In Remembrance, 2000 Balloons

Originally published August 18, 2008. Kristin Kimber, whose ex-husband Brandon was one of three killed rescuers in the Crandall Canyon Mine rescue attempt, leads the release of 2,000 balloons on the one-year anniversary of an implosion that killed three rescuers and injured six others trying to reach six trapped miners. For the thirty minutes leading up to this balloon release, I circled the crowd trying to find the best angle. The balloons looked best backlit, but the sun was very low and it didn’t look workable. I ended up on the stage as Kimber made an emotional speech and then led the crowd in the release. I help down the shutter as everything went nuts, not knowing what I was getting. Ten seconds later it was all over. I looked down and Kimber was embracing Wende Jacobson as the balloons vanished into the sky: