Best photo for this location
By Mariella Kolkman
Walker Photos
Below are all walker photos that have been uploaded and entered in the 2011 Photo Walk photo contest.
Mariella Kolkman
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Meet Time: 06:15am - 08:15am
Photo Walk Description
Welcome to the first day of the famous Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, now celebrating 40 years! This event is arguably the most photographed event in the world. Come join 100,000 other hot air balloon admirers to see and photograph more than six hundred hot air balloons launch on October 1st at 7am!
** Note: There is a charge for Admission and Parking. Be early! Watching the opening ceremonies from traffic on I-25 is a bummer. I’ve been there! Dress appropriately and in layers, it can get very cold in the morning! There is also a Dawn Patrol Show at 5:45am that is absolutely something to see. You may wish to get to the field early enough to see it. Wind/weather conditions may cancel some or all events, those are the breaks when it comes to Hot Air Ballooning. We’ll attempt to re-schedule if this happens.
We’ll start the walk at 6:30am for the morning Krispy Kreme Balloon Glow. You’ll want high ISO’s and/or a tripod to capture being surrounded by numerous hot air balloons all lighting up on the ground simultaneously. At 6:45am the Opening Ceremonies will take place and at 7am watch the Mass Ascension where more than 600 hot air balloons set up, inflate and launch into the air. Walk around the 78-acre Balloon Fiesta park and get up close and personal with these flying works of art and their owners.
Once everyone has had their fill of the ascension, we’ll meet at one of the local hospitality areas inside the park for drinks and food.
This walk is not associated with or endorsed by the Balloon Fiesta in any way, however their media relations team has been made aware of the walk.
Be sure to sign up to the Flickr Group, it’s where we’ll be posting photos after the event!
Link: http://www.flickr.com/groups/wwpw2011abq/
Welcome! Tell us a little about yourselves. Have you attended the Fiesta before? If not, do you need help picking the right gear for the event?
I’m from Canada. I was planning to attend the Balloon Fiesta on Monday, but when I saw your photowalk, I changed my itinerary. I’ve never attended the Fiesta before, so any tips on bringing the right gear would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Gregg
Welcome Gregg! So glad you’re able to come walk with us! You’ll be happy you attended on Saturday, week-days aren’t usually too action packed. Plus, there’s no mass ascension on Monday!
Plan for COLD in the morning.. It takes a little extra time for the sun to get up from behind the Sandia mountains. There will be hot chocolate for sale from the vendors. The temperature warms up pretty quickly.
If you make it to Dawn Patrol that’s a dark event, you’ll want a tripod and a longer lens. The few balloons that participate will be up in the sky lit up. After that there is the morning glow. Since we’ll be in the middle of at the very least, dozens of balloons you’ll want wide. Still with a tripod.
Mass Ascension is just absolute madness. You’ll want wide for the amazing sight of hundreds of balloons in the sky and medium to long for capturing the friendly balloon operators getting ready on the ground.
Head over to the Flickr Walk group and join, we can share some images and I’ll give you some recommendations for the great city of Albuquerque.
I live 1700 miles away from the walk in Baltimore Maryland where I make my living as an IT Manager and Photographer. I shoot a mix of Digital and Film, I love working in the darkroom. I’ll have two other photographers with me that I shoot with often in Maryland for weddings, events, sports, concerts, etc.. I try to drag more and more people to the event every year, including my two other photographers I’ll have a total of seven people coming with me this year.
I first shot the Balloon Fiesta four years ago. From the first mass ascension I was hooked. We came back the very next year on a whim primarily for the state delicacy (green chiles) but were sure to time it for the Balloon Fiesta. On the last day the media relations coordinator for the Fiesta at that time told us to make sure we came back in 2011 for their 40th year. Twist my arm, here we are..
When I heard that the walk was going to be during the opening weekend of the Fiesta I was excited to participate. Not seeing a walk already being held I was disappointed and figured I should set one up. It would be an absolute shame to not see such a fantastic event covered in the walk!
We’ve spent a lot of time exploring Albuquerque and it’s become a home away from home of sorts.
I’m a pediatric intensive care nurse and freelance Photographer also in the Baltimore/DC area. I’m one of the 2 photographers that John was talking about and I’ve learned a lot over the last 4 years during which I took up photography thanks to John.
