Hot Air Balloons in Sedona at Sunrise

Written By Blake Sneed

Last summer, I set out to Sedona in the morning with the goal of finding hot air balloons. I wanted to hike up to a high enough point so that I could be as level as possible with them. While I did get this photo below that I liked, I felt I could do even more, and decided I must return!

A yellow hot air balloon rises above Sedona with a blue hue over the mountains at sunrise.

I recently bought a new camera and some new lenses, so I wanted to head back out to do the same hike I did last summer with my new equipment. The first morning I went out this summer, I forgot my memory card. I’ve always in the past made sure I have memory cards and a back-up, so I was upset because I couldn’t take any photos with my camera. However, I did have a memory card in my other camera that I mainly use to film videos, so I was still able to get some good B-roll for my YouTube video.

The next morning, with a new memory card in my camera, I set back out to the same spot and started hiking. I was able to get a few shots of the balloons, but I was not completely satisfied with everything, so I decided I would go back out for a third time, and hoped for the best.

About one week later, I went back out on a morning that I was pretty sure they would be back up in the air. I started my hike around 4:00 am, and by sunrise I was shooting the rest of my photos and videos of the hot air balloons. I had such an incredibly fun time on this adventure, and making these photos and the video was just as fun! I loved getting to see everything come together.

I am quite pleased with my new camera and lenses’ quality, and I am so grateful I get to do fun things like this in cool places like Sedona! After testing out my new camera and lenses and getting used to how they work, I am excited to take them on some fall adventures soon! Thank you for joining along with me on my nature adventures, and remember to keep adventuring safely and responsibly!

Two yellow hot air balloons rise above Courthouse Butte, Sedona off in the distance as the sun rises with a blue hue over the mountains.
A yellow hot air balloons rises above Courthouse Butte, Sedona as the sun rises with a blue hue over the mountains.
Two yellow hot air balloons rise above Courthouse Butte, Sedona off in the distance as the sun rises with a blue hue over the mountains.
People inside a yellow hot air balloon in Sedona enjoying the sunrise over the mountains.
A yellow hot air balloons rises above Sedona as the sun rises with a blue hue over the mountains.
A yellow hot air balloons rises above the Red Rocks of Sedona as the sun rises with a blue hue over the mountains.
A yellow hot air balloon in front of a dark mountain with Sedona Red Rocks as the background.
A yellow hot air balloon in front of a dark mountain with Sedona Red Rocks as the background.
A yellow hot air balloon in front of a dark mountain with Sedona Red Rocks as the background.
Blake Sneed

My name is Blake, and I’m a photographer and storyteller based in Arizona, USA.

The American Southwest is where I have spent most of my time exploring, and my photographs are inspired by the natural beauty and magic I have encountered throughout this remarkable region.

The places, plants, and wildlife featured in my photos are incredibly special to me, and I strive to capture and share their unique essence in my work.

I’m generally drawn to anything natural—from the incredibly fine details you can discover when you look closely at a tree leaf, for example, to the complex patterns that emerge when you zoom out and see the whole forest. I love getting in close to see how seemingly small details can connect to something much larger, and how nature can be incredibly intricate and complex, yet still feel simple and peaceful. My work is an exploration of these connections, contrasts, and the quiet harmony I find within them and want to express and share.

I love the spirit of adventure—the open road to somewhere new, breathing in fresh air, and feeling the sun and wind on my skin. My main goal with my photography and storytelling is to connect with others through a shared sense of wonder and beauty—to inspire exploration and a deeper experience of the world around us, encourage people to look a little closer at what calls to them, and create what speaks to their hearts.

As I continue adventuring, I strive to keep learning so that I can do all I can to help protect and preserve these sacred places. Through sharing my work, educating others about what I have learned, and continuing to deepen my own personal connection with these places, I hope to encourage a greater understanding of, appreciation for, and protection of the natural world that is all around us.

I’m forever grateful that photography gives me a way to document my own vision, experiences, and connections along my journey. I hope my work inspires you to stay curious, explore the world, and find a little more wonder along the way.

https://blakesneed.com
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