13 Unique Photos You Can Take at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

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It’s 5 a.m. in Albuquerque and the air smells like propane, churros, and pure adrenaline. 

Photographers are staking their spot like territorial hyenas and anxiously waiting for that green flag for good launching conditions. And then it happens.

The burners roar to life. Balloons begin to glow like giant paper lanterns. The crowd gasps, you lift your camera, and – boom – the sky turns into a kaleidoscope of color.

The Albuquerque Balloon Festival is an event where everyone is a photographer (and I mean everyone). In fact, this is one of the most photographed events in the world!

On the second day, there will be over 500,000 photos posted to the internet…and they all pretty much look the same. So how do you make your photos stand out?

As a full time adventurer and photographer, I sprinted around this festival internally screaming like a kid in a candy shop. I now know it’s part art, part strategy, part controlled chaos. 

In this guide, I’m breaking down 13 unique photo ideas you can capture during the Fiesta…exact spots, timing, and angles that actually work so that your photos look different than the masses! 

So grab your gear, your patience, and a breakfast burrito…because the sky’s about to put on a show.

Just a quick note before we begin. Although I mention times, the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta prefers to run on its own schedule and is highly weather dependent. It’s important to be flexible and get ready to point and shoot with whatever you get! Get creative and have fun!

All of these were taken with a Canon 5D Mark IV with a 24-105mm lens and a 100-400mm lens.

1. Dawn Patrol Lift-Off

This is the Balloon Fiesta’s first heartbeat and is a handful of balloons rising in darkness, lit by fire. It’s chaotic, romantic, and absolutely unmissable.

I am not sure what I expected, but when this started happening? I lost my mind! 

During this, I debated using a tripod…I ended up ditching it because the balloons lighting was too fast and ended up giving me blurry photos when I attempted a long exposure.

When: ~6:00 a.m. sharp. Be in place by 5:15.
Where: South end of the field for cleaner sight lines and fewer crowds. I got right up to the first lineup of balloons on the first day and went wider on the second day.

Settings

• Aperture: f/2.8–4
• ISO: 800–1200
• Shutter: 1/100–1/250s

Catch the moment when burners ignite in sync. I would think about using burst mode for this. That’s your glowing hero shot.

2. Jets, Sunrise & Opening Ceremonies

Depending on the day you attend, it will normally kick off with a full-on adrenaline jolt. 

This means potential jets streaking overhead, the national anthem, and the crowd losing its collective mind. 

When: 6:15–6:45 a.m. Timing will depend on the schedule and weather conditions.
Where: East side of the field facing the Sandias for the best sky color and aircraft trails.

Read More – How to Photograph Fireworks

Settings

• Aperture: f/5.6
• ISO: 200
• Shutter: 1/1000s+ (freeze those jet trails)

Burst mode, baby. Catch that perfect frame where the jets cross over balloons being prepped on the ground.

On our first day, the wind messed up the launch. Therefore, to please the crowd, they shot up all of the flames at once while jets were flying overhead. 

This is an important lesson: even if balloons aren’t launching, have your camera prepared at all times!

3. The Wall of Balloons Lining Up for Lift-Off

Once Dawn Patrol clears, the main event balloons start lining up. 

This translates to a rainbow wall of giants waking up in the half-light.

Trust me…photos don’t do this justice and it is mind boggling to experience in real life.

This will be even more intense if you have a “static” day (aka the balloons stay on the ground).

When: 6:30–7:15 a.m.
Where: Walk along the rows but stay behind the ropes.

Settings

• Aperture: f/8–f/11
• ISO: 200–400
• Shutter: 1/200s+

Go wide and low to make those rows look endless. Bonus points if you catch a burner burst mid-row.

Keep in mind that this can be a little chaotic. Make sure to have your listening ears on so you don’t get squashed by a balloon or get attacked by ropes.

Read More – Expensive vs Cheap Camera Review

4. Balloons Inflating

Since you can walk around the balloons inflating, you have a once-in-a-lifetime perspective or actually shooting up a balloon as it inflates. 

