(c) 2010 Brian E. Miller Photography
Today is the 12th in my series of inspirational people or works of art that inspire me. As I thought about my subject today I had a lot of ideas, but realized I didn’t have enough time to really do them justice; it’s been a busy weekend and so I need to get this post up quickly. Then I realized I was quite motivated these days to create art due to an event happening in my hometown: the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
Each year, beginning the first Saturday in October and ending 9 days later, hundreds of hot air balloon crews and millions of tourists descend on Albuquerque, New Mexico to take part in this colorful and spectacular event. There are mass ascensions each morning with hundreds of balloons taking to the skies above the high desert landscape and each evening the Rio Grande Valley is illuminated with “balloon glows”: coordinated lighting of the balloons by their pilots and powerful propane powered burners. You can imagine the photo-ops.
Indeed, the dollar value of camera equipment on the take-off lawn is stunning. I had lens envy and I was only there for about 2 hours the other day. Unfortunately the storm blowing in from the north was strong and only a few balloons even inflated. Still, the opportunities for some fun images did presented themselves and the excitement was palpable; this is what I find inspiring about he balloon fiesta. Everywhere one looks as the sun rises and the balloons take flight is a perfect photo opportunity and I am often highly motivate to go make some images each year. I do hope to get back down to the field again this year and witness an ascension. In the meantime you can check out some images here.