Patrolling Dawn
As we rounded up all 8 of us at 4:45 am we headed out for dawn patrol at the Reno Hot Air Balloon Races. No coffee, just tons of blankets, scarves, and jackets. I had never been but as my husband is a Reno native, dawn patrol is a right of passage. We had just begun walking up the street when groups of people started walking towards us. It was too windy for the balloons to take off. The one year we were able to go together and with family, and the balloons are lying flat on the ground! We were disappointed but continued to walk around. Eventually balloons began to inflate and deflate as I imagine a humpback whales lungs would. (Random fact: A humpback whale's lungs are the size of a small car!) People began to gather around the balloons that remained inflated. It eventually became a beauty contest between balloons, which is also great for photographers in the area as the balloons were limited to how high they got off the ground.
I got brave and began asking strangers if I could take their photos to promote my small photography business. I took their photos and handed them my business card. I figured with all these people here during sunrise, I might as well capture their dedication to getting up and arriving with my dedication to capturing these kinds of moments. Beautiful people surrounded by beautiful balloons.
