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
