Hot Air Balloon Photo Tips

Lot's of Hot Air Balloon Events take place all over Ohio, here's a few of my photography Hot Air Balloon Tips:

Lenses:  Most lenses in your bag will come in handy at a Balloon Fest, wide angles for an overall view of the balloons and for cool effects if you can move close to the balloons, fisheyes also come in handy. Telephotos are great for getting close ups of the balloons and isolating balloon patterns.

Balloon Photo Tips:

1. See which way the wind is blowing then position yourself so the balloons will fly toward you.

2. Look for colors, shapes and patterns













3. Use people as scale to show how large the Balloons are








4. Show the crew at work








5. And of course show them in the air!!!








More balloon photos here: Hot Air Balloons

Hope to see a lot of my Photographer friends at one of the upcoming Balloon Fests this summer.

Also if you liked to find out about Cool Photo Ops in Ohio and beyond be sure and check out the Cool Photo Ops group on Facebook.

Lake View Cemetery April 21st 2013

Every year in the spring hundreds of Daffodils bloom on Daffodil Hill in Lake View Cemetery, not sure how good the conditions are this year but I'm going to check it out on Sunday April 21st  I plan on getting there between 7:30 and 8:00am to catch the good early morning light and the dew on the plants.

There are lots of famous people buried in Lake View and lots of interesting buildings and Crypts to photograph. Buildings you want to check out are the Garfield Memorial where President Garfield and his family are entombed.  Also check out Wade Hall.

Everyone is welcome to join me if you want to....



Daffodil Hill (Click on the photo to go to the gallery)



Here's a Map with the locations of the Garfield Memorial, Wade Chapel, and Daffodil Hill and also the Euclid Ave entrance to Lake View. Click on the blue icon to get directions from your location.


View Lake View Cemetery in a larger map

Cool Photo Op: Smokies May 19th - May 23rd 2013

The Cool Photo Op Group is headed to the Smokies from May 19th to May 23rd for a photo shoot, everyone is welcome!!!!

When: May 19th to May 23rd

We'll be staying in Townsend, Tenn on the quiet side of the Smokies and only 2 miles from the entrance to Smoky Mountain National Park. This is also the closest entrance to Cades Cove

If you'd like to go please click here... Cool Photo Ops Facebook Group Event Page and click the I'm Going button, so I know how many people want to go

Cool Photo Op: Smoky Mountain Hotel Information

• Hotel: Highland Manor Inn in Townsend Tenn. 7766 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway, P.O. Box 242 Townsend, TN, 37882, USA

• http://www.highlandmanor.com/
• 
  
• So far I have blocked 10 rooms, I can get more if more people are interested.
• 
  
• Room Rates 79.50 plus tax This rate is guaranteed until April 19th so book before then. Continental Breakfast included (they'll make arrangement for photographers who get up at the crack of dawn)
• 
  
• We will be staying 4 nights, checking in Sunday May 19th (3pm) and checking out Thursday May 23rd (11am) 
• 
  
• To make reservations and get the special rate call this number:
• 
  
• 800.213.9462 tell them you're with the Ron Skinner photography group.
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• If you are planning on going for sure please sign up early by clicking on the "Going" button so I can get more rooms if I have too.

Note: Feel free to make your reservations at another nearby hotel if you prefer

Map and directions to the Highland Manor Inn:  Click on the bed icon for directions from your location

View Highland Manor Inn - Townsend Tenn in a larger map

I'll be posting a schedule when we get closer to the shoot, but here's some of the places we'll be going:
Click on the headings below to read more about it...

Cades Cove

Tremont 

Lots of streams and waterfalls here

Morton Overlook and Clingmans Dome

Mountain Farm Muesum and Mingus Mill

We'll also be seeing the Roaring Fork Motor Trail, the Foothills Parkway and more!!!

Hope to see a lot of you there!!!

Click here for More Smoky Photo Galleries

Thanks!

Prerequisites for going: Take lots of photos and HAVE FUN!!!

Feel free to ask lots of photography questions if you want too!

Cool Photo Op: Hocking Hills May 16th to May 19th 2013

Hi everyone the Cool Photo Ops Group on Facebook is having a photo shoot at Hocking Hills State Park from Thursday May 16 to Sunday May 19th, everyone is welcome!!!!

Join the Cool Photo Ops group for updates on the trip

When: May 16th to May 19th 2013.  Come for all the days or the days convenient for you

Where: Hocking Hills State Park

Where to stay:  A lot of us are going to be staying in the State Park Cottages, they sleep up to six people, they are a little expensive but close to the action.  You can also stay at a hotel in Logan or at any of the nearby private cabins and cottages in the area, or even in the State Park Campground.  For those who make their own lodging arrangements, we will probably use the State Park Dining Lodge as a central meeting place.

For those of you that have never been to Hocking Hills you can hang out and go on  group shoots with everyone, for those that have been there before you can venture out on your own if you want and then meet up later for lunch and dinner and shoot the breeze and ask questions about Hocking Hills and photography stuff.

Here's a link to the Hocking Hills Trail Maps

Hocking Hills is a large park with lots of waterfalls and some of the best hiking trails in Ohio, here's some of what you'll see:

A group of us went last June and had a great time....



Ash Cave in Spring and Winter



Cedar Falls


Lower Falls and Upper Falls at Old Man's Cave


Other things to see and explore are Conkle's Hollow, Rockhouse, Cantwell Cliff's

Here's what the State Park Cottage's look like, they have all the comforts of home, full kitchen, cable TV, air  conditioning, sorry no internet.



More Hocking Hills photos can be seen here:  Hocking Hills Galleries

GPS Coordinates in Decimal Degree format:
Lat: N 39.4376
Long W 82.5379

To get directions to Hocking Hills from your location click on the Green State Park HQ icon:


View Hocking Hills in a larger map