Photographs and commentary by Dick Snoke
A few of us from the photography group went to the launch of the Friday morning local balloon event. The main event, the Helen to the Atlantic race was launched the previous morning, this was just as much fun.
This being my first ever event of this kind, I had no idea what to expect or what sort of picture opportunities might be available. A few hundred people were waiting as the balloon teams arrived, took their assigned spots on the field and began getting ready to launch. The spectators were allowed to wander freely among the balloons, talk to the crews and poke their noses wherever they wished. So I did.
One fellow calmly walked over to a partially inflated balloon, lifted up a flap, stuck his head in and began taking pictures. So that’s how I got the first couple of shots. Then is was just a wander ’round to watch as the crews inflated and launched.
After about 90 minutes the field was empty but for one balloon which never launched, but stayed so people could have their pictures taken in the basket.
Photographing was tricky since the sun had risen about 30 min before the event began, but the hills still blocked the harsh light. As the time went on, the light got more and more difficult. The balloons headed east after launch (as if they had any choice), so some shots had to be done with the sun behind the balloon to be possible at all.
I chose to walk around, so I did not use a tripod or monopod. A tripod would have been possible only if you stayed off the field and just shot with a longer lens. A monopod would be feasible although no one I saw used one.
I did use all my lenses, 11-16 mm, 18-105 mm and 55-300 mm, as the situation changed.
I used no filters. At the start none was necessary. Later on a CPL might have been useful, but there was no time to adjust one since the compositions were constantly changing.