My hot air balloon picture in Fah Thai magazine

I am delighted to share this news with you. One of my hot air balloon pictures made it to Fah Thai magazine in its March/April 2012 issue  printed on double spread. Fah Thai is the bimonthly in-flight magazine of Bangkok Airways. This is a screenshot of its online version which you can access here.

My hot air balloon picture on double spread of Fah Thai

Credit byline

Credit byline was also given to the text writer and the photographer.

The physical magazine can be obtained when you fly Bangkok Airways of course.

Fah Thai is published by Ink Singapore.

And below is the cover of Fah Thai March/April 2012 issue.

Fah Thai March/April 2012 cover

Last but not least, I wish to thank Ink Singapore photo editor, Rita Chee, for choosing and buying my picture to appear in Fah Thai.

I look forward to working with Ink again in future.

4th Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

The annual event that I always look forward to will take place again this year. The Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta will be held again this year for the fourth times from 15 to 18 March 2012.  Congratulations to A.K.A Balloon Sdn Bhd and kudos also to its boss En. Rudy on the success in the past events and on being able to organise the great event again this year.

Please check out the official website of the event here.

I am looking forward to this upcoming fiesta and fervently hope that the weather would be very favourable during the event.

I just feel like sharing some pictures that I took at the previous events. Just to get the adrenaline pumping

One of the crew members adjusts the parachute valve before the balloon envelope is fully inflated during the third Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta last year.

The balloons are prepared to take off during the last year's event

The hot air balloons fly over Putrajaya during the last year's event

The most glamorous balloon - Darth Vader Balloon - made its appearance last year

The pilot pumps in the hot air into the balloon envelope before it takes off during the first fiesta in 2009

The hot air balloons fly over Putrajaya during the first ever hot air balloon fiesta in 2009

Happy ballooning and happy shooting.

Hot air balloons at the 3rd Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloons Fiesta

I have to admit that the weather has not been so favourable for the past 3 days since the 3rd Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta started on 17 March. More unfortunately I was sick on the first day so I couldn’t go to shoot on its first day. When I went there on the second day the weather was overcast and cloudy as well. Man proposes but God disposes. Weather is totally beyond our control. It’s God’s affair. What we can do is just make do with whatever we have within our means. So on the second day I stayed until evening and managed to take home a couple of shots only. Pretty disappointed but as I said it’s God’s affair and we should not complain considering people in Japan and some other parts of the world are facing disaster. Compared to them we are in heaven.

I am glad to share some of the photos which I took on the second day. Here goes.

Tethered balloons

Motor glider

A balloon seller

Tethered balloon

In the evening I just concentrated on close-up since the weather was overcast and there was no blue sky in sight.

Adjusting and closing the parachute valve

Adjusting and closing the parachute valve

Beautiful pattern inside the balloon envelope

Hot air is pumped into the balloon

Hot air is pumped into the balloon envelope

On the 3rd day I went there very early in the morning. Luckily in the early morning the weather was fine resulting in flattering light and blue sky although it lasted only a short while. Make hay while the sun shines as they said. So I just shot away taking opportunity of the momentary good lighting before it went cloudy and overcast.

Enjoy the pictures

All the balloonists are busy inflating their respective balloons

This unique balloon is among the first one to take off

Then one balloon after another starts taking off

Some have taken off some are still on the ground

This strikingly orange balloon looks like a pumpkin

Balloons in flight

The star balloon that everybody was looking forward to | Darth Vader

Darth Vader as foreground

Balloons in flight over Putrajaya

Balloons in flight over Putrajaya

The cutest balloon | Doraemon - the popular Japanese cartoon character

Hope you enjoy the pictures. Please don’t hesitate to leave your comment or criticism.

You are also welcomed to share hot air balloon pictures by providing the link to your gallery at the comment section.

Happy shooting!

3rd Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2011

I am pleased to announce that the Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta will be held again this year for the 3rd consecutive times in where else, Putrajaya.

The colourful fiesta will be taking place from 17 March until 2o March this year at the same venue New Millennium Monument, Precinct 2, Putrajaya.

Please check out its official website here to know more about the event.

I had a great experience shooting at the first Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in 2009.  However I was not so fortunate last year when I couldn’t take leave to go there during weekdays. When I went there on the last day in the evening none of the balloons took off since it was raining in the evening.

