Hot Air Balloons and the DVX

movielighter

movielighter

Active member
Looking to get some hot air balloon footage for the first time. Will be early morning, afternoon and dusk.

Thinking about going up in one, but not sure if camera will be still enough on the tripod for this.

If anyone has done this and has some tips, I would certainly welcome them.
 
I shot in a balloon with a Betacam a couple of times (yes, slightly larger than a DVX), and unless you're riding in some sort of HUGE basket, I can't imagine there's enough room for sticks.

The better accessory would be a wide angle lens, if you have/have access to one.

You need the flexibility to shoot people in the basket, the pilot's hand on the burner when it blasts hot air into the balloon, straight up at the balloon, straight down at the ground with some basket in the foreground, things like that.

If there's other balloons, you should be able to get them without having to zoom in too far.

Make sure you set one audio channel for normal levels, it can pick up people in your basket talking, and if you're not too high up or in the middle of nowhere, probably things on the ground like dogs barking, people shouting at the balloon, etc.

It's VERY quiet... until the burner BLASTS!!!

Set your second audio channel much lower so the sound of the burner doesn't overmodulate.
It's a very smooth ride, with very little wind noise because you're moving as the wind moves.

Since you'll be shooting at dawn (which make SPECTACULAR images as balloons are filled!), afternoon and dusk, be sure to re- White Balance as the light changes.

Lastly, if there's a strong breeze, BRACE yourself when you land, or you or the camera could go flying out of the basket.
Have fun, they're really.... a BLAST!
Chuck
 
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I shot a DVX handheld in a balloon a few years ago. No problem with wide angle shots, but telephoto (of other balloons, some scenery, etc.) was a little shaky, and I could only use short clips of those. There was no room for a tripod, so I would suggest monopod or small shoulder support. I've been on a handful of balloon rides, and they were all fairly smooth, even in somewhat windy conditions. Landings can be a little rough, though.

groveChuck above suggested re-white balancing often, but I left my white balance on the daylight preset because I wanted to show the progression of the morning light.

Have fun.
 
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