Glowing Balloons and a Crescent Moon by alophoto

Glowing Balloons and a Crescent Moon

We went to a hot air balloon event the other night. It was amazingly cool to see people skydiving right overhead, planes and helicopters in the sky whizzing by, and of course the colorful balloons.

When it got dark, they lit them up to make them glow. I was in my photo taking glory. I stood next to a guy with the biggest, baddest lens to take this shot. His was on a tripod. I shot handheld. Wonder who got the better shot...me or the professional?

I also got down on my tummy next to a family sitting up front on a blanket to take shots that would avoid all of the obstructions in my way (the rope, people's heads, etc.). I think I kinda creeped them out.

On the way back to the car, I ran into 2 ladies from my photo club. Another couple of ladies from 365 were there, too, including Katie (@katiebrenkert), who told me about it. Fun event and so glad we went.
Wow, wow, wow. Fav my friend.
July 14th, 2013  
National Geographic worthy!
July 14th, 2013  
Zam
awesome shot! fav!
July 14th, 2013  
fantastic. this is a bucket list activity for me :-)
July 14th, 2013  
So I am looking through my FAVs and your pictures constitute about 2/3s of them!!
July 14th, 2013  
I'm so jealous!! I so want to experience an event like this. Wonderful shot! I like how you filled the frame!
July 14th, 2013  
Oooh so cool!! Love it.
July 14th, 2013  
In comparing this to my shots of 11th and 12th July, it looks like we were practically standing next to each other. How funny that we didn't see each other. You mentioned the guy with the professional lens, using a tripod. Was he a man who appeared to be of some Asian heritage, wearing a dark khaki-colored t-shirt? If so -- because that's a description of the guy we saw with the impressive lens -- then again, we were standing fairly close to him and, therefore, close to you!
July 14th, 2013  
Wow that must have been so cool
July 14th, 2013  
That must have been a great experience. How wonderful.
July 14th, 2013  
Absolutely fantastic shot! You captured the scene wonderfully and I can just feel the atmosphere of the place
July 14th, 2013  
Awesome!
July 14th, 2013  
Kev
Like that Amanda, a lot. The subject, the lighting from inside in the balloons, the moon. Fav.
July 14th, 2013  
ha, I think yours turned out pretty good handheld. I'll one up you though, I shot hand held with a baby strapped to my front. LOL! I put one of mine up today too if you want to check it out. I'll tag you. :)
July 14th, 2013  
@sjoblues That is nuts that we were right by each other. I was literally next to that guy, but maybe a little distracted with lens envy;-). No, I was really distracted with shooting. SUCH a fun night and photo event!! Wish I had seen you! I asked him about his lens and he said something like 7200. What does that even mean?!
July 14th, 2013  
Tremendous!
July 14th, 2013  
@katiebrenkert It's time Ted straps on the baby so that you can take some drool free photos;-). Can't wait to see yours. Yesterdays shot of the kids was from the event, too. Maybe my best of my kids yet. Loved being out at that time of day for such great light!!
July 14th, 2013  
Ha no kidding. I keep trying to tell him. Lol! Oh and my tag is 937katieb for future reference. Notifications don't show up to katiebrenkert. Glad your kids had fun!
July 14th, 2013  
Great capture.
July 14th, 2013  
Instant fav
July 14th, 2013  
This is really wonderful. I love your composition, the color, the darkness and the light, how you managed to get the moon in the shot too. Really great shot!
July 14th, 2013  
Sounds like a cool meet up. Love the glow and the tiny crescent moon makes this extra special xx
July 14th, 2013  
A total show stopper! I think that the primary colours work so slendidly together.
July 14th, 2013  
Oh and a FAV for me!
July 14th, 2013  
Fantastic colors and the light is awesome
July 14th, 2013  
Wonderful colorful shot! The crescent moon is the crown! What fun!!! FAV
July 14th, 2013  
Wonderful night shot of the balloons
July 14th, 2013  
Thats very cool (no wait hot...). Love how you managed to catch the moon in there too.
July 14th, 2013  
Stunning shot FAV
July 14th, 2013  
I'm blown away !!---fav:)
July 14th, 2013  
@amandal This is wonderful mate, it's a great angle to show there is lots happening, without feeling crowded.

