Dawn Patrol #4

One of the most fun things about attending the Albuquerque Internal Balloon Fiesta (in early October each year) is the opportunity to walk amongst hundreds of hot-air balloons as they are being inflated and as they rise into the early-morning air. Particularly wonderful is, if one is there early enough, the "Dawn Patrol" balloons prepare for a pre-daylight lift-off. These first-to-go balloons report back on weather conditions, winds, etc. to maximize safety for the hundreds of balloons that shortly follow. As the Dawn-Patrol balloons are inflating and lifting off, their fire-lit color is gobsmacking against the still-dark sky and presented a challenge for capturing the gradients of light emanating from each balloon in various stages of lift-off and flight.