Weekly Photo Challenge: Free Spirit
My interpretation of free spirit for the Weekly Photo Challenge: Free Spirit.
Hot air balloons in flight can hardly be controlled by their pilots and there is no way the pilots can navigate them except to let it fly freely.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
