108th Rose Bowl Game

The Rose Bowl Game is back!

As I've done for the last several New Year's Days, I woke up early, had my coffee, braved the cold, and went for a flight over the Rose Parade.

The Goodyear Blimp is usually up above the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game, frequently flying into my field of view while I'm trying to take my photos. This year was no different.

I hoped that I would be able to catch the B-2 Spirit flying over the Rose Parade and it was right where he was supposed to be and right on time, down to the second. Considering the two Stealth Bombers departed from Whiteman Air Force Base Missouri (just outside of Kansas City) that morning, it is a testament to the skill of the pilots and their teams that they were able to pass over exactly where they wanted to at precisely the scheduled time.

On my way to the Rose Bowl Game we started to pick up some small clouds. I really like how they look when flying past them, but I always get worried that there will be shadows in the area I need to photograph.

Pan around the 360 video below to see the clouds as we flew underneath. We're flying over the 134 freeway with the Rose Bowl Stadium visible on the left side and the City of Pasadena straight ahead.

We were up above the stadium shortly before the game started and photographed the Ohio State University Marching Band ("The Best Damn Band in the Land") and the University of Utah Marching Band ("The Pride of Utah Marching Band") in their formations.

I'd been rehearsing the flyover and Rose Bowl views in my head for a week or so before the flight. It is never a sure-thing and there are so many different elements that have to come together at the same time in order for me to get a photo. Luckily, everything came together this year and I was able to capture the Stealth Bomber fly over at the Rose Bowl Game with the Ohio State University Marching Band on the field forming a large American Flag.