A Few Days in Albuquerque for the Balloon Fiesta

I flew into New Mexico in early October of 2018. The first thing I noticed was the light. The sunsets that first evening were incredible, casting a warm orange and pink glow over the adobe-style buildings and the mountains on the horizon. The air was clear and the landscape felt vast.

The reason for the trip was the annual hot air balloon festival. I had seen photos, but it's different in person. One morning, the sky was just completely filled with them. Hundreds of balloons ascending against the clouds over the high desert landscape. Some were just dots in the distance, while others were unique shapes and bright colors.

Most of my pictures of the main event were taken from the car. We were driving along the highway, and the sky was just a constant spectacle. You'd see them rise over the treeline and then drift across the open space. It was a strange and impressive sight, seeing all that color and activity hanging silently in the sky while normal highway traffic moved below.