[rpcrowe]

The whole Fiesta was almost visual overload. However, I think a mix of individual balloons and of groups are both good. My best advice is to shoot, shoot and shoot... You cannot shoot too much at an event like this.

I would have loved to frame the balloons against Albuquerque's Sandia Mountain. It would have been a spectacular background. Unfortunately for that idea is the fact that Sandia is directly east of the Balloon Grounds and there is not really enough light until the sun is over the crest of the peak and then you would be shooting into a sun which has been over the horizon (but not the crest) for a half hour and is very bright.

One thing about the Albuquerque Fiesta is that it starts very early and the balloons have quit taking off by about 9:00 am or so. You really need to plan your shooting. The direction in which the balloons float is dependent on the wind and may vary from day to day.

On the second morning of the Fiesta (Sunday) there was not a pre-dawn launch by the "Dawn Patrol". These are the balloons which take off early in order to let the others know how the wind is impacting the launch. There was just too much gusty wind early on and they almost cancelled the mass ascension right after first light.

I didn't make it to the Balloon Glow in the evening because I have family in Albuquerque and they had a party for us.