San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade 2011

[Chris Dodkin]

Billed as the biggest in the US - the harbor front at San Diego was home to the Big Bay Balloon Parade this morning, as a lead-up to the Holiday Bowl football game tonight.

Things kicked off with a 5k road race - sponsored by Bumblebee Foods

Manual focus, slow shutter to speed blur the runners

Isn't she a little pregnant to be running 5k?

Then the parade kicked in, with a host of larger than life balloons, marching bands and floats.

Cowabunga Dude!

Betty Boop looking good for her age (81)

They were having to hold Mighty Mouse down with ropes!

The right stuff - Helium I assume!

Big crowd - shot with the 15mm Fisheye

Hot Dog anyone?

Parade over for another year.

Full set here: SD Big Bay Balloon Parade 2011 by Chris Dodkin | Photo Sharing - ZangZing

 

[Jim Kuo]

The pregnant woman shot is incredible, both in what she was attempting and you being able to pick her out in the crowd.

Love the ninja turtle, one of my favourite characters , also the hot dog man, dare I say it's very American? .

Great shots Chris, they really show the atmosphere of the fun day out.

 

[Pete Askew]

Nice series Chris but not what I was expecting. In my mind I had hot air balloons for some reason. I like the 'Cat in the Hat' best I think. It has a suitably surreal quality to it - probably because everyone seems to be ignoring it as though it wasn't really there!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Thanks guys - Jim, you can't get much more American than hot dogs

Pete - I liked the surreal nature of the last one and the Ped Xing sign

I took a whole roll of Ilford PanF on the 1N which I'll get back later today - 50mm shots of people mostly - might be interesting or not, depending on how they come out!