Smiling Balloon

Here's a memory of summer days, early rising and pre-dawn activity. The Hot Air Balloon festivals that circulate around this territory from summer through fall. This was the evening ride and the preparations took much of the afternoon and continued full tilt 'til sunset even though nobody could be sure the balloons would go up at all. Just before dusk the small latex trial balloon was let go and it's every action taken into account by the people on the ground. When it was clear that the wind wasn't too strong, the preparations were completed and the fairgrounds were decorated by dozens of bright colored balloons like giant Christmas tree ornaments stuck to the darkening sky. I was glad I got this picture while the balloons were still inflating, or else I'd have to be up above it to see the happy face.