cptiger Loc: Englewood, FL

For those having been there, are there any elevated observation points away from the festival grounds that may be easily accessible for photographing the balloons in flight just after launch. First time in ABQ, so any suggestions will be welcome. Thx.

Herbie1924 Loc: Woodbury, MN

For your best pics, you should be on the grounds during lift off.
Herb

legion3 Loc: Deer Park Long Island

ditto get there early watch them inflate

http://www.creativephotosbymichael.com/New-Mexico-2015/

Ron Munster

One thing to remember when attending the Albuquerque Balloon Festival is to dress warmly. Some years those early October morns can get pretty chilly. Over the years I've seen many visitors show up and shivering in T-shirts and Bermuda shorts because they think the desert is warm, right? No, not always true.

Also be prepared to have a few thousand uninvited models in your shots.

But you will see color and spectacle like you do not see just anywhere.

jcboy3

Yes, there is a hill on one side that's on the grounds, great view of the entire field.

cptiger Loc: Englewood, FL

Thx to all, great info.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

I use the Nikon 24-120 on my D4s and the Nikon 200-500 on my D500 to photograph balloons. I also use a incident light meter for my base exposure and then test before I shoot. If you are in an elevated position see if you can use the mountains in the background to your advantage for composition.

Durangoan Loc: Durango,Colorado

The Dawn Patrol is the best part IMHO. A lot less people, much more dramatic lighting. Watch out for exposure times, those balloons rise quicker than you would expect.

Dan Mc Loc: NM

Drive east on Tramway....or take a drive into Rio Rancho.

alandg46 Loc: Boerne, Texas

What is the normal direction of movement of the balloons? Is it east toward the Sandias? With a long lens can a person do anything from Sandia Crest?

Ron Munster

More often than not the lower winds take the balloons N, E, or S, slowly, but rarely do the balloons drift in a westerly direction. There are competition events which keep the balloons over or near the launch site giving a photographer much opportunity to get a good shot, but I've never tried to photograph the balloons from the crest before. Somebody else will have to answer that.

You can also pay for a balloon ride and get some great shots aloft.

The early morning inflation time is also a good opportunity to walk among the 500-600 balloons and keep your shutter jumping.

The food and souvenir vendor area is hundreds of yards long and will keep you stuffed with coffee, donuts and breakfast burritos dripping delicious New Mexico grown green chili.

But as I said before, the weather can be treacherous. I've been down on the field at 5-6 AM when it was barely above freezing, but in other years it might be much warmer. Just remember it is October and anything is possible. I recall one year when it was low overcast with drizzle morning after morning causing the launches to be either delayed or cancelled altogether.

Ed Chu Loc: Las Vegas NV

jaw dropping is not the term I would use for the green chile beef stew; back in 1987 I took a mouthful; tears, tears and more tears, pain, pain, and, more pain; water doesn't help. tread carefully when trying it.

Dan Mc Loc: NM

Pssshhhhaaaww!! Locals use that like Visine!!! ;-^)