Photo Contest 2016

  1. Home
  2. Photo Contest 2016
Photo contest logo

Click each thumbnail to see a greater detail photo – See the photo contest rules here

Colorful hot air balloons fill the sky at a festival, amid tents and crowds, creating a vibrant and festive atmosphere.

Congratulations to the winners of the
2016 Cindy Petrehn Memorial Photo Contest

Grand Prize Winner

William Nudera

Kids Winners

1st place
Michèle Bennavail

A New Mexico State Police mobile command post reflects hot air balloons during a vibrant sunset, creating a striking silhouette against the vehicle's surface.

2nd place
Terry Lliff

Silhouetted figures inside an illuminated, deflated hot air balloon at night, creating a mysterious atmosphere with soft, diffused light patterns.

3rd place
Ashley Smith

Brightly colored hot air balloons glow at night, with a crowd of people observing. One balloon features a large clown face.

Mass Ascension Winners

1st place
Adah Zhang

Colorful hot air balloons fill the clear sky. A person stands near a vehicle, with a large crowd and a dome-shaped building below.

2nd place
Laura Hedien

Colorful hot air balloons fill the sky during a festival, with people and vehicles gathered below, creating a lively scene against a clear blue backdrop.

3rd place
Joel Holland

Three people inflating a colorful hot air balloon, shadows visible on the fabric. Bright, geometric patterns create a vibrant and dynamic scene.

Balloon Glow Winners

1st place
Alan Wintz

Hot air balloons lit up at dusk, creating a colorful glow against the darkening sky. People gathered below, enjoying the vibrant display.

2nd place
Tomo Wiggans

A person stands before a brightly illuminated hot air balloon, its colorful panels glowing against the night sky, casting a striking silhouette.

3rd place
Graham Allen

Three colorful hot air balloons illuminate the night sky at a festival. People gather around, enjoying the vibrant spectacle and socializing.

Special Shape Rodeo Winners

1st place
Randy Waln

A colorful array of large, character-shaped hot air balloons fill the sky at a festival, with people gathered below, under scattered clouds.

2nd place
Doreen Lawrence

A large cartoon character hot air balloon floats above a river, surrounded by trees and smaller balloons, with people kayaking below.

3rd place
Wen Wu

A vibrant, colorful pattern inflated inside a hot air balloon's fabric, creating an abstract design with bright purples, greens, and yellows.

AfterGlow Fireworks Winners

1st place
Charles McCall

A colorful hot air balloon floats amidst vibrant fireworks exploding against the black night sky, creating a dazzling and festive display.

2nd place
Byongkoo Kim

A crowd gathers under a large Canon-branded hot air balloon at night, with blue lasers creating patterns in the sky.

3rd place
Joshua Crepeau

Vibrant fireworks illuminate the night sky over a silhouetted crowd, creating an impressive display of colorful sparks and light patterns.

About Cindy Petrehn

Cindy Petrehn was born in Clinton, Iowa, and grew up surrounded by her sister and nine brothers in Kansas City. Cindy obtained a fine arts degree at Pittsburgh State University and it was there her passion for photography began. To her, photography was “capturing the light in a moment of time and space. We may never pass this way again … or so the song goes. It is a passion and an obsession.”

In 1978, Cindy moved to Vail, Colorado and spent many years capturing intriguing images of people, events, nature and anything that caught her creative eye. She climbed mountains and traveled the world to find her next great shot.

Cindy was also licensed hot air balloon pilot, the official photographer for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, and a member of Women in Aviation and The Balloon Federation of America. Cindy was a beloved member and integral part of the Hot Air Ballooning community.

Through her photography, Cindy shared the beauty of the world, ballooning and the open skies with all. Cindy passed away on February 10, 2013 unexpectedly. She has finally found the great adventure she has been searching for and is in the most beautiful hot air balloon, taking the most amazing photographs.

Cindy Petrehn