Rise Above It
Aug, 2015Views
3384
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Awards
Action Award
Chatter Award
Legendary Award
Contest Finalist in Beautiful Sunrises Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Stunning POV Photo Contest
Runner Up in Fish Eye And Wide Angle Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Fish Eye And Wide Angle Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Clash Of The Pros Photo Contest
Featured
Contest Finalist in Sunrises vs Sunsets Photo Contest
Editor's Choice
Peer Award
Superb Composition
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Top Choice
Outstanding Creativity
Magnificent Capture
Superior Skill
All Star
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bonic1999
August 26, 2015
It's like a fairy tale :-) Nice place, colors and composition. Hello and welcome to ViewBug.
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo from a hot air balloon over Helen, Georgia. It was a little unnerving at first being in a basket suspended hundreds of feet in the air, but once I saw the colors and the misty morning clouds, I was more interested in getting some great shots and much less concerned being high up in a small basket. What I remember most is how quiet the world below was early in the morning. I could hear a dog barking and a lone car starting, otherwise it was completely quiet. It was surreal.Time
This photo was taken at dawn, I would say it was around 6:30am.Early morning is the most favorable time for hot air balloon flight, and at golden hour the light is perfect!Lighting
This perfect time to shoot as it was right around golden hour and sunrise. The early morning light illuminated the misty clouds, and the sky had beautiful magenta and orange tones. The lighting was ideal.Equipment
I shot this scene with a Canon EOS 1-DS Mark 3 and a Sigma 18-35mm at 19mm f/8 1/160 ISO 100Inspiration
I went to Helen, Georgia to capture the annual Balloon Race, and I was lucky enough to talk one of the owners into taking me up for a ride. My original plan was to shoot the balloons from the ground. Going up provides a unique perspective that I otherwise would have never even imagined.Editing
I bumped up the saturation in Photoshop to intensify the colors, and I used Topaz Adjust Spicify at 40% to really make it pop.In my camera bag
I shot this scene a couple of years ago, and at that time I was shooting with Canon bodies and lenses. I have since switched over to the Nikon D800 because I absolutely love the Nikon 14-24 f2.8; it's my favorite lens of all time. I always have my Nikon 24-70 f2.8 and my Sigma 10mm fisheye in my bag as well, and I carry a Manfrotto aluminum travel tripod with a Really Right Stuff BH-30 ball head.Feedback
The morning mist is only available at dawn, and the sunrise golden hour is in my opinion the best time of day to get the best light. To me it's the misty cloud cover that really makes this image. Being up in a balloon brings an entirely different perspective. One could likely get a similar shot with a drone, but it would not be as easy to compose the final image, and there is not as much sense of adventure when you are standing safe on the ground.
