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Updates

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Announces 2023 Photo Contest Winners

November 20, 2023

Honoring Cindy Petrehn’s legacy in the ballooning community

Albuquerque NM – The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta announced the seventeen winners of the 2023 Cindy Petrehn Memorial Photo Contest. The Grand Prize Winner is Richard Gomez from Las Vegas, Nevada, for his photo from the basket of a dawn patrol balloon during the nine-day event. A committee of three judges reviewed the 1,100 photo entries submitted through BalloonFiesta.com.

Cindy Petrehn, a beloved and integral member of the Hot Air Ballooning community who passed away unexpectedly in 2013. To her, photography was "capturing the light in a moment of time and space.. a passion and an obsession." She was an official photographer for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, and her legacy is honored by this photo contest, celebrated on her birthday, November 20th.

The panel of judges reviewing the 1,100 photos, submitted by 327 people, includes: Michael Cacioppo Belantara (Cindy Petrehn's son), Toni Paulson (Cindy Petrehn's daughter) and Scott Hughes (an official balloon Fiesta photographer).

This year, there were six categories: Faces of Fiesta, Dawn Patrol/Balloon Glow, Mass Ascension, Special Shapes, AfterGlow Fireworks, and Digital / Artificial Intelligence (AI) Art. Winners were congratulated with cash prizes, Official 2023 Balloon Fiesta jackets, and Official 2023 Event Posters.

Grand Prize:

Richard Gomez

Faces of Fiesta

1st place: Tiffany Luong

2nd place: Teresa Rabold

3rd place: Lacey Jones

Dawn Patrol/Balloon Glow

1st place: Bruce Wong

2nd place: Adam Eccelston

3rd place: Ken Sklute

Mass Ascension

1st place: Mark Stuen

2nd place: Susan Coker

3rd place: Kevin Mak

Special Shapes

1st place: Steve Cuevas

2nd place: George Ribich

3rd place: James Watley

AfterGlow Fireworks

1st place: Justin Allison

2nd place: Shelby Brown

3rd place: Elaine Weisborn

Digital or AI Art winner:

1st place: Kristian Nerveson

To view all winning photos, visit: https://balloonfiesta.com/Photo-Contest-2023

About the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, powered by ExxonMobil is a festival of hot air balloons that takes place in October in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. It is the largest gathering of balloons and balloonists in the world. The 2022 event generated $203.19 Million into the Albuquerque and the State of New Mexico economies. For details on events, schedule, entertainment and photographs visit our website www.balloonfiesta.com and follow us on Twitter @BalloonFiesta and Facebook.

# # #

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© 2018-2025 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Inc. A 501(c)(3) Organization
  • This Year's Event
    • Event Schedule
    • Entertainment Schedule
    • Balloon Fiesta Live!
    • Guest Guide
    • Know Before You Go
    • FAQs - Balloon Fiesta
    • Maps & Directions
    • Transportation Services
      • Courtesy Shuttle and Fiesta Transport
      • ADA-Accessability
      • Bike Valet
    • Session Type
      • Albuquerque Aloft
      • America's Challenge
      • Balloon Glows
      • Competition
      • Dawn Patrol
      • Fiesta de Los Globitos
      • Mass Ascension
      • Special Shape Rodeo/Glowdeo®
    • Entertainment
      • Balloon Discovery Center
      • Chainsaw Carving
      • Music Fiesta
    • Photos
      • Photos-Photographers
      • Photo Contest
    • Travel Help
    • Official Mobile App Sponsored by Visit Albuquerque
  • Tickets & Reservations
    • General Information
      • Chasers' Club
      • Concierge Program
      • Fiesta Sky Box
      • General Admission
      • Gondola Club
      • Group Tours
      • Park & Ride
      • Purchase Tickets
    • Balloon Rides
    • Lodging
      • Camp 505
      • Glamping
      • RV Information
      • Travel Help
  • Ballooning
    • Hot Air
      • History of Ballooning
      • Balloonist's Prayer
      • Special Shape Rodeo
      • Recognitions
    • Gas Balloons
      • America's Challenge
      • Gas vs Hot Air
      • History of Gas Ballooning
      • FAQ's - Gas Ballooning
      • Gordon Bennett
    • Pilots
      • 2025 Pilot List
      • Pilot List All Years
      • Pilot News/FAQs
      • Pilot & Crew Videos
      • International Pilots
      • Ops Manual
      • PZ Maps
      • Waiver
      • Weather
      • Radios
      • Competition scores
      • Remote Control Balloons
      • Fly Swapper
    • Crew Registration
  • Merchandise
    • AIBF Official Merchandise Online
    • Artisans
    • Concessions
    • Buy a Brick Program
    • Collectors Corner
      • Bumper Stickers
      • Calendars
      • Coins
      • Pins
      • Posters
      • Programs
  • Sponsors
    • Official Sponsors
    • Sponsorship Opportunities
  • Media
  • Behind The Scenes
    • Volunteering
    • Board of Directors
    • Mission Statement
    • Contact us
    • Ambassadors
    • Donation Requests
    • History of Balloon Fiesta
    • Concessions & Artisans Application
    • Public Safety Application
    • Recognitions
    • Latest News
    • Newsletter
    • Inside the Basket Archive
    • Privacy Statement
    • Web information
  • At The Park
    • Know Before You Go