A little behind, because Day 8 had three sessions when you include the Music Fiesta.
Morning session
Instead of taking photos of the dawn patrol, morning glow, or the mass ascension, we walked up and down the midway area with the artisans, vendors, and crowds. These photos are my from my iPhone XS Max, and a glimpse of what it is like to be at the Balloon Fiesta and not on the launch field.
A photo of the mass ascension from about midfield.It was incredibly hard to get a photo of this sign from the front with the steady stream of people standing in front of it getting their photo.One of the main gates with porta potties on either side. This is a pretty short line!In the 7-Eleven Balloon Discovery Center, this was a banner copy of the official pilot map.In the 7-Eleven Balloon Discovery Center, they showed how the basket/gondola is weaved.They had several of these signs where you could get your photo and say, “I was here!” 🙂The New Mexico Quilt Association had a quilt raffle for this amazing quilt. They announced the winner at 9 a.m. on the last day. Yes, I bought raffle tickets.NASA had a discovery area as well – and it was cool to see all the aviation related items.The mariachi band was amazing.We saw the trailer for Justin Moore, and knew we better get a photo before the Music Fiesta, when it would be impossible.
Music Fiesta
Once again, despite having a media pass, we were told we could not take any photos with our DSLR. This was despite the fact that up until we sat in our seats, all the volunteers at every gate/ticket check (3 of them, before we got to our seats) said there was no problem with taking photos, even with our professional equipment.
Here are a couple of the good ones I took before the ban, of Cassadee Pope, the country act before Justin Moore.
Cassadee Pope on stage.Cassadee Pope on stage, #2.Cassadee Pope on stage, singing with one of her band.
Bob talked to the “gatekeeper” at the last checkpoint before our seats, and he said it was fine to get photos from his vantage point (at the entrance to the Reserved Seats section). Here are a couple photos of Justin Moore from that viewpoint.
Justin Moore on stage.Justin Moore on stage, #2. This was his last song before the encore song.
Night Magic Glow
It was the last evening glow of the Balloon Fiesta, so we made sure we were down on the launch field. My friend Ken Sklute had his Fractals balloon there for the glow, so I made sure to get some photos. I arrived at his balloon just as he was standing up the balloon – just in time!
Heating up the air before the balloon is stood up.Midway through the stand up effort, pilot in the basket.Colorful balloon interior, from the angle of the basket.Colorful balloon interior, from the angle of the basket, with the propane torch going.Some of the balloons in the midfield.Aiming the propane torch.Glowing the Fractals balloon.Glowing around the midfield.Glowing around the midfield, #2.Glowing around the midfield, #3.The Fractals balloon glowing in full length.The Fractals balloon with the sunset behind it.
