At 6:30 the balloons were scheduled to go up. So after an early morning drive we arrived just in time to see the first balloons floating into the cool morning air. The sun gave light to the brilliant colors and there seemed to be anticipation wafting through the air. Cars pulled along the sides of the road, as the hot air balloons began to come up from two different sides, Lake Skinner on one side and the Temecula Vineyards on the other.
As I photographed this beautiful event, I attempted to capture the easy grace of the balloons, no rush just simple floating. The colors and the designs seemed to pop out in contrast to the clear blue sky. There is a simple beauty and awe that I find in hot air balloons and tried to replicate those emotions in my photographs.
by Heidi Jo Giacalone