Bill Neary (left) and Rodger Merrick (right) hold the balloon open while the pilot, Tony Polito fills it with air during the 'Flight of The Nations' Mass Ascension during the annual international Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, N.M., on Oct. 6, 2010. Polito has been piloting balloons at this fiesta for 22 years, but attended the all 38 of them. He had his current balloon, Retro Blackbird, rebuilt to match one he saw when he was seven years old and attending the festival with his family. That particular balloon was retired 25 years ago, and Polito, now a resident of Edmunds, Wash., has had his for four years.
Natalie Guillén/The New Mexican
Bill Neary (left) and Rodger Merrick (right) hold the balloon open while the pilot, Tony Polito fills it with air during the 'Flight of The Nations' Mass Ascension during the annual international Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, N.M., on Oct. 6, 2010. Polito has been piloting balloons at this fiesta for 22 years, but attended the all 38 of them. He had his current balloon, Retro Blackbird, rebuilt to match one he saw when he was seven years old and attending the festival with his family. That particular balloon was retired 25 years ago, and Polito, now a resident of Edmunds, Wash., has had his for four years.
Natalie Guillén/The New Mexican
Canon EOS 7D |
Original size: 5184x3456 |
Current: 800x534 |
