Bristol Balloon Fiesta 2009

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I know there's a couple of Bristolians (at least) on here, and have stumbled upon some pics from previous years. We're going down to my parents next weekend, which happens to coincide with the fiesta, and obviously there are photo opps a begging!

So, I was after any thoughts from locals or people who might have been/seen things in the past.

I was wondering about the possibilities of an iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge landscape with a sky full of balloons from probably the sunday 6am mass ascent. My geography of the area is limited (I grew up north of Bristol, but moved oop norf aged 18), but trying to remember back, I am thinking could I shoot from somewhere round about (is it called) the Cumberland Basin, looking up towards the bridge so that I get in houses at the top too. Does anyone know if the balloons would be heading in that direction?

Any other ideas?

I know the nightglow thing is supposed to be very impressive, but we are only going to be getting down late(ish) on the Saturday and the Fiesta ends on the Sunday, and I have 2 month old baby and family to bear in mind. So can't really eff off too much on my own. ;)
 
Ive not been impressed by the show to be honest, (in fact Ive never been less impressed by a big event than this one last year), but I think your idea near the Clifton bridge sounds a good one if you can get parked. It can be a bit of a nightmare with the traffic to be frank, taking at least an hour to get out of the place on Saturday evening.
They do put on a good firework display though, so you might do well finding a good place to set up a tripod for that later on, just avoid the main area surrounding the venue.
 
i'll be there at one of the glows, probably Thursday night.
 
Shame, i'm at home and working over summer and won't be back to uni until the end of september otherwise i'd have been more than up for a Bristol meet!
 
lfc856 said:
If you're up early enough you can get some good shots near the bridge
Click to expand...

I like that one Mark... just the sort of thing I was thinking of. If I've got my bearings right, you're on the downs looking across to Ashton Court? Do the balloons head towards you, or away from you?
 
Technically this shot was not from the Downs, as I was right next to the bridge as per the map Weetobix linked to (looking towards Ashton Court).

From the Downs you'll be further away and view the bridge from the side, but you should be under the general flight path.

I've put a map together with the general layout. If you click on the marker in the middle of the river it should show you a picture of the bridge taken from the Downs, and you'll see a marker from where I took the shot above.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=103370969004548166120.0004702c78331dffea5b3&t=h&z=14

Hopefully the link works. The flight path obviously depends on the wind, but in the last two years that I've been that's the way they've gone...


Cheers,
Mark

BTW: Where I took this shot is also a good point to watch the Red Arrows from, and they usually fly directly overhead.
 
Update from the balloon fiesta website - the free flight tonight (thursday) is cancelled, but there will be tethered balloons and the night glow still.

So all those not going to Ashton court, you won't see many balloons
 
Just remember the bridge will be closed to traffic and foot passengers during the flight times.
 
Well b****r that then...was hoping for some outside shots but I hear they do the night glow down in some bowl area...

Oh well maybe next time...
 
It was great to watch them this morning. Shame I got lost on the way home though :D

Fingers crossed for the rest of the weekend.
 
This is something I fancy going to myself, we have the Llangollen Balloon Festival here in September but it's limited to 25 balloons (although they still look pretty impressive floating down the Vale of Clywd).

How many balloons fly/take part in the night glow normally ?

thanks

Simon
 
simonkit said:
This is something I fancy going to myself, we have the Llangollen Balloon Festival here in September but it's limited to 25 balloons (although they still look pretty impressive floating down the Vale of Clywd).

How many balloons fly/take part in the night glow normally ?

thanks

Simon
Click to expand...

About 30-40 and a rough guess going from some of the news videos.
 
Can anyone suggest some ballpark settings for shooting at the nightglow tonite? Standard metering isn't going to be much use I guess.
 
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