Photo Contest 2022

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Child looking up at balloons rising

Congratulations to the winners of the
2022 Cindy Petrehn Memorial Photo Contest

Grand Prize Winner

1st Place
Carolyn Wiesma

Kids Winners

Click each thumbnail to see a greater detail photo

1st place
Brittany Graham

Child looking out of balloon basket

2nd place
Madden McNeil

Child excited to watch balloons rising

3rd place
Samantha Barela-Apodaca

Child in field of balloons

Mass Ascension Winners

1st place
Jennifer Becher

Balloons rising in field

2nd place
Ryan Kroschel

Balloons inflating

3rd place
Don Constantine

Balloons at mass ascension on ground

Dawn Patrol/Balloon Glow Winners

1st place
Roy Stezenfand

Balloons flying over city at night

2nd place
Jeff Stamer

Three faced jester balloon

3rd place
Justin Allison

Two balloons inflating at night

Special Shape Rodeo Winners

1st place
Jeff Stamer

Star wars balloons flying

2nd place
Gina Geldbach-Hall

Cow, Taz, and frog balloons

3rd place
Ginger Apple-Ginn

Bumble bee balloons

AfterGlow Fireworks Winners

1st place
Gregg Landaker

Fireworks

2nd place
Seth Willey

Black and white photo of fireworks

3rd place
Sierra Shipman

Couple kissing in front of fireworks

Digital or AI Art

Balloon flying in sky during sunrise

Winner
Lemar Griffin

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 Pittsburgh 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.

Cindy Petrehn