klattimer wrote:
Thank you. Fortunately, I will be staying with a local who is experienced with the logistics of this event. I would be grateful for any comments about my original questions:
I will be attending this hot air balloon event next week and would appreciate any tips on how to approach shooting it, including focal length (I am thinking of using my 18-280 zoom), camera settings (manual or a priority mode, ISO), composition and possible need for a tripod.
Ok, well from my own experience, in the mornings when I'm shooting the initial ascent and/or balloon glow and it's relatively dark, I'd shoot in Aperture priority mode and shoot wide open (for my 24-105 lens that was f4.0). I'd use a somewhat high ISO (sometimes as high as 6400) so as to allow for shutter speeds of about 1/50 - 1/80 to get a decent "glow." You'll have time to play with ISO - but you'll want to use an ISO that gives you fast enough shutter speed so as to allow reasonably sharp images (assuming you're shooting hand-help). As the sun comes up and more light is available I'd sometimes stop down to 5.6 or f8, depending on what I'm shooting. Even then, if I am shooing a subject I want to isolate I'd open up to f4 again and shoot with faster shutter speed. I think you're lens should be a good choice as a walk around lens for this event. I did not use a tripod only because it was a hassle to walk around and enjoy the event with one. Personal preference. This is just how I did it and had pretty good results.