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Two balloons lift off over the trees on Saturday morning |
The Hot Air Balloon
Festival in Plainville is one of the only festivals of its kind in New England.
It is held on the fourth weekend in August, and runs from Friday evening
through Sunday. The schedule may change year to year, but in general, on Friday
evening there is a balloon night glow, with the balloons strutting their stuff
aloft and aglow. This is followed by a fireworks display, beginning at 9:30 pm.
On Saturday and Sunday, the balloons lift off early in the morning, starting
about 6:00 am and fly off to their destinations. There is another lift off at 6:00
pm on Saturday. Also on Saturday, there is a car and motorcycle show. Food
vendors and a craft show run throughout the entire weekend.
What to Photograph
The balloons are most colorful when they are set against a
clear blue sky, but when they are aglow at night, this can provide an
opportunity for a different look against a dark sky. There are a lot of opportunities to capture the flames as they fill the balloons, the people holding the ropes and riding in the balloons, or the crowd watching it all.
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At the balloon glow Friday night |
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Every balloon has its own flair |
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Look for the details, like this wicker basket that holds the riders |
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Filling the balloon with hot air |
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Shooting flames and a view of the interior of the balloon |
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Pretty patterns and colors |
There are tethered balloons, giving people brief
balloon rides up into the air, and these are easy to photograph if you want to shoot
some details of the colors and the people. You can take a ride in one of these
balloons, for a fee, if you want to see what you can see from about 100 feet
above ground. The ride is brief, but you might capture a different view of the
balloons, or of the sunset if your timing is right.
In the morning, when the balloons are launched, you have a chance
to capture a single balloon or a group of them in the sky together. You have to
move fairly quickly because the balloons may disappear over the horizon before
you know it.
On the Friday evening, as a fundraiser for the fire
department, people are allowed to go inside a balloon that is stretched out on
the ground. This attracts a lot of people, kids and adults alike, and it is a
wonderful place to be creative with your camera. You can get a shot of the
colorful fabrics and shapes from the inside, or capture the kids and the
families having some fun against a brilliant and colorful background.
And of course, you might decide to stay to photograph the
fireworks display after the balloons are deflated. Make sure you get situated
in a good position so you can get the fireworks in the air, and perhaps some of
the crowd in the foreground. If the day is overcast, you might try your hand at
photographing the vintage cars or motorcycles that are on display, but on a
bright day, you have to be careful not to get a lot of reflections in the
shining paint and chrome.
When to go
Try to arrive early on Friday evening if you choose to go
then. There is a lot of activity going on around the park, and it gets pretty
crowded. If you go for the launch on Saturday or Sunday, try to arrive about
5:30 am. The balloonists start to set up quite early, and you might find some
good shots. It's a chance to get your bearings and be ready for the take off
when they start to go. The balloons don't go off all at once, but rather one or
two at a time, so you have lots of opportunity to capture something.
Tips and Techniques
There are a lot of people attending the festival, and it
might prove tricky to set up your tripod safely and out of the way. You might
decide to shoot hand-held at this event, so be prepared to set your camera on
shutter priority and increase your ISO to give you a better chance to get a
clear image. Turn on your vibration control (VR) if your camera has it, and set
your shutter speed to 1/60 second or faster.
For photographing the cars and motorcycles, you might
remember to bring a reflector or a diffuser with you to help cut the glare. You
may try to shoot some details, and the diffuser will help soften the light.
Directions
Norton Park
72 Norton Trail,
Plainville, CT
860-747-2521
Map coordinates (for GPS): Latitude: 41.68121, Longitude: -71.915573
Parking is available at the park, and on the streets in the
neighborhood. It is best to arrive early, since this is a popular festival and
draws a large crowd, especially on the Friday evening. It might be a good idea
to carpool to the park if you plan to go on Friday.
The festival is held the fourth weekend in August, and is
run by the Plainville Fire Department. The hours are as follows, but check the
website for potential changes.
Friday: 6pm - 10pm (balloon glow
begins at dusk)
Saturday: 6am - 9pm (balloon launch
begins at 6:00 am and 6:00 pm)
Sunday: 6am - 9am (balloon launch begins at 6:00 am)
Tourist Tips
There are food vendors at the festival, so if you plan to be
there early, you can always have festival food to eat while you watch the
balloons.