Tips for Fiesta Field

  TIP: In the early going, take pictures of the crowd and interesting balloons as they are being inflated, instead of balloons against a gray sky.


  TIP: Take lots of pictures from different angles and vantage points.

  TIP: Take some real close-up shots. Try to capture the excitement, the “color” of the Fiesta. It only takes a moment to step in close for the perfect detail shot.


  TIP: Try to wait until the sky has gotten good color. It’s hard, but there are 700 balloons going up and the opportunities for photographs abound.

  TIP: Try to take close-up photographs of 1, 2, 3 or more balloons. (Attempting to put as many balloons as possible into one shot only results in pictures of tiny dots against a blue sky.)


  TIP: Remember that the sun comes up over the mountains on the east side of the field – try to keep the “midway” at your back to prevent shooting into the sun. Reason: The sun is so bright that if the sun is in front of you, the camera sees the sun and not your subject. Keep the sun behind you for the brightest, most brilliant colors.

  TIP: Wait until the balloons are high in the sky before going to take pictures of the midway. The souvenir stands, food emporia and the crafts exhibits will still be there after the fun of the mass ascension is complete.

Low Light

There are three low-light or night photo events at the Balloon Fiesta. The first is the early morning “Dawn Patrol”; the second, the “Glow” in the early evening; and the third, the spectacular Fireworks display following the “Glow.” If you are not experienced in low-light photography, you’ll get advice that covers the spectrum of possibilities about how to take pictures. Here’s ours.

  TIP: Bring a flashlight. It is impossible to change your camera settings on the balloon field in the early morning/at night without a flashlight. You’ll especially need a light during the fireworks because people sit down all over the field, and it’s hard to keep from stepping on them if you change your vantage point in the course of the show.


  TIP: Bring your tripod and cable release. They are a must for all of the low-light events and there is room for you to set them up. Opportunities to brace the camera on a stable object in lieu of using a tripod are rare.


  TIP: Use very high speed film or the highest ISO your digital camera provides. Noise is not your enemy here, it’s blurred images due to camera shake.


  TIP: Set the aperture to the widest opening your lens allows and let the camera decide the shutter speed.


  TIP: The fireworks are the hardest to photograph because the shutter speed will be so very long. Set up your tripod and aim at the spot where most of the rockets explode – then shoot at will.

  Your shots will have an absolutely black background – so even though you can’t extract the explosions, you can cut them out and paste them to make great composites.


  TIP: The fireworks are set off at the north end of the field. Picking a spot about halfway down the field and toward the middle gives the best vantage point. The fireworks people also surprise you with a wonderful rocket display at the west side of the field as part of the finale – be ready.

Advanced Photographers

  Today, many professionals and talented amateurs are using digital SLRs and processing their pictures using Photoshop or other digital imaging software. Even die-hard film camera buffs regularly digitize their photos and manipulate them in the computer. The Balloon Fiesta is a bonanza for anyone using advanced techniques. If you are serious about getting the best shots, organization is the key.

  TIP: We have found that the best lens for this event is a 28/80 zoom. It is usually a fast, relatively light zoom and has plenty of range for framing photographs in this environment. There are not many opportunities to use really long lenses because it’s hard to steady them without a tripod. Tripods are difficult to use during the “Mass Ascensions” because of the crowds unless you are an accredited professional with access to restricted vantage points.

  TIP: Buy a Balloon Fiesta program and choose the balloons that you would most like to photograph. Each of the balloons is assigned a specific space on the field for the duration of the Balloon Fiesta, so locating any balloon is easy once you know the system. The entire mass ascension is carefully choreographed and there’s plenty of time to take gorgeous shots of individual balloons or groups of balloons as they go up.

  TIP: The clear blue sky and well defined edges of the colorful balloons make the job of extracting individual balloons or groups of balloons relatively easy using Photoshop or another photo manipulating program. You can then make wonderful composite pictures and produce prints not possible in reality.

  TIP: Wait until there are very large numbers of balloons aloft to take some “background” shots to use in making your composites.