SPECTATOR
TIPS
1.
Dress in layers,
It’s sometimes very
cool in the morning,
but after the sun
comes up, it will
warm up noticeably.
2. Don’t smoke
anywhere near the
balloons! A lit
cigarette could
possibly ignite a
balloon’s fuel tank.
3. Decide among your
group where you
could meet in case
someone gets
separated or lost.
Make sure your
children have some
identification on
them.
4. Watch where
you’re going! Don’t
"drive and watch" at
the same time. The
balloons are a
magnificent, but a
distracting sight.
Move completely to
the side of the road
to watch.
5. Beware of
vehicles moving
around the field,
especially emergency
vehicles needing to
get through the
crowd.
6. It is very
important for all
spectators to Please
stay behind the
roped off area! The
balloons need plenty
of space to prepare
for flight!
Photo Tips
Move in Close:
Create simpler,
bolder pictures that
are not cluttered
with unwanted
detail. Close-ups
provide variety and
add interest to
pictures. Take the
overall view, then a
tight view, then
some close-ups of
the details.
Watch the
Background:
Look for simple
backgrounds to
minimize distraction
from the subject.
Explore the variety
of viewpoints
available for your
subject. A low
angle, looking into
the blue sky can
produce a simple and
pleasant background.
Try a low angle when
posing friends near
a balloon.
Subject Placement in
the Frame:
Off-center placement
of your subject
creates a dynamic
balance.
Front Lighting:
When the sun shines
over your shoulder
you'll capture the
brightest and most
saturated colors.
Side Lighting:
When the light
shines across the
scene, the mix of
light and shadow
creates a realistic,
3D looking
photograph with an
excellent feeling
for depth and
texture.
The magic hour of
twilight:
Dawn or dusk create
beautiful lighting
opportunities where
the warmth of
"Balloon Glow"
blends with velvet
blue of muted
skylight.
Photographers call
this "the jewel box
effect". Twilight
and night are low
levels of light
which require high
speed films. Flash will
help in situations
of close range, but
will not help for
overall scenes.
Lens Choice:
Normal (50 mm) or
wide angle (24, 28
or 35mm) allows
moving close to the
balloons to avoid
people. Telephoto,
or telephoto zoom
(70-210mm) for
details out of
reach.
Keep Your Camera
Steady!
Gently squeeze the
shutter release for
sharper photos.
Keep Shutter Speeds
Fast!
Faster shutter
speeds, such as a
1/250 of a second
generally provide
sharper pictures
when using telephoto
lenses and
hand-holding your
camera.