It’s like stepping inside a stained-glass cathedral made of nylon.

When: 5:45–7:30 a.m. (circle back mid-morning for variety since the balloons don’t all launch at once)
Where: Edge of the launch zones. Always ask crew permission.

Settings

• Aperture: f/4
• ISO: 400–800
• Shutter: 1/160s

Stay low, shoot upward toward the sky through the balloon fabric. Watch for repeating patterns and crew silhouettes.

Still confused about shutter speed, aperture, and ISO? Check out my beginner’s guide to the exposure triangle for adventurous photographers.

5. Close-Up of the Flame

That burner flash? It’s what makes balloon photos feel alive.

When: During inflation or Night Glow.
Where: Just off-center from the basket for side lighting.

Settings

• Aperture: f/4
• ISO: 400
• Shutter: 1/1000s or higher 

The highlights were a little tricky to control here, especially during sunrise. Be prepared to experiment.

Luckily, this happens all the time while they are launching so you will have many chances to get that epic shot!

6. Shoot into the Sunrise Over Hundreds of Balloons

Let’s get that signature shot that everyone wants…but let’s make it different so your photos don’t look like everyone else’s.

Wait for that first flash of light cresting over the Sandias. Then, shoot into the sun!

This gives your frame drama, warmth, and that sweet, spiky sun star you can practically feel.

When: About 15 to 30 minutes after Dawn Patrol as the sun edges over the mountains.
Where: Face towards the sunrise.

Settings

• Aperture: f/16–f/22 (to create the starburst effect)
• ISO: 100
• Shutter: 1/125–1/250s

Use your hand or a balloon edge to partially block the sun as you shoot—this minimizes flare and makes the starburst sharper. 

A wide lens (16–24mm) captures that sweeping field of color with the fiery sun slicing through it.

Read More – Best Lenses for Travel Photography

7. Close-Up Stacking

Even though their are hundreds of balloons, just focus on a few and compress ‘em! Multiple balloons stacked tight = organized chaos in color form.

When: 7:00–8:00 a.m., when the sky’s packed.
Where: North end of the field or elevated spots along Alameda Blvd.

Settings

• Aperture: f/8
• ISO: 100–200
• Shutter: 1/400s

Use a telephoto (70–200mm). Stack colors and patterns to feel that depth.

8. Framing Balloons within Balloons

This one’s a visual trick: two balloons inflating in the foreground, framing a sky full of others lifting off between them.

It’s like shooting through a portal of color straight into the clouds.

Plus, we love some good framing composition! It guides the eye and makes for some vivid storytelling. 

When: 6:45–7:15 a.m., right as the main wave of balloons starts rising but others are still inflating.
Where: Along the central launch lanes — crouch near partially inflated balloons (with crew permission!) and face toward the open sky.

Settings

• Aperture: f/8–f/11 (sharper focus front to back)
• ISO: 200
• Shutter: 1/250–1/500s

Use the curved edges of the foreground balloons as natural framing. Angle slightly upward to include both inflation action and the rising sky show.

It’s the perfect combo of chaos and composition.

9. Panorama of the Sky

If you could bottle “wonder,” this would be it.

This was also the only time I didn’t mind getting the crowds in the photos because I felt that they were necessary for the storytelling aspect of the photo.

When: Peak lift (7:15–8:15 a.m.).
Where: Park perimeter or nearby ridge. Get as far away as you can!

Settings

• Aperture: f/8
• ISO: 100
• Shutter: 1/500s

I did this both on my phone and my camera. Although the phone was easier, I liked my camera one more.

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10. The Sole Balloon

Although this is balloon overload, there is something powerful about 1 singular balloon!

Or, frame it where you have one giant balloon and then a ton of tiny balloons in the background (like I did below).

When: 8:15–8:45 a.m. after the main launch frenzy fades. Or, find one of the last balloons to launch.
Where: Rio Grande Overlook or northern park edge. I also liked standing on the field and getting under a single balloon that has just launched.

Settings

• Aperture: f/5.6–f/8
• ISO: 100–200
• Shutter: 1/500s

Embrace minimalism. Negative space = power. Personally, I suck at this, but I’m working on it!

