Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
Sep 29, 2016 13:28:11 #
AZNikon
Loc: Mesa, AZ
I'm looking for some practical tips for equipment management for this event. If you have attended recently and can offer some good advice on where to park, what to carry and the practicality of getting back to the car to change lenses and add tripod, etc., that would be great. I'm thinking get there early for the Dawn Patrol with my 28-300 mm walk-around and then head back to the car once the balloons are aloft for my tripod and my 150-600 mm for the in-flight shots. Would that work? Don't know when I'll be able to do this again so I really want to get this one right. Thanks, Bob
Sep 29, 2016 15:22:46 #
There are several park and rides, example Coronado Shopping mall where you park and they have lots of buses that will take you to event and back. Trying to park anywhere near the event can be a nightmare.
Sep 30, 2016 02:26:37 #
bobbennett wrote:
I'm looking for some practical tips for equipment ... (show quote)
Try to get there as they unload the balloons from the trucks. Half-loft can be an amazing site.
Sep 30, 2016 09:24:20 #
bobbennett wrote:
I'm looking for some practical tips for equipment ... (show quote)
Get there BEFORE sunrise.
Sep 30, 2016 09:38:42 #
I was there last Fall and learned from a local to go out early Thurs AM to scope out the site, field set up, parking, and get some pics of some of the professional tourist carrying balloons as they lay out, inflate, load with customers, and take off. I mean real early like 5:30/6:00. You can park just outside the gate. It's a pretty much no hassle warm up for next day/weekend which will be crowded, although you can still go right onto the field.
Sep 30, 2016 10:20:08 #
We left at 4AM last year hoping to get there in time for the mass ascension. Traffic on I-25 was horrendous and we did not make it in time. Also, by the time we got there, there was zero parking at the balloon park and we ended up parking on some side street about a mile away. That's why this year, we are going to take the park N Ride bus. I'm going to wear my Domke photog vest to carry some extra lenses, etc.
Sep 30, 2016 10:40:11 #
Expect to have a pretty good walk from the parking lot to the field because the close parking is reserved. The times I have gone, I have been able to drive right into the park because my daughter has VIP passes, but if you don't have that advantage, it could be a ways.
If it were me I would have a backpack that carried all I needed. I have a pack that holds everything including a tripod. It might be up 1/2 mile from the parking lot to the grounds.
Bill
If it were me I would have a backpack that carried all I needed. I have a pack that holds everything including a tripod. It might be up 1/2 mile from the parking lot to the grounds.
Bill
Sep 30, 2016 12:51:13 #
I'm in the airport right now leaving Albuquerque. I did get a few shots of balloons though.
Sep 30, 2016 19:29:32 #
Best to take the park and ride bus, carrying everything you might need with you (from a church or public parking lot, they have these standing by). If this is not an option, with a zoom lens, you can see and photograph most of the activity from a distance. I even captured some of them from the hotel balcony. What you would miss this way would be close-up shots, or wide angles of the take off's. Most of the balloons are really large, and a 300mm lens is the longest I used, even at a distance.
Sep 30, 2016 19:44:01 #
Wanda Krack wrote:
Best to take the park and ride bus, carrying every... (show quote)
As I mentioned earlier, we tried driving out last year. Never again! What a nightmare! We plan to take the Park and Ride from Coronado Mall.
Sep 30, 2016 19:59:04 #
AZNikon
Loc: Mesa, AZ
Wanda Krack wrote:
Most of the balloons are really large, and a 300mm lens is the longest I used, even at a distance.
Music to my ears and really what I needed to know. Now I can feel fairly confident that I won't miss too much leaving my 150-600 and my tripod behind. Plus, I'll be there four days, so if Thursday is a mistake I can adjust Friday, etc. Thanks, Bob.
Sep 30, 2016 21:15:53 #
bobbennett wrote:
Music to my ears and really what I needed to know. Now I can feel fairly confident that I won't miss too much leaving my 150-600 and my tripod behind. Plus, I'll be there four days, so if Thursday is a mistake I can adjust Friday, etc. Thanks, Bob.
You definitely won't need the 150-600. I plan to take my 7DM2 with 24-105 attached and then probably the 10-18mm for wide angle and 70-200 for tele shots. I have a 300mm Prime, but with a crop sensor that's probably overkill so probably not going to lug that around.
Oct 1, 2016 14:58:14 #
I'm at the festival now.
The place is very crowded, even in the early morning!
Take the Park-and-Ride (buy online - the airport P_R is the least busy and will save you time and effort) and save time and grief.
Forget about going back to your car.
Take one mid-range zoom lens.
A monopod or tripod for the dawn patrol is a must. The monopod is lighter and handier and works quite well.
Cool in the early morning (light jacket). Hot in the day.
Plenty of opportunities to eat at the festival if you miss breakfast.
Great Show!
Have fun!
Bob
The place is very crowded, even in the early morning!
Take the Park-and-Ride (buy online - the airport P_R is the least busy and will save you time and effort) and save time and grief.
Forget about going back to your car.
Take one mid-range zoom lens.
A monopod or tripod for the dawn patrol is a must. The monopod is lighter and handier and works quite well.
Cool in the early morning (light jacket). Hot in the day.
Plenty of opportunities to eat at the festival if you miss breakfast.
Great Show!
Have fun!
Bob
Oct 1, 2016 18:41:04 #
Oct 2, 2016 17:41:09 #
Caught the bus at Coronado Mall at 4:30 AM this morning. Took 15 mins to get there! Had a great time right on the field during the mass ascent. Of course I got my "Canon" fiesta pin! On the bus ride back, saw Public Service crews with a cherry picker trying to untangle a balloon that got caught in electrical lines.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.