BALLOON FOREST - Photo by Tom Williams

Canon R6 M2 - RF 24-105 f4L @ 24mm - f8, 1/8, iso 1250, EV 0.67
From the Albuquerque International Hot Air Balloon Festival. Although the balloons cannot fly at night, they can be tethered and inflated creating a giant forest of 80' tall lanterns. The PA system announces an "All Burn" event so the cameras can prepare. When the countdown hits zero, all the pilots light up the burners. The roar and heat coming off the burners, the thousands of people and the projected colorful light from hundreds of balloons create a magical environment. Shoot fast because open sight lines quickly fill with heads and cell phones.
Cropped and minor tone/contrast editing in On1.