The first "All Glow" of the evening for the 2013 Kentucky Derby Festival Balloon Glow. All of the pilots light their burners simultaneously and it creates an awesome show. Nikon D4 with AFS Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 G.
After a relaxing final day of the Keeneland Spring meet, I headed to Louisville for the Kentucky Derby Festival Balloon Glow. The Derby festival is a series of events which lead up to the running of the Kentucky Derby. The balloon glow is held, weather permitting, the week before the Derby at the Kentucky State Fairgrounds. The weather for this years event was perfect and there were huge crowds for the event. We arrived a little early this year so we had a chance to check out the rides and other carnival action before the balloons got fired up. This year, different than past years, they allowed the crowds in while the balloons were being inflated.
The initial estimates were for 63,000 spectators for what is one of the nations largest events. I certainly enjoyed it as always. Here are a few of the pictures from that night. I hope you enjoy.
This young lady was the star of the show for me. When we wouldn't buy cotton candy, she insisted that we at least take her picture. Nikon D4 with AFS Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 G.
The Touchstone Energy balloon through the Lens Baby. It has been a while since I played with this lens and I thought this event would make for a fun return to this little lens. Nikon D4 with Lens Baby Composer.
A low view of a pilot giving his balloon a little extra hot air. The pilots had to burn for a few seconds every couple of minutes to keep the balloons upright. Nikon D4 with AFS Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 VRII.
A member of the Curves Balloon ground crew "controls" the top of the baloon as it is inflated. Nikon D4 with AFS Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8.
The Wicked Balloon gets a little heat as the balloon wait for darkenss and the first "Glow" of the evening. Nikon D4 with AFS Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 VRII.
Another shot with the Lens Baby. Nikon D4 with LensBaby Composer.
Balloons and crowds wait for the next glow of the evening. There are several "All Glows" during the event. Nikon D4 with AFS Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 VRII.
Horses thunder to the finish on the final day of Keeneland's Spring 2013 meet. In spite of best laid plans, I ended up not shooting too many pictures on this final day. I'll include a couple pictures in this post sans captions. All were shot with the Nikon D4 and 600mm f/4 VRII lens.
The bridge for the Bluegrass Parkway crossing the Kentucky River. Nikon D800E with AFS Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII.
I ended up spending 3 and 1/2 days in the helicopter surveying Canada geese this season. I’m entering data for that now and that information will be used to estimate KY goose populations. I managed to shoot a few more pictures along the way. I haven’t had much chance to really look at the images, but these are a few which caught my eye.
Early morning at Keeneland Wednesday before the races. Everything is still wet from the rains overnight. Nikon D800E with AFS Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII.
The Capital buildings are still one of my favorite subjects to photograph from the air. Fortunately the Frankfort airport approach takes you right by. Nikon D800E with AFS Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII.
A farmer leaves a freshly tilled trail behind his tractor. Farmers were preparing fields across the region. Nikon D800E with AFS Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII.
A horse farm in the bluegrass region of Kentucky. I love the patterns the horse fences create. Nikon D800E with AFS Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII.
You never know what you will see in someones yard. Nikon D800E with AFS Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII.
I'm always amazed at the scale of the Georgetown Toyota plant from the air. It is a gigantic place. Nikon D800E with AFS Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII.
Tilled and untilled portions of a farm in cental Kentucky. The tilling patters can create some really interesting patterns. Nikon D800E with AFS Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII.
The horse barns in the region around Lexington can be amazing. This huge barn is still rater modest compared to many. Nikon D800E with AFS Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII.
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