Advice for Hot Air Balloon Festival?

[Destin]

Shooting a hot air balloon festival tomorrow. I’ve never been to one, know nothing about it, and have no idea what to expect.

Anyone have any advice?

 

[jcdeboever]

bring a fish eye if you got it

 

[Destin]

bring a fish eye if you got it

My 20mm prime is the widest I’ve got right now :/

 

[tirediron]

Advice? Take me!

 

[Destin]

Rode the motorcycle over an hour there, arrived at 6am for the beginning of the launch, and found out that they cancelled due to weather last minute.

It was clear with 9-10 mph winds.

But the FAA guy in charge of the launch wanted winds of 8mph or less to let them fly.

I’m frustrated, but it is what it is. Have to wait another year now.

 

[jcdeboever]

Rode the motorcycle over an hour there, arrived at 6am for the beginning of the launch, and found out that they cancelled due to weather last minute.

It was clear with 9-10 mph winds.

But the FAA guy in charge of the launch wanted winds of 8mph or less to let them fly.

I’m frustrated, but it is what it is. Have to wait another year now.

man, that sucks.

 

[smoke665]

I went to a large one 2 years ago, the flight was postponed, and we had to leave the next day, but that night they did a light the sky, with the balloons on the ground. Really neat, so colorful. Unfortunately this was also the night my K30 bit the dust, so they aren't as sharp as I would have liked

 

[wannabe photographer]

Advice? Take me!

 

[SquarePeg]

That stinks. One of these is on my bucket list. There’s one every year in Stowe MA which is close but far from me. It always seem to bump up against my trips to Maine.

 

[Destin]

That stinks. One of these is on my bucket list. There’s one every year in Stowe MA which is close but far from me. It always seem to bump up against my trips to Maine.

This one is in Dansville, NY every year. They claim it’s one of the largest in the country. Probably not too terribly far from you if MA is within range.

There is also an Adirondack balloon festival every year.

 

[smoke665]

So @Destin are you planning on riding with someone so you can get a first hand look?

 

[Destin]

So @Destin are you planning on riding with someone so you can get a first hand look?

I was debating paying for a ride today if it hadn’t been cancelled. I’ve always wanted to go up in one and I think flying among a group of them would give incredible photo opportunities.

 

[SquarePeg]

So @Destin are you planning on riding with someone so you can get a first hand look?

I was debating paying for a ride today if it hadn’t been cancelled. I’ve always wanted to go up in one and I think flying among a group of them would give incredible photo opportunities.

I’ve been up in one and it’s incredible. It was before my photography days and not at a festival. Red Rock mountains in Sedona. Definitely not something to be missed.

 

[smoke665]

I’ve always wanted to go up in one and I think flying among a group of them would give incredible photo opportunities.

My cousin had one, went to events all over the country for awhile. I went up with him once, but didn't have a lot of time to enjoy. It is an experience that you really should try. My intention was to go back when I had the time to take a longer trip, but before I could, he had to make an "emergency" landing during a flight in a cornfield. The burner set fire to the field, resulting in a large claim. Balloon was sold shortly thereafter. LOL

 

[greybeard]

The only advice I can offer would be to take a polarizing filter to darken the sky a bit and give the balloons more POP.