Basil Loc: New Mexico

Anyone familiar with the annual Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta knows it is probably one of the most photographed events on the planet! When you attend the fiesta, in addition to seeing lots of balloons, you will also see more cameras of all kinds than you can shake a stick at.

So it only seems natural that a major camera company would sponsor this event. Front page story on this morning's Albuquerque Journal: "Balloon Fiesta gets a lift from Canon."

Canon Exec Director Doris Higginbotham attended her first Fiesta last year and decided this was the kind of event Canon should sponsor. (well Duh!). Apparently the fiesta has been without a major sponsor since 2001 when Kodak withdrew. (I honestly didn't realize there was no major sponsor of this major event).

Anyway, yesterday, Higgenbotham joined fiesta officials and Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry to announce that the fiesta will now be called the "Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Presented by Canon".

If you have never been and are planning to be in or near Albuquerque in October, I highly recommend attending the fiesta. So many photography opportunities - and not just the balloons! Interesting vendors and people all over the place!

ssymeono Loc: St. Louis, Missouri

So, where are your pictures of it?
Sarantis

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

You are correct, it only makes sense that a camera company would want to sponsor the event. It could have been just as easily been sponsored by Pentax, Panasonic, Sony, Nikon. As someone who gets hit up to sponsor things regularly, it is hard to pick and choose sometimes. Considering what the event is, the marketing person at Canon made a pretty good choice (I think)

Basil Loc: New Mexico

Well, due to my work I was out of town the last couple years, but here are a few from 2012. I hope to attend this year again (fingers crossed)

Basil Loc: New Mexico

I think so too. I was surprised to learn it had not had a major sponsor since 2001.

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

Good going Canon for stepping up to sponsor this event you are a industry leader and a superior company and that's why I have used Canons cameras for more than fifty years.

ssymeono Loc: St. Louis, Missouri

Though a Nikon user, I have great admiration for Canon and other great companies like Leica, Hasselblad, Mamiya, Sony, to name a few (whatever happened to the best pro-camera Linhof?). Canon has achieved its best and most lasting publicity with the monthly images of endangered species in the National Geographic Magazine. Canon users should not forget this remarkable series that began in 1981!

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

Absolutely no doubt about it!!!!!

Rich Maher Loc: Sonoma County, CA

Canon has also sponsored "Nature" a great program on PBS for many years.
Does Nikon sponsor anything?

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

I guess you could e-mail them and ask them ??????

ssymeono Loc: St. Louis, Missouri

Nikon has been more interested in teaching and helping people become better photographers. The Mentor series is a very successful and useful program. Nikon also provides a wide range of accessories for all sorts of photography. Their manuals are also uniformly excellent.

cactusflower Loc: Lake Havasu, AZ

If you can't get to Albuquerque Lake Havasu has a Hot Air Balloon Festival too Jan 15-17, 2016. It's getting bigger every year. Wish Canon would sponsor us too,that would be great
http://www.havasuballoonfest.com/ Lots of photos from 2015 on the website.

Basil Loc: New Mexico

That's not too far from Albuquerque. May need to check that out!

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Nikon sponsors the State of Montana!!! :lol: :lol:
SS

tjphxaz Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Do the number of balloons and crowds increase as the last weekend approaches? I wonder if early weekday, say Monday-Wednesday might have plenty of balloons but smaller crowds.