Great Texas Balloon Race 2006

[Wil_Bloodworth]

The Great Texas Balloon Race (http://www.GTBR.net) is held in Longview Texas each year in the middle of July (only God knows why!). If you, as a photographer, ever get the chance to attend a "Balloon Glow" then you should make the effort to attend.

We spent the entire day in the 110 degree (with the heat index) sun and were very unhappy about that decision. The only thing worth staying for was the Balloon Glow which we could've just showed up for when the sun went down.

Here are a few of the photos from the event (the last one probably being my favorite):























- Wil

[Ronnie]

Great Shots!

[TXhummer2]

Super photos! (Glad it wuz you, not me, although I did do yard work Sunday in 102 temps).

[Joe_Lorenzini]

These are terrific! I feel for you with the heat but some of these shots are just fantastic! Looks worth it to me (as I sit here in my air-conditioned office...).

_/oe

[QRasco]

the balloon glow ones are awesome

[PeteQ]

Looks great! I just booked my rooms for the Albuquerque Balloon Festival this October. Can't wait!

[srini]

Cool Shots...

[Wil_Bloodworth]

_/oe: Thank you! That means a lot coming from you!

Pete: Yes, I hear NM is "the" place to be for these kinds of events. It's really cold but there are close to 800 balloons there each year. I'm sure this Texas event has nothing on the NM one.

If I had to do it again, I would've done a custom white balance before any of the balloon glow stuff started. Mine were all taken on Auto. Even though I shot in all RAW, correcting the white balance later is difficult because the fire puts off a natural yellow-ish orange that taints everything white. If you correct the white balance after the fact, the "true" feel of the photo is gone and so are all the "real" colors that were there before the correction. I'm not sure pre-white balancing would help... but as always, colors would be "closer" to correct.

- Wil

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Oh...

_/oe: I specifically went to this balloon festival to try to get a photo like the one on your site. Unfortunately, I didn't get exactly what I was looking for but I learned a lot.

- Wil

[Gordon]

I went to the Plano festival a couple of years ago and had a great time. The balloon glow is pretty special, as is the 'dawn patrol' flight early in the morning (both help you avoid the heat!)
I really like the shots you have of it.

This is probably my favourite shot and memory from that trip:



The rest of the shots I took in '04

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Gordon,

Those ones on PBase are really amazing! I love the one with the lights and the bugs!

- Wil

[QRasco]

For all you balloon fans I found another festival in the metroplex. Not sure if this has been put out or not.

http://www.thecolonylionsclub.upcsit...ge/1771163.htm