Albuquerque balloon festival suggestions: I will be attending the Albuquerque balloon festival next weekend and welcome suggestions on shooting it. I will be using a Fuji x-t30 with...

sabfish

I will be attending the Albuquerque balloon festival next weekend and welcome suggestions on shooting it. I will be using a Fuji x-t30 with 18-55 and 55-200 lenses.

GHW3 Loc: San Antonio, TX

Some of the best shots can be taken around 5:00am till dawn. The colors from the illumination are vivid and if you can play with slower shutter speeds (using your tripod) for some really cool effects. Candid shots of the wild antics going on are always amusing (lots of drinking going on). I would also scout the area several miles surrounding the festival grounds and find something picture-worthy and wait for the balloons to get in the background. I have been there several times over the last 30 years and it is always an amazing experience.

Dat Quach Loc: California

For the event, I’d used a 28mm f/1.7 and a 24-70mm f/2.8 and got awesome photos, so I think your 18-55mm will get you the same results.

The dawn ascension is just spectacular but there will be hundreds of people in front of you trying to take pictures. I’d suggest mounting your camera on a long monopod, extend it all the way up and use a remote trigger (WiFi or wired) to snap pictures. A fast and wide lens is strongly recommended because it is still dark (and very cold) at 6:00 am.

Take as many photos as you can at the first opportunity because balloons cannot be inflated and flown in high winds and session cancellations did occur in the past.

P.S. Traffic was a nightmare. I left my downtown hotel at 4:00 and got to the site at 5:30!

sabfish

Thanks for the advice. We are parking at one of their remote lots and taking a shuttle bus. That now seems to be the preferred method. Last Saturday the event was cancelled because of fog. Glad I missed that.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

sabfish wrote:

I will be attending the Albuquerque balloon festival next weekend and welcome suggestions on shooting it. I will be using a Fuji x-t30 with 18-55 and 55-200 lenses.

See if you can "buy" a spot in a basket. That would produce some great pictures. Every one has pictures taken in flight.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

sabfish wrote:

I will be attending the Albuquerque balloon festival next weekend and welcome suggestions on shooting it. I will be using a Fuji x-t30 with 18-55 and 55-200 lenses.

Early dawn during the glow period of the balloons.
I flew my plane around the Thunderbord one prior to launch restrictions and got excellent shots from above so now with a drone if allowed that might be interesting.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

As others have said, get there before dawn. I loved shooting into the balloons as they were being inflated. Often the handlers would go inside the ballon and appear in silhouette with the brightly lit background. The "umpires" who manage the take offs are colorfully dressed. It because of this festival that my husband insisted that I go digital after shooting 42 rolls of film in one day! Note to self, bring memory cards and extra batteries! Guaranteed to lose your mind!

sabfish

Very helpful advice. Thank you.

sabfish

Architect1776 wrote:

Early dawn during the glow period of the balloons.
I flew my plane around the Thunderbord one prior to launch restrictions and got excellent shots from above so now with a drone if allowed that might be interesting.

I don't own a drone and I would be very surprised if they allowed them. I can't imagine the chaos if there were dozens of drones trying to maneuver around the many balloons.

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

sabfish wrote:

I don't own a drone and I would be very surprised if they allowed them. I can't imagine the chaos if there were dozens of drones trying to maneuver around the many balloons.

They don't allow them.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

sabfish wrote:

I will be attending the Albuquerque balloon festival next weekend and welcome suggestions on shooting it. I will be using a Fuji x-t30 with 18-55 and 55-200 lenses.

I haven't done the Albuquerque one. I happened to be there in an RV park one year and they were lifting off and I got some distant shots but nothing great I was too far away.

I have done the festival's here in Fresno California in the best shots at least some of the best are when they light up before takeoff when it's still dark. That will be some of the best shots if you're 18 to 55 get right up against the basket and look up into the balloon and get the fire. For that you won't need a really fast lens but when you back away you will. So you're 18 to 55 will be good when they're still on the ground as a Lift-Off you'll need to change lenses and use the 55 to 200. these festivals are great for a lot of fun and there will be a huge crowd that you will need the fight there's a lot of pushing and shoving trying to get in to get the best shots, so tripods are out, and monopods, for me get in the way, with a fast lens and raising the iso if you have to, handheld can work. But remember at the balloon with the fire going there will be lots of light.

sabfish

That is a very helpful and practical suggestion. I was wondering how close they will allow you to get to the balloons. I guess I will find out!

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

sabfish wrote:

That is a very helpful and practical suggestion. I was wondering how close they will allow you to get to the balloons. I guess I will find out!

Don't know about Albuquerque, but here bother setting up they they don't want anyone in their way but when they start to light up and inflate the balloons they will allow photographers as long as they stay peaceful and don't get in the way they will allow photographers to get up close right up to the basket, that's where the photos are at up close and personal, for me anyway.

Jonssi

Architect1776 wrote:

Early dawn during the glow period of the balloons.
I flew my plane around the Thunderbord one prior to launch restrictions and got excellent shots from above so now with a drone if allowed that might be interesting.

Drones are not allowed within 4 miles of the Balloon Park. They have people with electronic devices to track down anyone guiding a drone.

scallihan Loc: Tigard, OR

I had the pleasure many years ago, before digital, and stayed with a friend who was on a Fiesta committee. So we had no traffic in the back way to participant parking. We did get to wander around and get up close and personal with the balloon crews as they were inflating. It was magical. Unfortunately, the slides are packed away. I must go through them and digitize them one day. (sigh)