That photographer guy would have been saying he has a 70-200 zoom.
July 14th, 2013  
@shezza Oh...it looked much LARGER than that. Thanks so much!!
July 14th, 2013  
Beautiful balloon image - looks like a great night out! : )
July 14th, 2013  
Brilliantly colourful capture, Fav
July 14th, 2013  
Jim
That little crescent moon in the background adds such a nice finishing touch on a beautiful photo
July 15th, 2013  
ahh so jealous for going to one of those, i bet it was so beautiful. great shot
July 15th, 2013  
fav.....awesome shot! i love that you got the moon in there too.
i tried to go to a balloon glow twice last year, and both times it was too windy. Seeing this makes me want to try again this summer!
July 15th, 2013  
Wonderful!
July 15th, 2013  
Perfect, Amanda. Way to knock it out of the park! Fav!
July 15th, 2013  
Awesome. I witnessed this at day light. Much better at night.
July 15th, 2013  
Meg
great shot....fav...so clear...can't wait to meet everyone there....let's do lunch!
July 15th, 2013  
Fantastic shot! So impressed that you got this handheld! Even got the moon. Wow! Looks like a fabulous event. FAV
July 15th, 2013  
This is completely incredible! Amazing view and great composition and exposure choice. Doesn't look like it needed a tripod; you nailed it!
July 15th, 2013  
awesome night shot!!!!!
July 15th, 2013  
very cool
July 15th, 2013  
Stunning
July 15th, 2013  
Fabulous! Color, lighting, fire, wow!! Fav.
July 15th, 2013  
Very nice. When I opened up this shot, right away I knew it was a winner. Great job Amanda. That little crescent moon and glow of the balloons are awesome.
July 15th, 2013  
great colours and composition, the moon finishes this perfectly
July 15th, 2013  
Such great colouring and lighting. Would have loved to have been there.
July 15th, 2013  
JH
Oh my goodness - this is seriously cool. Love all the glowing geometry against the moonlit sky.
July 15th, 2013  
wonderful - love everything about this and having the moon too - it's perfect and a fav
July 15th, 2013  
Neat shot - very colourful, and that moon is fab!
July 15th, 2013  
@masosy Thank you so so much for that, Miss Kate. You rock!

@bpaquette Your kind words and fav humble me, my friend. Thank you, Barbara. You made my day!:)

@zam Thank you so very much for that, Zam!

@abhijit Oh man, you should. Such an amazing thing to see. I adore hot air balloons. My hubby and I took a ride in one on our honeymoon and our camera battery was dead and we got no photos:(. Poor planning! Thank you!

@kwind Thanks, Kim!

@ozziehoffy Thank you, Cass.

@3sixty5 It pretty much rocked. I was in my element:). Thanks!

@anazad511 It really was. Thank you!!

@roseolivia Thanks, Rachel. Really appreciate that!

@my_photofun Thank you, kind lady!!

July 15th, 2013  
@snaggy Aw, thank you, Kev. Really appreciate your kind words and the fav. It was so cool to see this and be able to capture the moment!

@httpgeffed Thank you, Colleen!!:)

@mrsvanpatten Thanks so much, lady!!

@soboy5 So grateful. Thanks, Danny!!

@fauxtography365 Thanks so much, Tina!!

@psychographer It wasn't really a meet up per se. Katie told me she was going and I asked her where it was and crashed the party. We did run into each other and I never did see Shannon, but we were feet away from each other. It was a nice night with my family. Thanks, friend!!

@julieco Love your kind words. Thanks so much, Julie!!!

@kittikat Thank you very much, Kitti!!
July 15th, 2013  
@eyesmile I so loved that the moon was in there. Thanks, Gena. I think that I actually said something when I took this shot like "WOW" and the big lens guy said something like "You getting anything good?" Why yes I am:). Appreciate your kind words and fav!

@june Thank you, June!

@fueast Thanks, Alison. It was such a cool night in a hot way or something like that. Super happy to have gotten the moon in there and to have been able to get so clear handheld. I normally wobble.

@simon0128 Thank you so much for that, Simon!!

@jodimuli Love that you are. Thanks, man!:)

@rennes It was fabulous. Thanks, Lisa!!
July 15th, 2013  
@tonydebont Thanks so much, Tony!! You are kind!

@jcarrollphoto I was so stoked to get that in there and to take this handheld! I normally stink at low light without a tripod. Thanks, Jim.

@tbats22 We have a bunch of them around here. I wonder if you do, too? Thanks, friend!!!

@paula365 Go again. It was an awesome night. I took around 300 photos and had tons of good ones. Thanks so much for the fav, Paula!!

@stimuloog Thank you, lady!!

@rockinrobyn Love it, Robyn. Thank you so much!!

@bardejov Either way is cool, but yes, the glow was pretty magical. Thanks friend!

@megmills When are you here? I need to plan our night meet up and want you to come. Thanks so much for the fav!!!:)

@pflaume Me, too. I normally stink in low light without a tripod. I took tons of shots and walked away with a bunch of good ones. Such a great night. Thanks, kind lady!!
July 15th, 2013  
@archaeofrog So crazy that these came out. Thanks so much, Katie! Love your kind comments!!

@cheribug Thank you, Cheryl!

@twr THanks, Timothy!!

@daisyjuds Thank you, Judith!!

@taffy Aw, thanks so much, kind Taffy!!

