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Photos 4281 - 4285 of 5239

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big blue finally gets it up, and in the background you can see the Pepsi can filling up.......



The 37th annual Great Balloon Race (http://www.greatforestparkballoonrace.com ) is was held on Sat September 15, 2007. The balloons are all setup close together in a large field and then they started inflating slowly. The race is called a "tortoise and hare" race because a lead balloon takes off and lands at a distant area - the "tortoise". The other balloons take off one by one(the "hares") and find the lead balloon. Once they find the lead balloon they drop a sack of birdseed as close as possible to that balloon. The balloon that drops their sack of birdseed closest to the "tortoise" wins the race.

We started out with the photographers being allowed on the launching field as the pilot and crew prepared the balloons for flight. It was great fun!!

This event took place in Forest Park (http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/parks/forestpark ) which is in the center of St Louis and is 40% bigger than Central Park in New York City.




Have a great weekend!!!!


(constructive critique is welcome)



coming soon -
a small car show -
the St Louis Air Show - from high up in the hills above the air field:
http://www.stlcofair.org/
Photos of the Chain of Rocks Bridge
A drive up the scenic Mississipi River with Fall colors
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Comments on this photo:

Nov 11 2007 07:29 GMT senna3 PRO
What an impressive view!
Nov 11 2007 11:08 GMT Minz PRO
Sooo lovely - Wish I was going up in one right now .......
Nov 11 2007 12:22 GMT Tom33 PRO
what a great day for a photo op - lots of them
Nov 11 2007 13:23 GMT yvon
REAL BLUE
Nov 11 2007 13:59 GMT snowbird
It's the most beautiful sight to see these ballons just pass over your head!
Nov 11 2007 15:49 GMT PhotoPro PRO
Tom - it was just an incredible day!! lots of color - a perfect sky and not too much wind..... - I shot about 800 photos, so I still have lots of ones to post - especially against an azure blue sky
Nov 11 2007 15:50 GMT PhotoPro PRO
snowbird - the real thrill was being in the middle of a big city and watching the balloons fly over buildings, etc.!!
Nov 11 2007 18:12 GMT bennystr PRO
Fantastic shot, as the entire series Bill!
Nov 11 2007 22:24 GMT pp11364
Great.
Nov 12 2007 01:54 GMT Studio88
Balloon Advertising Sponsorship has changed in the last few years. Companies found these events have an high rate of return on investments.
Always Spectacular To Shoot!!!
Nov 12 2007 23:19 GMT jceca PRO
fantastic balloon photos, bill ... but even the sky was perfect for the photos ....
blue - white abstract ... like it a lot !!! :-)
Nov 13 2007 00:55 GMT PhotoPro PRO
I was so fortunate jceca - the weather was perfect for me this day!!