Prepare

Fresh film and batteries are a must. Charge batteries in advance. Have extra film and digital camera memory cards available as it is easy to shoot a lot of balloon photos very quickly!

Film

Either print or slide film. Film with ASA speeds of 100 or 200 are fine for the daylight balloon races, but to shoot the sunrise balloon ascensions, 400, 800 or 1600 speed film is recommended. Use 400, 800 or 1600 speed film for nighttime balloon glows.

Flash

Flashes will not reach balloons in flight and even on the ground they aren’t really needed. However, it is recommended to use flash if you want to photograph someone's face, say, up close with the balloons in the background. For sunrise balloon lifts and evening balloon glows, a tripod is recommended. Composition: Its hard to get a bad photo of hot air balloons. Shoot what looks good to you. Look for form. When shooting many balloons in one photo, try to get one larger in the foreground, for instance. Let the beauty of these magnificent balloons become your photo.

Accessories

A wide angle and also a telephoto lens offer a variety of photos. A normal lens is not totally recommended. The wide-angle lens offers the shooter a chance to get in closer and still photograph more of the colorful balloons in one photo. A telephoto lens brings the balloons in.