@adamj Thank you...but dude, you forgot to hit the button. I met with a personal trainer last week for my free birthday gift from the gym. Awesome time. But man, they are expensive...$98/hour and that is here! Sheesh.

@cazink Thank you, Carly!!

@bdb3471 It was amazing! Thanks, Brian!!

@jewelsandbinoculars And i love your comments. Thanks so much!!
July 15th, 2013  
@zambianlass You are so sweet, lady. Thank you for the kind words and fav!!

@darrenboyj I loved that the moon was in this one. Thanks, Darren!
July 15th, 2013  
wow this is brilliant Amanda! love the colors! fav!
July 15th, 2013  
Pea
Wow, Amanda. You are rocking the shots at the moment. Love, love, love this! Fav of course!
July 15th, 2013  
FAV. Fab subject, great rich colours and the moon! What else could we want? :)
July 15th, 2013  
Gorgeous Fav. We have a ballooning festival coming up in a couple of weeks. I hope I can get there.
July 16th, 2013  
Very well done, great color and composition.
July 16th, 2013  
This is really great. Love the colours and light. Very cool. Fav too.
July 16th, 2013  
Awesome. I love hot air balloons and have spent many early mornings in spring in Canberra wrapping up warm and heading out before sunrise to the balloon festival to get pictures. Fav (which I did yesterday)
July 16th, 2013  
gorgeous shot ..... love the colours and composition :)
July 16th, 2013  
I want to see a Balloon glow! I am sure it was so much fuN! They look so pretty in this photo!
July 16th, 2013  
Beautiful colors, love the moon in the sky.
July 16th, 2013  
Stunning image and composition. I would have been in photo heaven as well. FAV
July 16th, 2013  
@wind_of_the_sothern_sea Thanks so very much for that, Arefin!!

@deeganp I had quite the weekend for photo ops, lady. It was so nice to get in the groove again! It was bliss. Thanks so much, friend!!!

@wendywoo Free chocolate? Thanks so very much, Wendy! If I could send you some chocolate, I would;-)!!

@nadaa Oh Nada, it was so awesome. Hope that you can make it. Will you tag me with your photos if you do? Thanks for the kind words and fav, lady!!

@bristolrose Thanks so much, my friend. How's things going? How's your sweet Jack?

@thirtysevenways Thank you, Andy. So glad that the fav took this time;-). Hate when I miss it. And please tag me if you upload your old balloon shots. I'd love to see them.

@malc Oh man, it was so amazing. Thanks so much, Malc!!
July 16th, 2013  
Wow! Fantastic! FAv!
July 16th, 2013  
@kareenking Thank you so much, Miss Kareen. Really appreciate the fav!!
July 17th, 2013  
Very beautiful and impressive shot.
July 17th, 2013  
A belated Fav (I have been a bit behind :)
July 17th, 2013  
@fishy Thanks so much, Andrew. I've been, too. No worries:)!! So appreciate the fav.
July 17th, 2013  
@anazad511 @carldry111 @espyetta @willowdragon @ernmar

Thank you all for your lovely comments! This was a really amazing event to take photos at. Can't wait for the next one!
July 17th, 2013  
In Australia recently a lady got to close to the big fans they use to help blow the hot air into the balloons when they are all laying on the ground. Her scarf got sucked into the fan causing serious injury to her neck. :(
July 17th, 2013  
@bobfoto Was this not colorful enough for you?! That is pretty awful...what happened. At least she lived, though. She could have been wearing a cape. Capes are bad.
July 17th, 2013  
@amandal - Love Balloons, went up in one once and it was very cool. I don't know if she lived, the news only said she was in Intensive Care...
July 18th, 2013  
@bobfoto I did, too, on my honeymoon over Lake Tahoe. Oh, so it was pretty serious. Really sad story. Sorry to make light of it with the cape talk.
July 18th, 2013  
so amazing ! I'd loved to be there! another fav for me!
July 18th, 2013  
@camim It was so very awesome. Thanks for the sweet words and fav, lady!!
July 18th, 2013  
Awesome to see this on the TT
July 19th, 2013  
@zambianlass It has been awhile for me. Thanks so much, my friend. It was fun to be up there with you this week!
July 19th, 2013  
Congrats on the TT!
July 19th, 2013  
Huge congrats on TT Amanda!
July 19th, 2013  
@wind_of_the_sothern_sea Right back atcha, man! Nice to be up there with you:)!
July 19th, 2013  
@espyetta Thanks, MaryBeth. Thanks for the FB friending:)!
July 19th, 2013  
Fab colors, shapes, light! Amazing photo! Congrats on the TT!
July 19th, 2013  
Congrats on the TT!
July 19th, 2013  
@amandal :0) I like how alot of this community is now getting over to FB! Just a different sharing /visiting experience!
July 19th, 2013  
Congrats !!!:)
July 19th, 2013  
@jodimuli Thanks, Joey, you, too:)!
July 19th, 2013  
@lunaksi @pflaume Thank you so much, kind ladies!
July 19th, 2013  
Many congrats on TT with your wonderful shot - right back at ya Amanda! You must be delighted - have a great weekend! : ))
July 19th, 2013  
@rennes Yes, ma'am. It had been months of close but no cigar. Very grateful to be out of the slump:). You, too!
July 19th, 2013  
Must have missed this in my attempts to curb my midnight 365 habit. Fantastic shot and so pleased it's in the top 20 - in fact top 10. Hope you are going to do some celebrating this weekend
July 19th, 2013  
@rachelwithey Good for you trying to curb your habit. I am, too. Yes, lots of celebrating this weekend. It's my hubby and sister's birthday and I am getting to see my best friend from out of state for a few days. Good stuff. Hope that yours is great, too. And thank you, sweet friend!
July 19th, 2013  
Congratulations on another top 10 in the TT - Yeah for you!
July 19th, 2013  
Congrats on TT
July 19th, 2013  
Whoop whoop TT!!!
July 19th, 2013  
congrats on TT!
July 20th, 2013  
@thirtysevenways @paula365 @bobfoto @corymbia

