This was a "hidden gem" taken at the same time as my ribbon winner from the "Celebration" challenge. It was only after quite a bit of effort that the underlying beauty of the image appeared. This was a misty morning during the 2005 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and I took the shot from a hill in Rio Rancho, NM where I live as the balloons drifted northward along the Rio Grande River in the bosque (river forest).
I had never had tingles from looking at any image that I can recall until 1min ago.This is a once in a lifetime capture,which is why it is most favourited by a mile!congrats
I wouldn't be surprised if this photograph hangs on a wall adorned with peerless masterpieces like itself, 50 years from now, being gawked at by the spiritual children of today's most passionate photographers.
somehow browsing brought me back to this image, which I loved when I first saw it, and now like even more b/c you didn't PS the hell out of it!
Nicely done!
Wow, I see why this is the top favorite pic on the site... This is just fantastic. I love the bird silhouette as well, adds a new contrast between the definitions of flight. Or the boundries of it, rather.
Well, better late than never. A friend gave me a copy of January's Pop Photo!! Congratulations... it is one of my favorite shots. (In fact, I'll mark it as a favorite!!)
I had the Popular Photography and I chanced upon this picture -- I said to myself... Hmmmm, this looks familiar. Now I know where I first saw it. This is way beyond words! :)
Just. Simply. Amazing. Photographs like this make me think that all the crappy shots I take while I am learning are worth it bc someday I might be good enough to get a shot like this. What editing software do you use?
Love photos like these with aerial perspectives/ multiple layers. Strange that the baloons are at one depth laterally (following the river I suppose) Great Photo. Must have been fun to be there and see them pass. Beautiful and awesome.
I keep coming back to this one, as do others, the views since voting count is amazing! It has only been up since Jan - 2006, and it is the second most viewed picture on this site (dont know if you knew that)! Good job pulling out the beauty in this one, I would not have seen it in the original file, you have a marvelous eye.
Wow, 1 out of 829!! I had this pegged as a winner when I saw it, but didn't have a chance to vote. I love the mistiness and the outlines of the trees, that is what made it special in my eyes.
Wonderfull picture. It really brings back memories of my childhood. I used to live in Albuquerque and got up a few years at somewhere near 2-3am to go work at the Balloon Fiesta. Although I recognized the balloons, the trees just look amazaing and almost mystical.
Great framing and exposure, those early morning shots are hard to get, but when you do they are great!
CONGRATULATIONS..... You so, so, deserved the "BLUE"..... I have already added this wonderful, brillant, super-shot to my favorites, and I think it would have to be one of the best shots I have ever seen on DPC..... Thank you for your talent, your vision, and your wonderful photo.....
I must say, the first time I saw this photo, it was hard to believe it was a real single shot picture. Congrats on the Blue. It was well deseerved. Congrats.
Thanks for making this photo live up to its potential! I like the slight haze in the sky, preserved by you. the colors still come through nicely, too. The textures and composition are just fabulous. Really well done for sure!
Congratulations on your beautiful, beautiful picture. It really deserves to the very best of 2005!! What an honor, you must be so happy. I hope the wonderful glow you must feel will stay with you all year and bring you lots of luck for many more fabulous shots.
Bill, well deserved win. It is a great shot, in my workshop photo I just wanted to show you a different looks on things, I had no doubt that you made a great photograph.
apart from the early morning mist and light...what appeals to me in this pic is the depth...it's one of those pics you can just keep looking at...gives one an amazing feeling of openess and freedom...i would give anything to be in one of those balloons!!...well done!
Really wonderful. I has reminded me this other outstanding pic:
//www.pbase.com/clyne/image/54341656 A bit tilted horizon to change something
Congratulations !
I remember when I was about 6 years old. Lived out in Rio Rancho (Avenida La Baranca (sp?)) and watching the ballonns. My Dad owned a Texaco station near and raced cars also, so he was in real good with the GoodYear guys. I got to ride in their balloon. I remember watching the balloons for hours on end.
Last time I was down there in 2004 during the Balloonfest to see my Dad in Hospice. We went outside and watched the balloons floating by. He passed away in November of 2004 (a month later) at 62. Great memory to relive with him one last time.
Return for comment. This is so beautiful! What an incredible scene and capture. I think it's almost perfect. The one change I'd like to see is slightly more contrast or saturation in the sky area, to bring out the balloons a little more. Just enough to make them sing without losing the lovely depth and layering you've achieved here. Good luck in the challenge--into my favs!
This is my top pick for blue, great shot! I like this even better than your yellow ribbon a few months ago, better contrast, better balance between foreground and background. And the balloons appear to be luminescent here, wonderful!