Hope we will be blessed with more favourable weather this year and we will get beautiful lighting with nice blue sky.

Some of my hot air balloon pictures captured during the first fiesta:

The First Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in 2009

The First Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in 2009

The First Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in 2009

The First Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in 2009

The First Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in 2009

This hot air balloon photo above was published in Spirit of Malaysia book.

The First Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in 2009

This hot air balloon photo above was published in Advanced Images magazine

The First Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in 2009

The First Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in 2009

The First Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in 2009

You can view more of my hot air balloon images taken during the first fiesta here.

If you would like to shoot better hot air balloon photos you may want to check out these links for some useful tips:

• Photographing Hot Air Balloons At the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
• Hot Air Balloon Festivals:Capturing Pictures of Hot Air Balloons Taking Off
• Better Balloon Photography
• How to Photograph Hot Air Balloons
• Hot Air Balloon Photography
• 10 Tips and Facts for the Hot Air Balloon Festival in Clark, Pampanga Traveler

Happy shooting and hope to catch you there!

Photo of the Day Award

Hot air balloons flying over Putrajaya

I am pleased to announce that this photo has been selected as Photo of the Day winner in Light and Composition online magazine.

I feel honoured to have my photo chosen alongside other fantastic images as Photo of the Day to run for the Photo of the Month competition for November. Many thanks to Light and Composition team for the selection and for coming up with a great magazine.

If you feel like voting for my image, please go to this page and please either retweet, activate “like” for Facebook or drop a comment.  Either way contributes to the votes for my image.

Besides if you would like to participate you can submit your website and let the Light and Composition team evaluate and select your photo/s for the Photo of the Day Award.  You can read the terms and conditions here.

Just sharing: This photo was recently purchased by the publisher Editions Didier Millet as non-exclusive right-managed to appear in its latest coffee-table book entitled Spirits of Malaysia.  The coffee-table book is scheduled to hit the shelf at the end of this year.

Happy shooting!

The 2nd Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2010

I am delighted to announce that they are going to hold the second Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta just like the first time event last year. This year it will be held from 18 March to 21 March 2010.

The organizer promises that this year’s event is going to be more fun as there will be more participating balloons and more activities are planned for the public. Please check out its official website for details.

Last year it was a big success and I really enjoyed shooting the multi-coloured balloons. I am looking forward to this year’s event and I hope it would be more enjoyable this year.

The last year's picture

The last year's picture

The last year's picture

The last year's picture

The last year's picture

The last year's picture

Please check out my website for more hot air balloon pictures here. And you can also visit my previous blog entries on the 1st Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2009 here, here and here.

Happy shooting and see you there!

The last day of the 1st Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

As planned I went back to shoot the hot air balloon in Putrajaya in the morning on its last day today (Sunday, 22 March 2009).

Unfortunately the morning weather was unfavourable. The sky was cloudy resulting in flat lighting and whitewashed sky – something that photographer dislikes big time because the resulting photo will not be satisfying no matter how much you spend your time on Photoshop trying to “enhance” it. If the lighting is flat it is flat, full stop. No software could make it any better. So instead of shooting more balloons in flight I concentrated more on the details and the activities of inflating the balloons. It was, I admit, an interesting sight, nevertheless.

Photographers squeezing their way into the ballon inflating area where only photographers are allowed

The balloons took off

The flying balloons

Inside the pink balloon

The pattern inside one of the balloons

The pilot pumping in the hot air

Red and pastel-coloured balloons

Although in the morning the light was flat and dull due to the cloudy weather I went there again in the afternoon hoping that the lighting would improve in the evening. And the lighting did improve a lot. In the late evening it was the magic hour in its true sense! Do enjoy the pictures below.

Illuminated by the warm rich evening light

The lighting that every photographer dreams of

The balloons flying over the Putrajaya Lake

Hovering over the MOF Building

The balloons were approaching the Putra Mosque

Hovering over the Putrajaya prominent landmarks

The cruising boat entering the frame added drama to the dreamy scene

The silhouetted balloon flying over the apartments in Putrajaya

Hot Air Balloons in Putrajaya

Ever since I blogged about the upcoming hot air balloon fiesta in Putrajaya my blog’s hits have skyrocketted. Obviously it is a keenly-awaited event especially among photographers.

