Pre-Dawn Hot Air Balloons

**brucep** · 06-29-2008, 06:04 PM

My wife and I and our photographer granddaugher, Izzy met up with Steve (Calnumismatist) and his girlfriend at the Windsor Hot Air Balloon Classic this morning. You can see his post here.

The balloonists in this event inflate their balloons before dawn and it makes for a spectacular sight which is difficult to expose correctly.

Izzy with her 350D on my monopod (You can see her photos here):

I lay on my back on the ground to get this shot:

The 16mm lens makes the huge balloon look small.

C&C welcome as always.

**marshall2** · 06-29-2008, 06:12 PM

They are great Bruce, the colours on the balloons are really cool. Looks like it was a good time, thanks for sharing.

**steffies** · 06-29-2008, 06:51 PM

Lovely colors, that third one is a great perspective!

**wulos** · 06-30-2008, 01:43 AM

Very nice.
Can see what you mean about the 16mm as well...
thanx for sharing.

**Skippy** · 06-30-2008, 04:55 AM

Good shots Bruce. Like the idea of pre-dawn. Unfortunately this time Izzy's catch of inside is favorite.

Skippy

PS

Is there a particular reason Izzy's Dad won't let her join?

**brucep** · 06-30-2008, 09:17 AM

Thanks for looking and commenting, folks. These (and Izzy's) photos give the impression we had plenty of light to work with and see by, but really it was VERY dim except when we'd hear the roar of a balloon's propane flames and we used that light (primarily) to capture these images.

Skippy, Izzy's dad's a great guy and he just hasn't had a chance to check out the 'zo and see that it's a safe place. She has enough sense that if someone PM'd her to help him"find his puppy" that she'd just report it to me or another mod who'd get the law on them or at least ban them from the 'zo. Izzy's 11 years old, BTW.

**Calnumismatist** · 06-30-2008, 10:18 AM

Love that first shot. I believe that would be the one to send to the pilot. It was a pleasure meeting you and shooting this event. I look forward to my next trip up north.

**brucep** · 06-30-2008, 10:49 AM

I'm going to send Izzy's and my better shots to that balloon pilot, Steve. He was most accomodating. I'm going to mark Izzy's image numbers with a leading "I" so he'll know to credit her if any of hers get used.

**Skippy** · 06-30-2008, 01:37 PM

Hope Bruce, that you will send her snail mail with all the comments people made. My grand daughter is only 11 also and no where near as sophisticated as Izzy appears, so I can understand her Dad feeling that way. GD only gets on line here to do a little home work and I am usually nearby looking over her shoulder.

Skippy

**nevets2001uk** · 07-04-2008, 04:04 AM

What a great sight and well photographed Bruce. Will check out the other images as well. My favourite is the first one of the three balloons being inflated.

Cheers,
Steve