I attended the Balloon Fiesta 2 years ago, I was still pretty much learning what I was doing and didn’t have half the gear I have now, so I’m excited to see what I capture now and compare it to what I did a couple years ago. I’m excited to see where I’ve grown and how I’ve built my own style of photography.
Albuquerque is a fun place and I’m really looking forward to going back.
Welcome Chris, I look forward to meeting you!
(Actually, Chris and I will be traveling from Baltimore to ABQ together)
I live in Columbus, OH but I’ll be working in Santa Fe the week prior and after this event. It happily coincides with the Photowalk – talk about all the stars being aligned.
Hoping to make a few decent images and meet some new people.
What do you recommend for lenses? I was just going to bring my 28-300mm, but I have wider, longer, and faster if those that have been here before think they’re needed. I wasn’t planning on bringing a tripod, but after reading the comment above, I will.
Glad you could join us Bob! Unless you leave the lens cap on there’s no way you won’t make a decent image.
The 28-300 should be a perfect lens for you. You’ll see things you will want to shoot at all focal lengths. Wide for when you’re smack in the middle of the action and long when you’re following some of the balloons into the sky. It might be a good bet to bring faster for the glow…
I led photowalks in Albuquerque in 2010 and 2009.
The Balloon Fiesta will be a great venue for this!
Where did you walk before Becky? I could certainly use help from someone on the ‘inside’ over there in ABQ.
At first I was afraid that we weren’t doing the traditional walk, plus the fragile nature of the walk could give us a problem. But I agree that this is the perfect venue and it wouldn’t surprise me one bit to have a photo from the group make it to the finals.
Where are people parking their cars?
Hi Bob
I highly recommend that folks take advantage of the special busses that are set up for the event. http://www.balloonfiesta.com/guest-guide/park-ride
I am excited that we are having the photo walk at the ABQ Balloon Fiesta. I was with Becky at the last walk in Albuquerque. I have been a resident of New Mexico for the last 25 years and have gone to the Fiesta almost every year.
Since Saturday is the first day of the event I have found that the first day of the Fiesta does not go as smoothly as the rest of the week, especially traffic and parking. I highly recommend that folks take advantage of the special busses that are set up for the event. http://www.balloonfiesta.com/guest-guide/park-ride
This is the link for the main sight http://www.balloonfiesta.com/ and this is the link for the Guest Guide http://www.balloonfiesta.com/guest-guide
I also suggest that you by your tickets online (info at the bottom of the park and page)
I see many of you are coming from out of town and lodging can be a problem so reserve a room as soon as possible.
If I can be of any assistance let me know. royevans@royevans.com
Welcome Roy and thanks for providing the extra information!
Welcome new Walkers! Don’t forget to join the Flickr group to post your photos!
http://www.flickr.com/groups/wwpw2011abq/
I just moved to New Mexico this month. I’m looking forward to the Balloon Fiesta as my first photo shoot as a NM resident. I did shoot the Balloon Fiesta about 8 years ago it is an amazing event.
Look for the Zebras on the field!
Hi Everyone! I am really excited to join this year’s photowalk in ABQ. I’m a photographer, artist, designer, musician from the Seattle area (specifically, Whidbey Island). I’m in town this weekend for a downtown art gallery opening on Saturday night (one of my encaustic paintings is part of a national artistic collaboration that tours the US to raise $$$ for Habitat For Humanity). I’m hoping to find a ride with one of you from my hotel downtown to the Fiesta location on Saturday morning. Will try the shuttle situation if no one is available. Looking forward to meeting and learning from you!
Looking forward to being part of another photowalk.
Hi! I just heard about the Photowalk and signed up. I also just bought my first DSLR *yesterday* (an upgrade from my point-n-shoot) and am a bit overwhelmed by the new features/controls. My camera (Nikon D5100) came with an 18-55 lens and I bought an additional 55-200.
This will be my first Balloon Fiesta; so excited! Any advice much appreciated… thanks
Welcome Kim, Cindy and Richard!
Hopefully you can find a ride Kim.. And there will be plenty of people available to help you Richard. What an event to break in the new camera with! If I can recommend anything, it’s to read that manual a few times until you learn your camera like the back of your hand.
Hi! I just heard about the Walk and had already planned to be at the Fiesta! Looking forward to it!
Welcome Renee!