneously.  It is a thrilling moment to be here for this show!

Only one more blog post about this event - stay tuned soon!

46th Annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Part 4 of 6 - Special Shapes, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

For nine days in early October, the spectacular event known as the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta unfolds in the mile-high city of Albuquerque, New Mexico in the southwestern United States. As many as 500 balloons may participate in this ritual every morning at the Fiesta. It is the largest balloon gathering in the world.

This blog post is Part 4 of a multi-part series about my recent experience there and covers some of the special shape balloons that participated in the event. Part 1 covered the pre-dawn activity. Part 2 covered the dawn activity. Part 3 covered the daytime morning activity.

While I certainly didn't photograph anywhere near the 100 special shapes at this year's Fiesta, here are a few I did see and enjoy - starting with the Star Wars character, "Yoda," shown in the above image.

(Click on an image to view a higher resolution version if your device supports that action).



Since Yoda is here, Darth Vader isn't far behind.



























It is fascinating what the creative minds of balloon designers can come up with.

Check back in soon - I have two more blog posts covering the evening glow yet to be published - and they have some great images!