There is a reception of photos for the 35AWARDS 2026! #35AWARDS

📝 Description

These images document the inflation and launch of hot air balloons in Cappadocia, Turkey. Photographers are drawn to the dramatic contrast between the massive, colorful fabric envelopes and the intense, controlled bursts of flame from the burners. The scenes vary from wide shots showing crew members working on the ground to close-ups looking up into the glowing interior of the envelope. The lighting shifts from the cool blue tones of pre-dawn to the warm orange glow illuminating the night sky. All images capture the mechanical preparation required for these aerial vessels before they ascend.

How to shoot it

📍 Where to shoot

Shooting takes place outdoors, primarily in Cappadocia (Turkey), where hot air balloons are a regional symbol.

🕐 Time of day

Most shot between 5:00 and 8:00 (62% of frames)

Based on 21 frames with camera data. Camera clock time; the time zone is unknown.

Best time is dawn (5–7 AM). Light is soft, the sky retains a deep blue hue, contrasting with the bright flame of the burners.

🎫 Access and rules

Shooting occurs at official launch sites accessible to tourists via flight tickets. Independent access to the preparation area without participating in the flight is usually restricted.

🎒 Gear

Use a wide-angle lens (16–35 mm) to convey the scale of the canopy and flames. Shutter speeds are short (up to 1/500 s), so stabilization or high aperture is important.

Cameras and lenses the authors used (10)

Nikon D800 2 Olympus E-M1 2 Sony ILCE-7RM3 2 Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL 1 Samsung SM-G998B 1AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED 2FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM 2Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD (A007) 1Samsung NX 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OIS 1E-Mount, T-Mount, Other Lens or no lens 1

🧳 What to bring

Warm clothing and shoes, flashlight, spare batteries, rain cover for equipment.

⚙️ Settings

Shutter 1/100 (1/640 – 1/25)Aperture f/6.3 (f/1.8 – f/8)ISO 400 (100 – 1100)Focal length 24 mm (6 – 50)

Based on 20 frames with camera data. Median and 10-90% range across the idea frames.

Key parameter is shutter speed: median 1/100 s (range 1/625–1/25 s) to capture flame motion. Aperture f/6.3, ISO 400.

⚠️ Good to know

Maintain distance from the active burner and crew: high temperatures and burn risks make close approach dangerous. Follow venue staff instructions as safety zones may change depending on wind and preparation stages.

📈 How the idea developed

works uploadedshare of all site uploads, per 100k

The date is when the file was uploaded to the site. The chart counts works assigned to the idea.

✅ How to repeat it

Shoot at low ISO (100-400) to preserve canopy shadow details against bright flames.
Use burst mode to capture flame dynamics and crew reactions.

✨ Interesting facts

🏆 How the best frame was shot: Realme realme 11 Pro+ 5G, 1/100, f/1.7, ISO 1000, 6 mm
🔇 71% of frames were shot at ISO 400 or lower: almost no noise, any modern camera will do
🥇 14 works reached the finals. Best contest: Fire 2026
👤 Most frequent authors: Raed Victor Saad 2 Сергей Каменчук 2 Dimitri Bakhtadze 2 Oleksandr Podust 2 Евгений Николаенков 2
🌍 Authors by country: 🇷🇺 RU 20 🇺🇦 UA 2 🇪🇬 EG 2 🇦🇪 AE 1 🇨🇴 CO 1

Some tips are prepared by AI from the idea description, photos and their EXIF. Check the rules and access to places before you travel.

Works

These lists are generated automatically and may contain inaccuracies. Photos are shown in random order, and selections are refreshed twice a day. This section is made for exploring photos and does not claim 100% accuracy. The lists include photos that previously participated in contests that are already completed.