This is the beginning of the Aspen Vista Trail which is about 13 miles from Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is a beautiful hike with spectacular and panoramic views of the aspen forests. Round trip to Tesuque Peak is 12 miles.
The mass ascension of hundreds of balloons is the most dramatic moment during the event. It is a challenge to capture as things happen so quickly. All in all, it was an exciting event and I was glad to have been there for a few hours. Others must feel the same since up to 750,000 people attend over the course of the festival.
Participants come from all over the world to participate in the Fiesta. There are a variety of shapes and color for the balloons, as well, apparently, as sponsors. As the balloons rise they begin to float away and recede in the distance. I quickly switched to a telephoto lens before the balloons drifted too far away.
I recently spent eight days in New Mexico, photographing in and around Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Taos. My first morning in Albuequerque coincided with the first Sunday of the Balloon Fiesta. I hadn’t planned to shoot hot air balloons, but this was an opportunity not to be missed. I arrived at the grounds two hours before dawn. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I brought 2 cameras and 3 lenses. The first balloons began to inflate in complete darkness. When the burners would start, the balloons would suddenly begin to glow. The bursts of color would last only for a few seconds so it was tricky to get a shot. This shot was 1/50th of a second at f/1.8 and ISO 800.