Walla Walla Balloon Stampeed

[mjordan]

I went to the Walla Walla, WA Balloon Stampeed that was held this weekend with about 20 balloons particapating. Sat was about the only time they got to launch because of rain. It was still interesting as this was my first time making it to a mass launching like this. The pilots were real friendly and glad to answer any questions. The only down side was people would crowd around the balloons and it was hard to get pictures sometimes. But still fun.

Here is one of the balloons being heated up in prepreation to standing it up before launch:

http://www.sitnprettyphoto.com/display/balloon6796.jpg


Here are several of the 20 some balloons before they launched (this is actually a 4 image shot):

http://www.sitnprettyphoto.com/display/balloons6873x4sm.jpg

Here was one going over head. The effect of the outside of the balloon being faded while the inside was bright was interesting:

http://www.sitnprettyphoto.com/display/balloon6912.jpg

We have to more balloon fests in Oregon, one in Tigard and one in Bend during June. I hope to make both of them.

Camera was 10D, 24-70 2.8L ISO 200 1/50th at f8.

Mike

[rulon69]

Cool pics I really like #3.

[pwen watkin]

Great Photos

[PhotosGuy]

That's a nice series of shots.

[mjordan]

Thanks Pwen and Frank. I didn't make it to the Walla Walla Balloon fest this year but I did make it to the Balloons over Bend in Centeral Oregon. They put on a pretty good show there, leaving about a third of the balloons tethered at the high school for people to ride up and down in and look over while the other 2/3rds are launched from upwind and come floating back a few hours later. Most places almost all but one or two balloons take off and go somewhere else to land. So this was very well thought out and well done with about 40 or so balloons.

One of these days I keep wanting to take a long balloon ride and get pictures during the trip. I've been up in them but the balloon has always been tethered.

Thanks again.

Mike