Photo Contest: Rules

2023 Photo Contest Winners

Submissions accepted October 5 through 31, 2024

Official Entry Rules

All entries must be submitted on-line
All entries are to be accompanied with a $10 entry fee
All entries must be a JPEG image with a maximum size of 5 megabytes
There is no limit of entries per person
Photographs MUST be taken from October 5th through 13th, 2024. Photographs may be of any of the above categories related to the 2024 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
Photo submissions will be accepted October 5th through October 31st
Photographs must be taken and owned by entrant
Entrants retain the copyright to the photos, but grant unlimited and non-exclusive rights to AIBF to use the photo in any manner
Photos may have minor digital enhancements to correct color, exposure, and cropping or to change file format
Entries that have been created digitally or heavily edited that are uploaded into any category other than the "Digital or AI Art" category, will be deleted and the fee will be forfeited. The decision of the judges concerning the acceptable amount of digital enhancement is final
Any taxes applicable to the prizes are solely the responsibility of the winners
AIBF employees and their immediate family members are not eligible
AIBF contracted photographers are not eligible
Winners will be announced mid to late November

Prizes

Grand Prize winner will receive $1,000
First place winners from each category will each receive $500
Second place winners from each category will receive a 2023 Balloon Fiesta Jacket
Third place winners from each category will receive an Official Event Poster from the 2023 Balloon Fiesta
Digital/Artificial Intelligence (AI) Art winner will receive $300 - not eligible to be considered for the Grand Prize

About Cindy Petrehn

Cindy Petrehn was born in Clinton, Iowa, and grew up surrounded by her sister and nine brothers in Kansas City. Cindy obtained a fine arts degree at Pittsburg State University and it was there her passion for photography began. To her, photography was "capturing the light in a moment of time and space. We may never pass this way again ... or so the song goes. It is a passion and an obsession."

In 1978, Cindy moved to Vail, Colorado and spent many years capturing intriguing images of people, events, nature and anything that caught her creative eye. She climbed mountains and traveled the world to find her next great shot.

Cindy was also licensed hot air balloon pilot, the official photographer for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, and a member of Women in Aviation and The Balloon Federation of America. Cindy was a beloved member and integral part of the Hot Air Ballooning community.

Through her photography, Cindy shared the beauty of the world, ballooning and the open skies with all. Cindy passed away on February 10, 2013 unexpectedly. She has finally found the great adventure she has been searching for and is in the most beautiful hot air balloon, taking the most amazing photographs.