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| Once again I journey to the Great Reno Balloon Race, circa
2002. It does not start off well: the first day is filled with
clouds that should provide excellent pictures but the rain they bring
cancels the event with only one balloon getting inflated (first shot
above)
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| I return the next day disheartened, as there will be clear
blue skies, the bane of balloon images (see story from last year
here). But the lighting parade is nice, and dawn patrol does not
disappoint, foreshadowing just how wonderful the day will turn out after
all. |
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| I end up with shots that truly show it is a dawn patrol
after all. |
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| As usual the inflation of the balloons provide some of the
best color and most interesting shots. |
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| Little did I know this particular balloon would end up being
significant. |
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| My strategy for the rest of the day is clear: I'll put my
polarizer on (and mostly on the wide angle lens) and at least get some
nice dark blue skies (rather than the usual insipid early morning Easter
egg blue ones). |
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| I'm beckoned over by a gal who tells me to get shots of the
first ignition. They look great but still don't prepare me for the next
shock. |
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| As the balloon inflates, she asks if I'd like to go
up. "Sure," I say, sure this is some kind of joke.
Once she has me sign a release form I realize it might be for real. |
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| A few minutes later I'm looking up from inside the basket of
the balloon, and another minute later we're up in the air! |
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| Nothing in my years of being at the Races prepared me for
how wonderful it was to go up. The view is truly quite different
from what I had been used to on the ground |
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| Having my wide angle lens on turned out to be the best
bet. Unfortunately, most of the rest of the balloons faced the sun
away from us. But I was still in heaven! |
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| I'll probably never get the chance to go up again, but once
was well worth it. If I ever did, I'd change lenses at least once or
twice during the trip. |
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| We touch down and many thanks to the Vets Center. I
only wish I could have gotten the name of the lovely lady who invited me
on the trip. And I've somehow missed one of the names of my fellow
riders. But those I do remember were Helena, Susan and Mike, our
pilot. |
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| Normally the yellow/orange/red balloon has always been my
favorite, and I got some nice shots of it this time. But I think the
Reno Veteran's Center balloon will now always find a special place in my
heart. |
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| Lessons Learned: |
Carpe Diem. What else can I say? The luck of
being given this opportunity to go up (by a wonderful lady who will always
remain nameless to me) made more than just my day, week or month. It
will be a priceless memory of what I enjoy the most. Flying in the
balloon was my adventure this year, and it will stay in my heart for years
to come. |
Great Reno Balloon
Race 2002