Capturing the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is not only the biggest ballooning event in the world but also one of the most photographed. The Balloon Fiesta began in 1972, making this year the 46th annual AIBF.

From Oct. 7-15, the Albuquerque skies transform into surreal spectacles.

Imagine witnessing “Mass Ascension,” an unforgettable occurrence where more than 500 colorful and majestic hot air-balloons ascend up and away against a picturesque backdrop of desert, mountains and, of course, daybreak.  

Last year, 19 countries were represented by balloon teams—Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russian Federation, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom and the United States (43 states were represented). An estimated 839,309 visitors were in attendance.

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Whether you’re an amateur, a professional photographer or simply an avid Instagrammer, the photos from this event are proven to be unparalleled.

More than 25 million photographs of the vibrant balloons, laser light shows and firework displays in New Mexico’s desert landscape are taken each year. With this in mind, Canon will be hosting a slew of activities at the festival to help visitors capture the best images possible.

Fiesta attendees have the opportunity to test out Canon’s top cameras, lenses and gear—from entry-level point-and-shoots to professional grade DSLRs—receiving hands-on demonstrations and tips from Canon’s team of expert photographers daily from 4 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the on-site Canon Tent.

Canon is also hosting two photo walks led by photography experts each day at 5:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Photo walk participants can print out all of their photographs taken at the Canon Tent for free.

For those that are seasoned photographers, free camera and lens clean-and-checks will be offered as well. In addition, a fiesta-themed photo booth and show discounts with camera, lens and printer purchases will be available.

Canon is hosting numerous photo contests with entries being accepted beginning October 1 through October 31. There will be five categories for photo submissions; The grand prize and first-place winner from each category will receive Canon cameras and photography equipment.

If you plan on attending AIBF, Ken Sklute, renowned photographer and ballooning enthusiast, has the following tips for you.

Wake Up

Hot air balloon photography is generally an early, early morning sport. What you can see and capture, whatever the hour, makes it all worth it. In the morning or evening, heating is almost inactive, providing stable air, optimal flying conditions and beautiful views.

The most striking moments come during the “Dawn Patrol”—where special pilots take off prior to sunrise and fly until it’s bright enough to see landing sites—and “Mass Ascension.”

Get Up

If you are planning on photographing the Fiesta, I'd suggest you first arrange a flight in one of the hot air balloons. Viewing the balloons from the fiesta grounds is exciting, but it pales in comparison to a birds-eye view of the entire fiesta launch field. 

You will be a part of the beauty with balloons in front, behind, to the left, right, above and below you. There is no better place to capture a sunrise than flying in a balloon during the Mass Ascension on a crisp October morning.

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Use a Real Camera

I don’t mean your smartphone. There’s no substitute for having a real camera in your hands when trying to capture the exciting and magical event. With the right gear, you can capture beautiful imagery created by the landscape, lighting and colorful scenes.

Show Motion

Attention all GIF and video clip social media lovers: You can produce time-lapse videos with any DSLR by shooting individual still images and creating a finished video from those using the software on your computer.

Newer Canon EOS models—available to use at the Fiesta—have a dedicated setting within their video menus to produce in-camera time lapse videos. This is in addition to these cameras' Interval Timer setting, which is for shooting a series of still image files.

Try A New Lens

Having a few different lens options at your disposal will help you capture all of the landscapes and telephoto shots from wherever you are. 

While a point-and-shoot offering like the Canon PowerShot SX60 HS offers an impressive 65x optical zoom lens, entry-level DSLR users can utilize options like the ultra-wide zoom 17-40mm f/4L USM. If you’re able to bring along a second lens, the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM is a reliable choice and will bring variety to your photography.

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Stay for the Balloon Glow

The Balloon Glow is an exciting and colorful event where many of the pilots inflate their balloons at sunset, keeping them tethered to the ground. They use a special burner that creates a bright, warm light within the envelope, giving the balloons a light bulb like appearance. 

In the evening, you will have ideal light and fewer people crowding around the balloons. The best vantage point for the glow would be facing west, photographing directly into the sunset or twilight sky.

For more information on the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, click here.