For the first time in a long time, I have seen a photograph that literally took my breath away. My breathing pattern changed as soon as I saw this. This may be one of the best pics Ive seen... period
Beautiful photo, love the layers in the trees and ballons, as well as the colors. the bird IMO distracts a little but thats just if im being picky lol... good luck ;) 9
Great tonal range. Really majestic lighting. You know the bird made me go "wow" at first but I really think i distracts me the more I look at it. A beautiful image all the same.
Wow, to be in one of these balloons,would be just amazing, looking down on that magic scenery below. This is just so special. Just one of those magic moments, one only finds once in a lifetime..... The mist in the trees give it such a magical feel. I also love how one, two, three, four, five and half balloons, are partically covered with misty trees, WOW, thats something so special..... I think you are amazing, and hope you do well in this challenge.
The bird is either really distracting or an excellent touch. I'm leaning towards the former because the photo is great without it and it draws my eyes away from the wonderful balloons.
Wonderful coloration/composition; very soft and peaceful. With bird in the forground could have been called "modes of flight"/ Amazing how the mist and trees seem to mirror the clouds and sky.
I thought the thumbnail was pretty good but upon opening the image & seeing that bird in the foreground, I have to say that really makes the shot excellant to me.
You have captured the morning light so perfectly here, I am stunned. The baloons are fine and do no harm. The sky is fine and does no harm. But the reality is that they are simply context for the bottom 2/3 of the image which is superb. Well done. Among my top picks.
An even better version of a previous ribbon winning shot. This one improves upon the last with the inclusion of the bird in flight and the wider landscape orientation. A very serene and pleasing image!
Wow! Where was this taken? Your colors are a little flat. I wish you could make them pop more in the balloons while still maintaining the foggy landscape!
TC
Great shot. The fog with the different layers that it creates, the air balloons coming out of the forest..great stuff. too bad the bird is in the way. Oh well, not a perfect world, but yes it is a perfect score:10
This is luminous. I love the depth and layers of mist and colors of the balloons. Really stunning! And of course it's great that you were able to get the bird in the foreground. 10.
Excellent picture. I love this. I've got some baloon pictures in my portfolio as well so you might want to have a look. don't think they are quit as good as this though. 10
the only thing that might improve this, is wheter is is possible to have a bit more space on the top and left and right next to the most outer baloons... but it's pretty perfect as it is! well done
This is 'photography as a means to share a spectacle' at its very best. Dodge and burning perhaps taken a little too far but overall an exceptional capture.
This seems familiar. I like this one better than the (assumed) one in my memory. The layers of distance are great, the dimensions are emphasized by the bird which other might find destracting. I also like the pale colours of the balloons. 10. Adding to favs.
Incredible landscape, with a painting-like quality to it. My only quibble -- the bird in the foreground... It stands out and distracts from the rest of the image. Maybe some dodging to minimize it or even cloning it out would work. Still, well-done!
I love this shot, the mist and trees and balloons, a difficult shot to get such great detail despite difficult lighting conditions. Has a great eirie feeling 10
Had a 9 for you, bumping up to 10. Can't really find anything to complain about in this one. The composition is fantastic, no ballons are cut off at all. The light is unrealy with the mist coming through the trees, and to have that bird in the foreground really brings the title you chose home. Incredible work. 10
OH WOW - what would happen if you did a saturation of blue,cyan,red and yellow? Play with curves a little. I know that it's a misty morning, but it might really give it more pop. I like the bird's silhouette in the foreground. Compositionally, it's great!!
This is aMAZING!!!! I love the misty look of the clouds hanging over the trees. I love the bird, and those cheerful balloons. This is definitely a "Best of" contender!!!!
You should be disqualified... Because thies is just not of this world!!!
Outstanding, great, the best photo i´ve seen in years! It´s so damn good.
// Robert
How beautiful! You've captured the light and morning mis so wonderfully! I love the way the mist gives depth by creating halos around the tree tops and also the way the sun lights up many of the balloons.
When I give a photo a 10, it is because I feel it is wonderfual all the way around. Therefore, I have no real comment other than to say I gave you a 10!
I really like the play of colors and overall scenery in this particular shot;-) The colors of the balloons are not only a wonderful splash of color to the landscape of the sky but the sometimes pastel soft colors compliment (act in partnership) to the soft warm/dark colors of the forested landscape dominating the foreground. The fog/mist rolling off of the landscape softens the look and turns it into a magical scene. What I really like about this one is all the soft (not overly brilliant and vibrantly bold) colors that are seen throughout the composition. I really feel the soft light of the morning as these balloons rise and take flight. Also something that is a real shame that it was not better lit - the bird that is seen in flight in the foreground would have really added an extra special touch to the overall scene. We see it's shape but it is a dark silhouette that if better lit would be a companion to the other main objects in flight in this photo.
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