Tulips and Hot Air Balloons

I have been going to the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival for years. Yet I have never managed to be there when the hot air balloons are. As it turns out I know someone who is on a balloon crew. She contacted me and asked if I'd like to come out and watch them set up. I jumped at the chance.

The weather didn't fully cooperate but a couple balloons decided to do a quick flight across the tulip fields. It was a lot of fun to watch them set up.

                                                                                                               Testing the burners

                                                                                         It takes several people to carry the balloon.

                                             I've wanted to shoot the inside of a balloon for a long time. I was excited when they let me get up close.

                                                                      It was a bit too windy and the balloons had a near collision.

Tulips Details

I really love macro photography. I love finding the interesting details that are missed when all we do is look at the big picture. When I focus on the small things in the frame of my camera, I'm forced to slow down and think about what I'm doing. As I do the rest of the world melts away.