At 15,000 feet over the Austrian Alps, January 2010, with Michael Kloss,Berthold Mayntz and Gerhard Weber

_{The reason why}

My aerostatic baptism took place after my first flight with intrepid aeronaut 72 year old Dr. Hans Ulrich 'Uli' Reichert a.k.a. Graf Ulrich von Botnang, in G-BIIK "Staufenballon" at Chateau d'Oex in Switzerland in 1992.  The flight lasted just under two hours at an average speed of 5 kph and an altitude of 6,600 feet. Uli named me "Optical Air Chief" and wrote on my Aerial Baptism Certificate :

"To all those who can't  -  And all those who won't
  And all those who say  they will......and don't  -  This is to you - who did".

I have 15 years experience and hundreds of flight-hours working from HOT AIR BALLOONS for commercial sponsors and editorial clients.  I participate as official photographer in 'montgolfiades', balloon meetings and cross country rallies. I have covered events in Tunisia and the Sahara, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Portugal, Latvia, Austria, Germany and Antigua(West Indies) and hold a large stock of fabulous ballooning shots and aerial images. I have published and contributed to articles in Aerostat(GB), Atlantis(Portugal), Flygrevyn(Sweden), The Times and Sunday Independent  and Telegraph. Contact me for advice on balloon flights and adventures anywhere.

Event Portfolios

AUSTRIA-Zell am See to Italy - January 2010

Higher than the birds!
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PUY en VELAY 2008

'Le weekend' volant....
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10th TRAVESSIA across PORTUGAL-2008

HOT AIR BALLOONING from North to South. Pictures and text will be added shortly.
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Tunisia - The Magic of the South

Ballooning in the desert
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Montgolfiades de PUY en VELAY 2006

A fun weekend flying in frosty mountains and valleys, hilltop chateaux and sainted statues.
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Gosau, Austria January 2006

The weather was perfect. We had clear blue skies, deep glistening snow and frosted trees pointing up to the surrounding peaks.
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