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08/23/2005 05:09:25 PM · #1 |
We are going to have a balloon launch here this weekend. Want to get some good shots. Does anybody have any ideas for this type of photography? I took some last year, but only a few turned out. Most were either to dark or the night burns were blurry.
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08/23/2005 05:30:55 PM · #2 |
A few of us got up in the wee hours to shoot balloons at the end of July.
Here's a thread with a few results: Our balloon shoot.
Be sure to check out Butterflysis's SmugMug page for more images--you might get some good ideas.
I can't find the other thread where Alienyst asked for advice before going. But one tip I remember from that is to get on the sunny side of the balloons if possible--they truly can be dark on the shady side.
Watch your metering as bright sky can throw everything off. |
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08/23/2005 05:44:06 PM · #3 |
Those are some great shots. Last year I had to shoot toward the sun. that could have been my biggest problem. Thanks!
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08/23/2005 05:59:36 PM · #4 |
Ha..I can't find the thread either KaDi. Oh well. The advice you posted was the best there as I recall.
If you can get close to the balloons as we could, it is hotter than it looks. When they fire up the burners the heat is instant and can be felt from quite a distance.
As KaDi said, the sky can be tricky. A lot of my shots were very dark. After talking with Jennifer (Butterflysis) and at her suggestion I compensated for the exposures by at least a full stop + and the results were much better. That is for the sky pics I did this.
My best advice...don't hesitate to press the shutter. Once the pilots get going and the handlers are out of the way it does not take long before they are airborne and out of good focal range if you have the wrong lense on. It happens very fast. In the course of 1/2 hour most of the balloons were airborn and gone.
Keep the shutter button pressed and HAVE FUN!
EDIT: typos
Message edited by author 2005-08-23 18:13:39. |
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08/23/2005 06:08:49 PM · #5 |
Here are some shots from a balloon festival last year. I'm hoping to get better ones this year, now that I have some semblance of half-a-clue. ;)
//laurielblack.smugmug.com/gallery/225202
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08/23/2005 06:23:26 PM · #6 |
From a balloon event in Boise Idaho a few years ago. I have a bunch of photos but they are all film and I haven't taken the time to scan them.
Early morning is the ususal launch time and the light is generally best then as well. If possible, bum a ride in one and get a different perspective.
Dick
Message edited by author 2005-08-23 18:23:57. |
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08/23/2005 06:27:42 PM · #7 |
heres one of mine
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08/23/2005 06:38:00 PM · #8 |
Hi, I'm quite new to all this, here are a few I took last weekend at a balloon launch in the UK.
I found 1/6th-1/3rd second shutter worked best for the night shots. |
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08/23/2005 07:00:08 PM · #9 |
This image that I shot at the International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, NM, might give you a few ideas.
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08/23/2005 07:16:57 PM · #10 |
...thought my ears were ringing! :-)
Assuming you can get up close to the balloons, you will, in most cases, want a wide lens to shoot the balloons before they launch. At the Binghamton Balloon Fest I pretty much left my 12-24mm on the entire time. The sky that morning was very cloudy, mostly light gray. Compensating by +1-2 stops was necessary that morning. Some fill-flash may also be helpful while on the shady side. However, if the sun is behind the balloons and is bright enough it can offer some nice backlighting and possibly give them a nice 'glow'. After the balloons launch a telephoto is handy and will compress the other balloons in the shot so they look closer and will give a sense of many balloons in the same place...rather than widely spaced from one another.
When I shot balloons in NC we had to stay back from the balloons. I started off with my tele to get them working on inflating the balloons. Then I shot a few with my 12-24mm when they were just beginning their launch. After a few shots I switched back to my tele again and got them in the sky. I used a polarizer that day to reduce the glare off the balloons. It was an incredibly, incredibly humid day and was 96F. Ugh. That shoot was around 6pm, the sun was quite strong and it was hazy.
Hope this helps. Good luck and share your pics when you return!
- Jen
Message edited by author 2005-08-23 19:17:20.
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08/23/2005 08:06:19 PM · #11 |
Man, this is some great advice. I hope that I can get some good shots. Thanks
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08/25/2005 11:51:46 AM · #12 |
I saw this thread and wanted to throw up a couple of my pictures. These were taken at the Eden, Utah Balloon festival. Great event in a beautiful little valley. I find that if you get away from the action, instead of right next to the lauch area, more shots will just happen for you. Good Luck!
//i19.photobucket.com/albums/b191/jdmo/up.jpg
//i19.photobucket.com/albums/b191/jdmo/balloonscape.jpg
//i19.photobucket.com/albums/b191/jdmo/balloon_moon.jpg
//i19.photobucket.com/albums/b191/jdmo/awakening.jpg
I tried to thumbnail these with no luck.
JM
Message edited by muckpond - changed large images to links :). |
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08/25/2005 12:10:04 PM · #13 |
reminder -- please post links instead of large images.
you can't automatically thumbnail images if you don't have a DPC membership and portfolio.
you can thumbnail them on your own, and then post the thumbnails and link those to the original photos if you'd like. click here for more info
thanks! |
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08/25/2005 01:29:03 PM · #14 |
Some ideas from a local balloon fest here this summer.
Hot Air Balloons |
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09/29/2005 06:07:07 PM · #15 |
| those are all cool pictures. i'd post some to but I'm not computer savvy enough to even try so I'll just give you the link www.balloonrides.aero |
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