I went there on the first day on 19 March 2009.  Thank God the weather was perfectly fine with blue sky and generous sunlight and yes it was not disappointing.  It’s a shame though I arrived a little bit late. Upon arrival many balloons have taken off as they started inflating as early as 7.00am while I arrived at 8.00am.

However I still managed to capture a handful of balloons and the activities of inflating the balloons and I was also able to capture its surrounding.

For those who couldn’t make it on 19 March and 20 March the event is still on until Sunday.  I plan to shoot again on the last day i.e. Sunday, 22 March 2008

I am delighted to share those tremendously colourful pictues with you here.

Inflation Stage

This red balloon in the shape of a coffee mug belongs to The New Zealand team.

Heating up the air inside

Mug-shaped balloon belonging to a New Zealand Team

The yellow balloon belonging to the Malaysian team

Preparing to inflate

Balloons of Malaysian and New Zealand team

Hot air pumped in

Belgian team came up with a clown-faced balloon

Spectators and photographers

Shadows of spectators

Inflation stage

Inside the balloon

The Malaysian balloon took off

The motor gliders on show

The balloons and zappelin flying over Putrajaya

The Malaysian team

To see more and larger pictures please visit my online photo gallery here.

Do come back as there will be more photos of hot air balloon. The fiesta is not over yet. Do watch this space

By the way comments and criticism are welcome with open arms.

1st Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2009

This is a jolly good news to my fellow Malaysian photographers. They are going to hold a hot air balloon festival in Putrajaya this coming March.  Yes it is a mecca for photographers and this kind of event doesn’t come often to our shore in fact it is exceptionally rare.

The last hot air balloon festival that I could remember was when the New Straits Times celebrated its 150th Anniversary and that was more than 10 years ago. Unfortunately I didn’t become a photographer yet at that time.

Never mind.  Let the bygone be bygone. No point crying over the spilt milk. I hope this time I would be able to collect lots of  awesome hot air balloon images. Watch this space

The details of the eagerly-awaited event are as follows:

• The event:  The First Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2009 (Does this mean there is going to be the second, third, fourth?)

• Take-off site: “Monumen Alaf Baru”, Precinct 2, Putrajaya

• Flying area: Height of not more than 1000ft and 5 km radius from take off site

• Landing site: There is ample land in Putrajaya that is suitable for landing

• Date: 19-22 March 2009

• Number of participating hot air balloons: 25 – 20 standard shaped hot air balloons, 5 special shaped hot air balloons

In the anticipation of the fiesta, I am pleased to share some useful links to tips on how to shoot hot air balloons:

1. Tip No. 1
2. Tip No. 2
3. Tip No. 3
4. Tip No. 4
5. Tip N0. 5

And below is the itinerary of the event that I copied from its official website.

Please check out the event’s official website here.

Date	Time	Venue	Activities
19/03/2009 Thursday	7.30 am	Site	Arrival of VIPs and guests
	7.45 am	Site	• Free flight with VVIP/Media • Motorised para glider display • Remote control flying aircraft display
	2.00 – 5.00 pm	Site	• Motorised para glider display • Remote control flying aircraft display
	5.00 – 7.00 pm	Site	Balloon Fun Fly
20/03/2009 Friday	7.30 am	Site	Arrival of guest or VIP
	7.45 am		• Free flight • Motorised para glider display • Remote control flying aircraft display
	2.00 – 5.00 pm	Site	• Motorised para glider display • Remote control flying aircraft display
	5.00 – 7.00 pm	Site	Balloon Fun Fly
21/03/2009 Saturday	7.30 am	Site	Free flight with VVIP/Sponsors/Media/
	7.45 am	Site	• Motorised para glider display • Remote control flying aircraft display
	2.00 – 5.00 pm	Site	• Motorised para glider display • Remote control flying aircraft display
	5.00 – 7.00 pm	Site	Balloon Fun Fly
	8.00 pm	Site	Arrival of VIPs and guests
	8.45 pm	Site	Night glow with music for 30 minutes
22/03/2009 Sunday	7.45 am	Site	• Free flight with VVIP/Sponsors/Media/ public • Motorised para glider display • Remote control flying aircraft display
	2.00 – 5.00 pm	Site	• Motorised para glider display • Remote control flying aircraft display
	5.00 – 7.00 pm	Site	Balloon Fun Fly
	8.00 pm	Banquet	Dinner and prize giving