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Steamboat Balloon Festival

Steamboat Balloon Festival
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Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi

settings

Aperture f/10.0 ISO 200 Shutter 1/250

upload_date

Jun, 2013

Views

294

Likes

Awards

Action Award

Zenith Award

Fall Award 2020

Outstanding Creativity

Top Choice

Absolute Masterpiece

Superb Composition

Top Ranks

Top 10 rank

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Top 20 rank

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Behind The Lens

Location

This was taken at the Steamboat Springs Balloon Rodeo, Steamboats most colorful weekend. It's a weekend of food, activities and craft shows in the mountain town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

Time

Not sure of the exact time but it was early morning. I remember that they allowed everyone to walk around in the area that they were launching from so I was right in the middle of all the balloons being launched. In fact I almost got a ride in one.

Lighting

Since it was early morning the sun was just rising, so the light was perfect and as they were rising, the combination of soft light, shadows and bright blue sky with the white clouds really made the balloons stand out.

Equipment

I shot this with a Canon EOS digital rebel XSI /450, I believe with a Canon 70-300mm at f/10.0/ISO 200/ 1/250. I was walking in and around the balloons so all I had at the time was my camera and zoom.

Inspiration

I had alway want to go to the Albuquerque Balloon Festival but never got there because I wanted to get some shots of hot air balloons. That is when I found out about this one in Steamboat which I'm close to. what was great is since they allow me to go in the launch area I was able to really get some great shots of the launches and prep from a really nice perspective that I wanted (up close and personal) and not your typical distance shots.

Editing

Didn't do a lot, just miner corrections with color and sharpness. I did take out advertisements on the balloon basket later.

In my camera bag

At the time this was my first true digital camera after switching from film. I had the XSI with a standard 18-55 kit lens and my 70-300mm which was my workhorse for many years. Now I go nowhere without my 6D for low light and landscape along with my 7D mk ii for wildlife and sports. I generally carry a Canon 28-105 IS l f4.0, 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L/ 70-200 f/2.8L and sometimes my Rokinon 14mm 2.8 along with a 2x converter for kicks. Yes I had to get a Lowpro Protactic 450 to carry it but it fits and I'm ready for anything. Now if I'm shooting something specific such as race or hockey game I'll lighten the load to a smaller bag but generally bring it all with a tri or monopod in the truck.

Feedback

I found that this smaller event allowed me to mingle with the pilots and riggers and get perspectives that large events don't allow. Even though I didn't have the most expensive equipment at the time, the early morning lighting and ability to get in and around all the activities going on, with patients allowed me to get beautiful shots such as this one taken from underneath the launch of two balloons.

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clemages

IMG_3558wm

Steamboat Balloon Festival

Behind The Lens

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