I’ve never really thought about hot air balloon photography until someone mentioned it in a Facebook group I’m a member of. I started looking online and thought it might make a pretty decent photo opportunity.
That assumption turned out to be correct.
I was working in Neosho, Missouri at the time and the festival was going to be held about an hour away. It was the perfect opportunity to photograph something for the first time.
The Columbus Day Festival’s own Hot Air Balloon Regatta is part of the fastest growing festival in Southeast Kansas. 20 balloons (And growing) from all over the area decorate the October sky with color and excitement. They began with a hot air balloon glow on Friday evening which lasted roughly 45 minutes or so.
Every minute or two, the announcer would get on his speaker and instruct the pilots to have a full glow or a lightning effect glow. The results were absolutely beautiful. By the time the event was concluded, I was completely hooked on photographing hot air balloons. It was especially stunning against the dark blue sky!
In 2016 the Columbus Balloon Regatta has joined with the Balloon Federation of America (BFA).
Be sure to share the pictures of my hot air balloon photography session with your friends and family so we can show everyone just how beautiful they really are. If you’re ever in Columbus, Kansas in October, stop by and see the glowing hot air balloons. It’s well worth it!
Jimmy Harmon is an award winning, published photographer using professional Sony photography equipment. From Senior Portraits and real estate photography to weddings and model shoots, contact Jimmy Harmon for your professional photography needs.
Jimmy is available to travel anywhere in the United States.
