albuquerque | Spencer Photography

Albuquerque is the home and birthplace of hot air ballooning and October is the month for the biggest Hot Air Balloon event in the world. However, when February rolls around, a smaller event called the Friends and Lovers Balloon Rally is held and this year about 100 balloons participated. This rally is put together by the Albuquerque Aerostat Ascension Association (AAAA). The event has Valentine’s Day theme and is open to the public but is really produced to raise money for charity and to recognize the hard work that the balloon crew members/volunteers do for the sport. Many thanks to Mike (The Pilot) for the ride. More reading:

Its been a while since I’ve been out to photo anything, so I thought Comic Con would yield some fun stuff. This was my first visit to a Comic Con and it was hosted this year at Hotel Albuquerque (Jan 10th – 12th, 2014). Comic Con began in 1970 when a collection of comic, movie, and science fiction fans came together to put on the first comic book convention in southern California. Annual conventions can now be found all over the USA and abroad. Along with comic book professionals, you might film and media stars, illustrators, actors, and artists. Like most comic-book conventions, the Albuquerque Comic-Con features a large floorspace for exhibitors. I was surprised by how big the event was and now understand why is spans three days. There is so much to do and see. Most (if not all) of the hotel was being used by the convention and their fans. And the best part of the convention is THE FANS and mostly why I went in the first place: