Posted by Bob Falcone on September 3, 2009 at 11:32 AM
The Colorado Balloon Classic is this weekend in Colorado Springs. It looks like the weather will cooperate...
Posted by Koveh Tavakkol on September 3, 2009 at 11:37 AM
I will be there Sunday morning. I have never shot an event like this, so it should be interesting. Any recommendations on a good location, as I am not familiar with the park?
Posted by Bob Falcone on September 3, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Get there early (real early) and find a good spot along the lake. The east side of the lake about 1/2 way down works good because you can usually get a nice reflection of Pikes Peak along with the balloons as they do their low approaches over the lake (and maybe even dip their baskets).
An alternative site is about a mile south of the park at the top of Union Blvd just past the MLK Bypass.
I've arranged to get off work early Saturday, but won't get there in time to get a good location along the lake, so I'll be on the hill. On Sunday I plan on being along the lake.
Posted by Koveh Tavakkol on September 3, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Thanks for the info Bob.. I just looked at the map and I see exactly where you are talking about. I plan on being there before 6am on Sunday morning, so maybe I will run into you and not even know it. =) Is it even worth while trying to get pictures of the setup process and them actually filling the balloons, or will you just be sacrificing a good spot along the lake? I guess I can do the launch from the lake and then move in and take closer pictures after they land and are taking down the balloons.
Posted by Mel Ladewig on September 3, 2009 at 1:18 PM
I shot off the west side of the lake two years ago and caught the sun shining through the balloons.
As a side note. The Colorado Springs Balloon Festival runs one of the WORST photo contests I've ever seen. They do the whole rights grab thing, but also charge you to enter and the only prize I've seen is a balloon ride in next year's event.
Posted by Koveh Tavakkol on September 3, 2009 at 2:31 PM
Good to know. I was not planning on doing the photo contest. Just shooting the event for my own enjoyment. =)
Posted by Bob Falcone on September 3, 2009 at 7:02 PM
Koveh,
I would forgo taking photos of the set up, unless you have someone hold your spot along the lake. Plus, it's pretty crowded.
Since member of this group are using green ribbons on their cars to identify each other for fall color shooting, I'll tie one to my tripod, too.
Mel, I agree about the contest. I entered it some years ago and placed 3rd. A couple of years later a local company wanted to use my image for commercial purposes, and I gave them my price. They then went around me to the Balloon people to get it from them for free. I raised a big enough ruckus over it that it didn't get used by the company, and I'll never enter their contest again.
Posted by James H Egbert on September 3, 2009 at 10:51 PM
Hey guys and Gals keep an eye out for a KKTV 11 News Camera, it'll be me all three days shootin the event for a Sunday Night Story. I'll be out there on my own Monday.
Posted by Ken Wyatt on September 4, 2009 at 10:33 AM
I'll likely be shooting there Sat. evening and Sunday morning - early. There's also a pow-wow up in Woodland Park's Memorial Park. I'll be at this Sat. Bob, where's the best (free? close-in?) parking near the balloon gig?
Ken
Posted by Bob Falcone on September 4, 2009 at 7:20 PM
Ken,
Not much free parking close by. I usually park in the medical center parking lot at Printers Parkway and Union Blvd. I think it's the Lions Club that runs it, and it's about $5 to park. Fairly close, so not too bad. Get there early (I usually there between 5:30 and 6:00). I'll look for you there Sunday morning.
Posted by Koveh Tavakkol on September 6, 2009 at 6:48 PM
It was great meeting and chatting with you Ken & Bob. Hopefully we will get a chance to shoot sometime in the near future. Did you guys manage to get anything at the lake? I ended up going close to the balloons and got a few good shots there, but by the time I got back to the lake the light was too harsh, so I packed up and headed home.
Posted by Bob Falcone on September 7, 2009 at 7:45 AM
Koveh, it was great meeting you, too.
A couple of the balloons did manage to maneuver over to the lake and do some splash downs, to the delight of the crowd. The sky directly overhead also cleared enough that I was able to shoot without too much haze. It wasn't a perfect day for shooting, but there should be some salvageable stuff.
James, I looked around for a KKTV camera, but didn't see one...
Posted by James H Egbert on September 7, 2009 at 1:06 PM
Well to show I was there at least one of the days, Here's George Lepp shooting one of the Balloons I helped crew with and featured all weekend. He was playing with his 5D MKII Video Feature. We had a pleasant chat,
Discussion
12 repliesAn alternative site is about a mile south of the park at the top of Union Blvd just past the MLK Bypass.
I've arranged to get off work early Saturday, but won't get there in time to get a good location along the lake, so I'll be on the hill. On Sunday I plan on being along the lake.
As a side note. The Colorado Springs Balloon Festival runs one of the WORST photo contests I've ever seen. They do the whole rights grab thing, but also charge you to enter and the only prize I've seen is a balloon ride in next year's event.
I would forgo taking photos of the set up, unless you have someone hold your spot along the lake. Plus, it's pretty crowded.
Since member of this group are using green ribbons on their cars to identify each other for fall color shooting, I'll tie one to my tripod, too.
Mel, I agree about the contest. I entered it some years ago and placed 3rd. A couple of years later a local company wanted to use my image for commercial purposes, and I gave them my price. They then went around me to the Balloon people to get it from them for free. I raised a big enough ruckus over it that it didn't get used by the company, and I'll never enter their contest again.
Ken
Not much free parking close by. I usually park in the medical center parking lot at Printers Parkway and Union Blvd. I think it's the Lions Club that runs it, and it's about $5 to park. Fairly close, so not too bad. Get there early (I usually there between 5:30 and 6:00). I'll look for you there Sunday morning.
A couple of the balloons did manage to maneuver over to the lake and do some splash downs, to the delight of the crowd. The sky directly overhead also cleared enough that I was able to shoot without too much haze. It wasn't a perfect day for shooting, but there should be some salvageable stuff.
James, I looked around for a KKTV camera, but didn't see one...
I'll start a thread and post some of my D90 Shots