Hot Air Balloon

[David Loera]

Caught these guys over Chandler this Morning

[jslugman]

Nice. I've found balloons are deceptively difficult to shoot as the road I'm on always seem to be looking right into the sun. 

[PHX Photo]

Okay, I really want to try and get some photos of hot air balloons in all stages... to do this, I need to find out when and where launches/events will be.  So far I've found this site, but it looks like at this time, I have 2 choices: drive to Yuma in 2 weeks, or wait until January and head into Glendale.

I've been seeing balloons randomly in the early mornings the last few weeks, but I wasn't able to get any shots.

Anybody else have any info, ideas, resources, secret informant...?

http://www.hotairballoon.com/ 

[BillOz]

PHX Photo,

Call some of the local balloon ride companies to see when and where they launch.  I took a balloon ride about a year and a half ago, and we launched on an early Saturday morning, from a place in way up north Phoenix.   We had to meet the balloon company at the Deer Valley airport, just off the 101 North loop and 7th street, at about 6:30 in the morning.  There were about 6-8 other balloon companies also joining up with customers there.  From there we rode with them North about 5-10 miles and launched from a dirt field.  There were about 8 balloons launching with us.  Most of these were other balloon ride companies.

In the Southeast valley, there are usual takeoff spots for several balloons on the weekends, but I don't know the specific locations, I just see them frequently on Saturdays.  There should be one of the annual Phoenix area Balloonfest events coming up sometime soon.

I hope your panning skills are dialed in, because these things move, at velocities approaching, almost the speed of the wind.  

[Matt Ottosen]

Goodyear Balloon & Air Spectacular 2006

Tiffany II


Aerloon

[jslugman]

Sneaking out as the gates opened for the Tucson airshow this year.


Hot air balloon over Tucson by James O'Rear acc0669 by James "JSlugman" O'Rear, on Flickr

[Anna M. Wood]

Went outside this evening and was surprised by a hot air balloon setting up for a landing near the house.

[Joe Copalman]

REPEAT OFFENDER

Caught the same balloon as Anna did in the post above.  This was last week right across the street from that huge driving range off the 202 out in Gilbert.

[Anna M. Wood]

Just Floating Along....
Coming in for a landing near the house this evening.

[Jeff D. Welker]

Terrific image Anna. Your framing and adding an element to the foreground creates an interesting composition.

[Anna M. Wood]

Terrific image Anna. Your framing and adding an element to the foreground creates an interesting composition.

Thank you Jeff....  I need to find out who this is and take a balloon ride with them.