Napa, and Zippy, and a Hot Air Balloon! - D&L's Photography

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Napa, and Zippy, and a Hot Air Balloon!

Zippy's first and last big outing in our care. After all that work, we had to have at least one trip with him! We drove to Nappa and took a long-delayed wedding anniversary trip - a hot ait balloon ride over Nappa.

Unpacking the balloon envelope by the headlights of a minibus. Low light photo - I couldn't even see what I was photographing!

Low light panorama from six shots. They start the balloon with just a fan blowing air into it to open the neck.

Once the neck is open they blow full throttle to lift the canopy a bit.

The canopy takes shape gently and with a lot of noise.

Money shot! The first time they light the burner is speactacular in the pre-dawn light.

The canopy gets energised enough to lift the basket upright. Then with the gentlest of control the basket is lifted inches off the ground and maoeuvred to where we can all climb in.

Getting in is like jumping through a fire hoop while climbing on a horse. It's not for the mobility-challenged! Linda is loving it, note the COVID screens in place and we've all been masked up to this point.

Let's light this candle. (With apologies to Alan Shephard.)

Other balloons starting to inflate.

The light was increasing all the time - I could actually see by this point - but I thought attempting a panorama from a baloon platform could have been overly ambitious. Thanks Adobe!

The second canopy was starting to lift as we ascended. Quite surreal.

This was my point of maximum anxiety. As the balloon interacted with the trees I wanted the pilot to just run the damn burners and get us clear. He kept giving the gentlest of puffs on the burner and copying the shapes of the trees with the motion of the balloon. This is a pretty wide angle photo and you can see the light from the burner colouring the tree.

Finally, some height. Not that height is safe, either, in a hot air balloon. The balloon yo-yos much more than I am ready for, but it makes sense that there is broadly no damping and so it oscillates about an equilibrium position. I expect that's why the ascent was so gentle, to try to reduce the overshoot.

Pre-dawn sky, grinning Linda. She told me afterwards she didn't realize how anxious I was. I guess my game face is ok, then.

Pre-dawn formation.

The first touch of the sun on the hills in the left of the shot. We and the other balloons are still too low to be illuminated by it.

Starburst! Just because I can.

Starburst, flare and ghosting! Because I can.

Topmost balloon in the sun, tips of hills catching some light, too.

"Into the light".

Sunlit balloons over pre-dawn vineyards.

Sunlit balloons over pre-dawn vineyards - I like the mist layering into the hills in the right of the shot here.

Money shot! Sunlit balloons and dawn sculpting of the west side of the valley.

Wider version of the same shot as before.

Linda looking gorgeous at about 3500ft (the pilot was discussing his altitude on the radio, that's how I know).

It's Art, dahling.

Looking south. Mount Diablo in the background.

More flare/ghost art.

Not *completely* sure why we came so low at this point. Possibly to do with managing speed down the valley and flight time.

Arty shot of our shadow and the other balloons

Arty shot of our shadow and the other balloons

Light was pretty gorgeous at this point.

No photos while we were landing. But the on-ground ritual was interesting to see.

Zippy in Napa - obligatory souvenir shot.

Arty attempt at reflection of Napa sign in the shiny paintwork!

Another souvenir shot.