Photo Contest 2023

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Hot air balloons illuminate against a night sky, hovering over a brightly lit cityscape, creating a vibrant and festive aerial scene.

Congratulations to the winners of the
2023 Cindy Petrehn Memorial Photo Contest

Grand Prize Winner

1st Place
Adam Newman

Faces of Fiesta Winners

Click each thumbnail to see a greater detail photo

1st place
Tiffany Luong

A person stands with two children, watching colorful hot air balloons fill the clear blue sky, creating a joyful scene of excitement and wonder.

2nd place
Teresa Rabold

Seven people in orange robes walk along a riverbank. Hot air balloons are visible in the sky above a lush landscape.

3rd place
Lacey Jones

A child in a blue jacket, holding binoculars, observes colorful hot air balloons in the sky during a sunny day.

Mass Ascension Winners

1st place
Mark Stuen

Four people sit in chairs watching colorful hot air balloons ascend during a festival, set against a clear blue sky.

2nd place
Susan Coker

Colorful hot air balloons fill the sky during a vibrant festival, creating a cheerful and lively atmosphere with clear blue skies above.

3rd place
Kevin Mark

Colorful balloons ascend

Dawn Patrol/Balloon Glow Winners

1st place
Bruce Wong

Balloon glow

2nd place
Adam Eccleston

Colorful hot air balloons glow at night. People gather beneath, capturing photos and enjoying the vibrant atmosphere at an outdoor event.

3rd place
Ken Sklute

A group of people stands near a hot air balloon basket. A solar eclipse and flames illuminate the sky above.

Special Shape Rodeo Winners

1st place
Steve Cuevas

Large bee-shaped hot air balloons float in a clear blue sky during a balloon festival, surrounded by other colorful balloons in the distance.

2nd place
George Ribirch

Cow, Taz, and frog balloons

3rd place
James Watley

Spedcial shape balloons

AfterGlow Fireworks Winners

1st place
Justin Allison

Fireworks

2nd place
Shelby Brown

Two children sit on a vehicle at night, watching vibrant green fireworks skyward, amidst a bustling festival crowd and illuminated tents.

3rd place
Elaine Weissborn

Fireworks

Digital or AI Art

A series of photos showing solar eclipse phases with illuminated hot air balloons displaying colorful patterns, including a flag design, against a dark sky.

Winner
Kristian Narveson

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 Pittsburg 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