Thank you so much, my friends:)! Super excited to be up there this week. I was slumping a bit after my trip!
July 20th, 2013  
Superb!! Fav
July 20th, 2013  
Congrats on the TT :)
July 20th, 2013  
PS. Amanda, congrats on the TT. Well deserved, my dear.
July 20th, 2013  
@seanoneill Thanks so much, my friend. Really appreciate the fav. It's nice to be moving beyond my post NYC slump and getting back into a groove. Take care and see you around more in August:).

@willowdragon Thanks so much, Al!!

@anazad511 You are so sweet, my friend. Thank you!! So fun to be up there:).
July 20th, 2013  
Wow Amanda such a gorgeous photo. A big Fav and congrats on T20!!!!
July 20th, 2013  
Wow! Fab colors and composition. Fav!

And congrats on TT!!
July 21st, 2013  
Awesome! Fav.
July 21st, 2013  
@losthorizon You back, my friend?! Thanks!!
July 21st, 2013  
@amandal No no....just checking up on everyone. Maybe after the summer.
July 21st, 2013  
@wendyhgill Thanks so much, Miss Wendy!:)

@michaelelliott Thank you, my friend:)! Glad to have broken out of my slump for a bit anyway.
July 21st, 2013  
@losthorizon Looking forward to it when you do. Thanks for checking in. I've pretty much been dead in the water since NYC trip, but this event put the spark back in. It tough in the summer being home with all 3.
July 21st, 2013  
beautiful!!
July 21st, 2013  
@amandal Your NY shots were great. Wish I coulda been there. Know exactly how you feel too. 3 does not make it easy to find time. Lol
July 21st, 2013  
oh wow - that's the trouble on catching up after more than a few days break, u get to see the amazing shots after everyone else - sensational colours & comp - frankly managing to include the moon was just showing off :o) fav
July 21st, 2013  
@gozoinklings You are so funny. I don't remember if I was trying to get the moon in there or not. I took close to 300 photos that night. I am normally pretty dreadful in low light without a tripod. So so glad this came out well:).
July 21st, 2013  
@gozoinklings And thanks so much for the kind fav!
July 21st, 2013  
Fabulous colour and Great shot Amanda. Congratulations on top twenty.
July 21st, 2013  
Congrats on TT.
July 21st, 2013  
Woo hoo on top 20!!!
July 21st, 2013  
@johnfalconer @masosy @rockinrobyn Thank you so much, my friends. I was so pleased that I could finally get a good low light shot handheld! That did not happen in the cave this weekend!
July 23rd, 2013  
@harley84 Thank you, kind Kate!
July 23rd, 2013  
Brilliant shot
August 12th, 2013  
Pure magic!! Fav!!

Sadly I could not read through ALL the comments and responses, but I did see that you have been up in a balloon. :-) Isn't it the most amazing experience? I was fortunate enough to take an early morning ride in Sedona, AZ about 3 years ago.
There's nothing like it and you can't really explain it...you have to experience it for yourself.

I had to giggle at your comment about creeping out a family while you were shooting from the prone position. Who could be creeped out by you? LOL
I seem to remember some other reference to you scaring people during a shoot....NYC, maybe Central Park?
Heck, anybody can see you're harmless.

Um, you ARE harmless, aren't you? ;-)


August 13th, 2013  
@pasadenarose Totally harmless. A sweet lady. Just aggressive driving and with a camera. Thanks so so much for the kind words and fav. My hot air balloon trip was over Lake Tahoe on my honeymoon. Amazing!:)
August 13th, 2013  
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