Last weekend there was this (hot air) ballooning festival, and cause they were going up into the sky between 7pm & 9.30pm, it was a nice chance to shoot during constantly changing light...or in other words: dusk ;) When I arrived there is was a dissapointment. The area where the balloons were inflated was very a very narrow square, sealed off for the public (really stupid of me not to call up the organization to have ask permission to shoot inside the area). It was also really busy, people crowding around the area, and when I thought it couldn't be any worse, I noticed these lines of bulb lights hanging in between flags (that featured the sponsors' logos)...and cause I didn't took my 180mm with me, I was stuck with 80mm max :( So almost anything I tried featured a line with bulbs and/or a flag. And when I finally got to a so-so spot to shoot, I noticed that they moved (from where I was standing) straight into the sun. =( But it seems that sometimes you can be unlucky and lucky at the same time ;) The event for that night was cancelled, because of the weather - there was a very small area of rain passing us to our noth, but they didn't want to take any risc, or that's what I heard. Lucky enough almost everyone turned around and walked away, creating all the room that I hoped to get in the first place. And so, while the already inflated balloons were slowly being deflated, I took some shots. :) Well, since these things are so beautiful, I thought it might be fun to post a couple here. So apologies if there are too many =) Hope you like 'em....although please feel free to critize! Bart PS I shot them all on Fuji Provia 100F, most at f/16 and the ones with very low light at f/11 or f/8 to maintain some depth and sharpness.

Another one, when the weather was starting to change. Lucky enough it was just a few moments of clouds....but it was almost too dark to shot at this point.

Another one that I took at the end, when nobody was infront of my viewfinder ;) I thought I might as well put that stupid flagpole into use.

Here's another one of those stupid poles. Ruined my view and blew the chance of a perfectly good picture =(

Here's one for the real Fuji fans, like me ;)

Well, Fuji Rulllllllezzzzzzz =)

Another one that went back & forth during the inflation....nearly crashed on top of us. Pretty exciting stuff, to see how big these guys really are.

Last one for this evening....same one....same bulbs also :(

Just noticed a zillion of typos, forgot to delete a few words as well, lol :)

hi, seems like an interesting event...pity about the weather...i've never shot at dusk but you seem to have done a good job of it. those fuji pics are great...like the one thats falling over...the one with the flagpole is also not bad

...first image must be one of the best balloon images I have seen. And like firestorm, flagpole image is killer too. Good work, and definedly worth of effort. .n

In spite of all the problems, man these are good. The first one alone, would have made the trip worth wile, for me.

Awww......these are beautiful Rork!!! I'm dying to shoot one of these things....you had hella bad conditions, but you seemed to make the best of it...that first one like everyone already said is just awesome!!

WOW!!! If I weren't so acrophobic hot air ballooning would be the thing for me! These are great shots, Rork. The first one is a killer. (*

These are all awesome, the first is my favorite

These are great, the first one is a lovely shot, that flagpole is definitely my favourite too, & I really like the falling fuji!

Some nice shots here Rork was this in the UK over at Bristol? I was on the old Severn Bridge trying to snap the new one in this light and could see the balloons in the sky. You are right its a hard subject to picture, there is just so much colour and activity at these events, I like all these shots especially #5 with the guys walking under the Fuji balloon a great sense of scale in it. :O)

Thanks a lot for the comments, glad you all like it :) Mysnapz, no...it was at an event last week over here in Holland. A small annual event that has become pretty large over the last years. A bit too busy people-wise this time, to be honest. Did you make any photos at Bristol ? I'd love to see 'em :)