HOT Air Ballons over North Carolina

[Flashstan]

My wife has been asking for pictures of hot air balloons to hang in her office at work. We took a family trip to Statesville, NC for the 35 annual Carolina Balloon Fest.

It was a fun trip for all of us and we all would like to go again.
After the Balloon Fest we went west to the mountains for the fall foliage

Here is the web address for anyone interested for next year http://carolinaballoonfest.com/index.html.

Here are a few images of the event on Saturday. Hope you enjoy


Heavy on the editing
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3199/2983280562_d61faf5422_b.jpg

Night Glow
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3218/2983297488_ef02d7e740_b.jpg

Getting ready
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3279/2982435677_30207d9a84_b.jpg

Lots of people
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3008/2983289320_68685b21a2_b.jpg

The pilot of this balloon is the only person to pilot in all 35 of the events. He was the lead off balloon to start the event.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2091/2983278854_e4d5d3cb5d_b.jpg

My fav. balloon
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3137/2982429503_d68c249cf7_b.jpg

Up and away
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3229/2983294376_36025d6444_b.jpg

It was really hot with a 50mm
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3163/2982442313_bfb4c49685_b.jpg

[tomd]

WOW, very nice shots. Very sharp.
I just love these.
Tom

[Jamie Holladay]

I really like the first two.

[stathunter]

Nice work.

[RadAL]

i like them all.

[fishingjts]

Wow! Great shots!

[ruaslacker2]

Excellent shots...

[PhotosGuy]

Pretty ones!

[S.Horton]

#2 is my fav; nice series!

[Vulcan58]

Superb colours.

[Woolburr]

One of these days I am going to remember to get over for this. Great shots.

[Sp00ks]

One of these days I am going to remember to get over for this. Great shots.

Yeah me too.....

The first two are my favorites.

[Flashstan]

Thanks everyone for you comments.

This is a very enjoyable event. The only negative is getting in and out of the parking area takes some time so get there early. Also claim your spot early for the night glow, must have been close to 100 SLRs all pointing in the same direction.

[RogerAylstock]

Nice shots. I have a few from the Reno Hot Air Baloon races. They are fun events!

[RS500]

Great shots!

[Rollout]

love 1 and 3!!

[Lawrencemull]

Really great shots. Love the colors.
Law

[canonloader]

Very cool series. At least they aren't holding it near power lines, like the one in Albuquerque. I use to live right across the highway from that one and was there the year one hit the lines and cut the gondola loose. What a fiasco.

[ieatstars]

Wow the 2nd one is gorgeous!! :) Beautiful light and colors.

[MrVegas]

Awesome i love the colors and definition

[T.D.]

Nice series! I love the perspective on the night glow shots. I wish we had an area to get a little elevated at ours.