But we couldn’t have been more mistaken.  We were there.  On that field.  Right beside the balloons. As if we were a part of the action.  Spinning from one exciting fill-up to another.

And then we could hear the buzz of the crowd.  This one was ready! And we joined in the applause for initially what seemed impossible — getting one of the huge, ball-shaped masses airborne.  We pointed. Yelled, Look! It’s going up! And then fumbled for our cameras to capture the moment of take-off  .  .  .

It was then that the lucky balloon riders gave us crowd people thumbs up’s and big waves as they lifted up. And over. And above us all into the morning air.

It’s about as big a rush as you can get in a field in Albuquerque before dawn.  Well, yeah!

For more entries into Ailsa’s photo challenge — Travel theme: Above — on her blog Where’s My Backpack, click here.  They’ll take you up, up, and away!

For information about the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta 2015 including dates and schedules, click here.

But, as we found out later,  she never intended to launch a balloon.  Just wanted to inflate it only to take it down a few minutes later.  To give the crowd a chance to watch the workings of a balloon launch — from start to almost-finished, just before take-off.  She even answered questions and chatted with those of us pointing cameras at the crew intent on filling the space with hot air and then checking for whatever they check for prior to launch.

It was then that the idea for a book came to mind:  What would it take to go from ground to air? And then we found two photos that could serve as cover art for this inside look.

Inside Ballooning:  The Art of the Launch

Checking the interior of a hot air balloon

Holding on as hot air fills a balloon at Balloon Fiesta 2014.

So, what do you think?  Which one do you prefer?  Or do you have another thought about what would be great cover art for a glimpse into the fascinating craft of ballooning?

Be sure to check out the other entries in Weekly Photo Challenge: Cover Art by clicking here.

Rainbow over Balloon Fiesta 2014

We looked for the flag flying high over Albuquerque’s Balloon Fiesta 2014 even as we left the parking lot for the long trek to the launch field.  It was yellow.  Caution.  A probable go for the October 9th lift-off.  But when the crowd turned in the direction of the refracted light of a rainbow — sometimes single, sometimes double — arching over the vendors hawking everything from corn dogs to souvenir pins, we saw dark skies threatening the night’s Glowdeo event.

Children with light sabers play while waiting for balloons to light up the night.

Children, however, continued to play — using their Jedi skills to wield light sabers.  Whoosh-bink, whoosh-bink, sang out the sabers against the dark night.

First lift-off, Dawn Patrol, October 10, 2014. Balloon Fiesta 2014

And when the yellow flag yielded to red, curtailing the night’s event, the crowd dispersed only to return before dawn the next day.

Breaking dawn — Balloon Fiesta 2014

After all, there’s nothing quite like seeing the first lights of the Dawn Patrol in a dark New Mexico field.

Click here for more entries in the Weekly Photo Challenge: Refraction.