How to Shoot the Albequerque International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta: I will be attending this hot air balloon event next week and would appreciate any tips on how to approach shooting...

klattimer

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. Thank you in advance for your help.

Spirit Vision Photography Loc: Behind a Camera.

Arrive very early. It will be packed. I prefer the images taken inside the balloons as they inflate them (wide angle).

Basil Loc: New Mexico

Park at Coronado Shopping Mall (or one of the other Park and Ride locations) and use the park and ride - well worth it! Trying to park on-site can be an absolute nightmare! The park and ride is very easy and convenient. They have specific routes blocked off so the buses can get there very quickly. Traffic on I-25 will be horrible - trust me on that.

klattimer

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.

Basil Loc: New Mexico

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.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/search-topic-list?q=Albequerque+International+Hot+Air+Balloon+Fiesta&sectnum=0&username=

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Will you shoot early in the day or late in the evening? Will it be sunny? Shooting early or late could need a higher ISO or a fast lens. If a sunny day your lens should do the job.
I used to shoot hot air balloons here in Homestead, a city made famous by hurricane Andrews. The event took place usually early in the morning and at times I wish I had brought my flash with me. Once the sun is out exposures are easier since there is plenty of light.
Manual exposure could make you loose some shots. My preference would be for aperture or shutter priority. If the lens you are using has no VR shutter priority will be a must. The big advantage of Aperture Priority is that control of the depth of field is easier. A tripod could be problematic, especially with so many people around you. A polarizer will darken the sky in good light to bring better contrast when the balloons are in the air.
I guess the rest will depend on you and your creativity.

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

klattimer wrote:

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. Thank you in advance for your help.

Here you go, took 3 seconds on google.

https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video;_ylt=AwrBT9E4eNNZ.zUAymNXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEyZ3Z1b2hvBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDVUkyQzNfMQRzZWMDc2M-?p=How+to+Shoot+the+albuquerque+International+Hot+Air+Balloon+Fiesta&fr=mcafee

jmvaugh Loc: Albuquerque

See you here in a few days! Both weekends are for the mass ascension and it will be absolutely packed so trying to use a tripod would be difficult to say the least. If you ride the buses in and out - take the earliest ones to arrive before the Dawn Patrol. That way you can catch the balloons lighting up. Your 18-280 should be wonderful. They also have balloon glowdeos at night which even for a long time Albuquerque resident (44 years) are absolutely gorgeous.

Relax, have fun, enjoy all the food (carnival, state fair venue type things with a chile kick - try a stuffed sopapilla - it’s wonderful).

Rich2236 Loc: E. Hampstead, New Hampshire

To shoot the balloon festival, use a camera....OMG that was baaaad Sorry couldn't resist.
Rich...

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Get there well before dawn. I'd take both wide-angle and normal-to-moderate-telephoto zooms... as well as a longer telephoto. I despise and will not use "do-it-all" zooms. They usually disappoint. But keep your kit small and light so you can be as mobile as possible. I usually would not try to use a tripod (but I have done so in the past... using a large format camera at balloon festivals). Get in and around the participants for a lot of photo opportunities.

Best of all is to get to know some of the participants and even volunteer to work on one of the ground crews. That way you can a lot of up close action, plus get into one of the chase vehicles and extend your shooting session. Heck, if lucky you might even get a ride in a balloon and be able to take some aerial view shots or air-to-air shots!

It'll all be over in time to go for breakfast.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

klattimer wrote:

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. Thank you in advance for your help.

Actually, if you have a decent Bridge Camera, like a Canon SX60 or Nikon P900, you will do just fine at a Balloon Festival. The P900 has great focal range to 2000mm, and the SX60 has a range to 1365mm. The P900 does not shoot RAW, the SX60 does.

Basil Loc: New Mexico

mas24 wrote:

Actually, if you have a decent Bridge Camera, like a Canon SX60 or Nikon P900, you will do just fine at a Balloon Festival. The P900 has great focal range to 2000mm, and the SX60 has a range to 1365mm. The P900 does not shoot RAW, the SX60 does.

I have an SX50 and find the low-light capability lacking for things like early morning mass ascent or evening balloon glow

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Basil wrote:

I have an SX50 and find the low-light capability lacking for things like early morning mass ascent or evening balloon glow

I never thought of that. There was a member on this forum from Tennessee, forgot user name, who took some great photos of Balloons, with a Sony HX300 or HX400 Bridge camera. But, they were in broad daylight.

Basil Loc: New Mexico

mas24 wrote:

I never thought of that. There was a member on this forum from Tennessee, forgot user name, who took some great photos of Balloons, with a Sony HX300 or HX400 Bridge camera. But, they were in broad daylight.

If you're not interested in shooting any of the evening or early morning events, then yes, a camera like the SX50 would be more than adequate to the task for 90% of scenarios.