11. The Night Glow

I soon came to learn that the Albuquerque Balloon Festival doesn’t stop after the morning launch! It actually has a second part in the evening. 

The highlight is several balloons rising and “glowing” over the sunset.

It’s calm, cinematic, and borderline magical! There are rows of balloons pulsing like lanterns.

When: Evening events (check schedule).
Where: Right at the edge of the balloons.

Settings

• Aperture: f/8
• ISO: 200
• Shutter: 1/2–1s (increase shutter speed if balloons are moving from slight wind)

Use a tripod and wait for the “All Burn” cue. That synchronized flame moment is worth the chills.

Read More – Playing with Light with Photography While Traveling

12. The RV Hill

If you’ve got access to the VIP or RV hill, congratulations…you’ve basically unlocked god-tier perspective.

From up here, you can see the entire launch field and a sky stuffed with balloons.

It’s wide, it’s cinematic, and it’s your best shot for storytelling compositions.

Note: you do need a pass and they are very strict!

When: Sunrise through about 8:00 a.m. — stay for the changing light; it paints the whole scene differently every ten minutes.
Where: The VIP/RV area on the west side of Balloon Fiesta Park (slight elevation = magic).

Settings

• Aperture: f/8–f/11
• ISO: 100–200
• Shutter: 1/250–1/500s

Use those foreground elements (RVs, flags, railings) to anchor your shot.

They add scale and texture while drawing the eye toward the chaos of color beyond.

If you’re shooting ultra-wide (16–20mm), crouch low and let the curve of the hill lead straight into the sky.

13. Other Festivities (Don’t Pack Up Yet)

Before/after the Glow/ascension comes live music, churros, fireworks, and pure joy.

Don’t stop shooting when the balloons land!

Other than seeing the balloons I watched a firework show, live music, chainsaw carving, traditional dances, and 2 drone shows.

When: After the morning launch or before the morning glow.
Where: Vendor row and main stage.

Settings

• Aperture: f/2.8–4
• ISO: 1600+
• Shutter: 1/125s

Ditch perfection! Embrace motion blur and neon chaos. That’s what the Balloon Fiesta is all about!

When the Balloons Go Static (and Why That’s Actually a Win)

Sometimes the wind’s too spicy or conditions shift, and the pilots call a pause. Translation: no lift-offs for a bit. 

Don’t bail – this is your stealth photo window.

On my first day, the wind had other plans. But I wasn’t mad because it forced me to photograph differently and in a more unique way. 

I enjoyed that creative aspect almost as much as the balloon launch itself.

Why It Happens

Balloons are extra sensitive to wind. Anything over 11 mph, and it’s a no-go for safety.

Crews will “stand up” the balloons but keep them tethered until it calms down.

How to Make the Most of It

• Go Wide: Capture the full lineup inflated but grounded. Those colors still slap, especially under soft morning light. This actually gives you a perspective that you wouldn’t get from a full launch.
• Zoom In: Shoot details like ands gripping ropes, flame bursts, fabric textures.
• Shoot People: This is your best chance for crew portraits and candid crowd energy. My favorite was shooting the balloon refs or the “zebras”.

When it’s calm, symmetry is your best friend. Frame balloons like giant lollipops against the Sandias and let the patterns do the work.

Want to know what to expect at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta? Heres the full vlog of my experience as a photographer ↓

That’s A Wrap…Now Go Take a Nap!

By the time the last balloon fades into the horizon and your memory card is full, you’ll realize something: this festival isn’t just a photography bucket-list item…it’s a full-blown sensory overload in the best possible way.

You’ll smell the propane, feel the desert chill, and hear that deep whoosh echoing through your chest. 

Every shot tells a piece of that story.

So go chase it. Get there early, stay late, talk to pilots, drink some coffee, and don’t stress the crowds.

The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta rewards the patient and the curious.

And when you’re home editing with sticky fingers and a caffeine buzz, remember: the best photos don’t just show what it looked like, they remind you how it felt. 🧜‍♀️💫

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