Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

13th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Balloon Below

Shortly after lift-off, I took this shot of a balloon rising closer to the balloon I’d just risen in. Did I look as awed, as focused, as nervous as they do? All the while, I’m thinking, the pilots are trying to avoid electrical wires and other balloons. What a wonderful way to travel--so quiet, so gentle, so amazing.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 11.2014
Date Uploaded: 07.2015
Photo Location: Bagan, Myanmar
Camera: NIKON D80
Copyright: © Dorothy Thompson