Sony A9 Test at The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta: A Photographer's Dream
New Mexico police on horseback patrol the Balloon Fiesta grounds at sunset, adding a unique touch to the vibrant atmosphere of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
The Balloon Fiesta Park is the Size of 54 Football Fields.
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is one of those events every photographer dreams of. The sight of hundreds of colorful hot air balloons rising into the sky at sunrise or glowing against the night sky during the Balloon Glow is something you need to experience to truly appreciate. As a commercial photographer based in Silicon Valley, I often focus on small to large businesses, automotive photography, etc, but photographing an event like the Balloon Fiesta is a whole different kind of challenge. This year, I brought along the Sony A9 paired with two Sony G Master lenses—the Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM and Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS—to test out how well this powerhouse mirrorless system could handle the dynamic, fast-paced scenes.
The Balloon Fiesta Park is the size of 54 football fields, making it the perfect location for a large-scale event like this, where more than 500 hot air balloons take to the skies over the course of several days. The sheer scale of the event is something you need to see to believe. There's something about being there in person that can't be captured in photographs alone—the cool morning air, the colorful spectacle of balloons inflating, and the contagious energy as they begin to lift off into the sky. It’s truly an experience every photographer should have at least once in their life.
The Balloon Fiesta: A Photographer's Paradise
We arrived early for the Balloon Glow on the Friday evening. This event, where they inflate the balloons but keep them tethered to the ground, is a magical sight. The flames from the burners light up the balloons, casting them in an eerie glow against the darkening sky. As a photographer, it's a perfect opportunity to experiment with long exposures and capture the brilliant colors and textures of the balloons. The Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS was an excellent choice for this scenario, allowing me to zoom in on the intricate details of the balloons and the pilots working around them. For this type of shot, the autofocus was fast and accurate, even with the low light conditions and the constant motion of people around the balloons.
The Balloon Glow was cut short by the wind, but I could have stared at the flames for hours. If you've ever been to a balloon event, you know how mesmerizing the flames are as they burst from the burners, illuminating the colorful sails of the balloons. It’s a photographer's dream, with the mixture of dynamic lighting and vibrant colors, creating dramatic contrasts.
The following day, we woke up at 4:30 AM to catch the Mass Ascension—one of the most iconic events of the fiesta. The weather has to cooperate for this spectacle, and on this particular morning, we were in luck. Hundreds of balloons took to the sky, one after another, each more colorful than the last. As I looked up, it was surreal to see the balloons rise—at first, almost motionless, like giant, slow-moving party balloons drifting upward.
When you're photographing something as large and awe-inspiring as this, having the right equipment is key. The Sony A9 really proved itself during the Mass Ascension, offering 20 fps continuous shooting without any blackout between frames. This allowed me to capture those fleeting moments when the balloons took flight. The autofocus was incredibly fast and precise, even when photographing multiple balloons against the vast expanse of sky. The A9's real-time tracking and Eye Autofocus features were indispensable for keeping fast-moving subjects in focus, whether I was shooting the flames lighting up the balloons during the glow or the massive balloons ascending during the Mass Ascension.
Sony A9: Built for Action and Precision
The Sony A9 was built for speed, and it delivered. Featuring a 24.2MP full-frame stacked CMOS sensor, it allowed me to capture high-speed moments without losing any detail. The A9’s 693 phase-detection points cover a vast portion of the frame, making it easy to track and focus on fast-moving subjects like the hot air balloons as they ascended.
In the field, the camera’s continuous shooting at 20 frames per second (with no blackout between frames) allowed me to capture a series of perfectly timed images without missing a beat. This is essential for fast-moving scenes, especially something as dynamic as a balloon launch. What’s more, the ISO performance was impressive, allowing me to shoot in both low-light conditions at the Balloon Glow and the bright morning light during the Mass Ascension without noise or grain.
For an in-depth review of the Sony A9, you can check out this detailed evaluation from DPReview: Sony A9 Review
Sony Lenses: 16-35mm f/2.8 GM and 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS
Along with the Sony A9, I had two lenses with me: the Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM and the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS. Both lenses are part of Sony’s highly regarded G Master series, known for their exceptional sharpness, speed, and build quality. The combination of these lenses, with the A9’s speed and autofocus capabilities, made shooting the Balloon Fiesta a seamless experience.
Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM
The 16-35mm f/2.8 GM was perfect for capturing the grand, wide shots of the Balloon Fiesta. The wide focal length allowed me to photograph the entire scene—hundreds of balloons in the sky, or the sprawling fields of the fiesta. The f/2.8 aperture allowed me to shoot in varying lighting conditions, especially as we moved from the early morning Mass Ascension to the night-time Balloon Glow.
What stood out most about the 16-35mm GM was its sharpness. From edge to edge, the lens delivered stunning detail, even in wide-open shots. The bokeh (background blur) was buttery smooth, which helped to isolate subjects when I wanted to focus on a specific balloon or pilot.
Check out more details about the Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM lens on Sony’s official site: Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM Lens
Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS
The 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS was my go-to lens for capturing the balloons during their ascent. The lens’ optical stabilization helped to minimize any shakes, and the fast autofocus made tracking fast-moving balloons a breeze. The 70-200mm range allowed me to get the close-up shots I needed while still maintaining the ability to zoom in from a distance.
Whether it was capturing the fine details of the balloon pilots preparing for lift-off or focusing on the bright flames being ignited, the 70-200mm GM performed flawlessly in all conditions.
Learn more about the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens here: Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens
For a great in-depth review of the Sony 70-200mm GM, check out this article from Cameralabs: Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS Review
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta: A Historical and Cultural Phenomenon
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta isn’t just an awe-inspiring visual spectacle; it also carries with it a rich history rooted in the early days of flight. The event, which began in 1972, has grown into the world’s largest hot air balloon festival, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors and balloonists each October. But what makes Albuquerque the perfect location for such an iconic event?
The history of hot air balloons dates back to 1782, when the Montgolfier brothers in France made the first successful flight of a hot air balloon. The idea quickly caught on, and by the 19th century, ballooning became a popular means of scientific exploration, military reconnaissance, and, of course, adventure. Hot air balloons have always captured the human imagination with their serene, peaceful nature, offering a bird’s-eye view of the world in a way few other forms of flight can.
Albuquerque’s ties to ballooning are deeply rooted in the city’s geography and weather patterns. The city's location in the Rio Grande Valley, surrounded by mountain ranges and open plains, provides the perfect conditions for hot air ballooning. The Albuquerque Box—a meteorological phenomenon—helps balloon pilots navigate by creating a series of wind currents that blow in different directions at different altitudes. This makes Albuquerque one of the few places in the world where balloonists can control their altitude and fly in different directions during the same flight, offering a unique and safe flying experience.
The Balloon Fiesta itself was first held in 1972, originally as a small event to celebrate the opening of a local radio station
It quickly grew, attracting balloonists from across the country and around the world. By the mid-1980s, the Fiesta was officially recognized as the largest ballooning event globally, drawing participants from more than 40 countries today.
What makes the Balloon Fiesta so special is its variety of events. The Mass Ascension is one of the most iconic, where over 500 balloons lift off in waves at sunrise. Watching hundreds of balloons fill the sky is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Then, there’s the Balloon Glow, where the balloons are illuminated by the flames from their burners against the night sky, creating an ethereal spectacle.
For more information about the Balloon Fiesta and to plan your visit, check out the official event site here: Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Official Website
Over the years, the Balloon Fiesta has also incorporated a variety of creative and themed balloon designs, including shaped balloons such as animals, characters, and fantastical creatures. These special balloons bring a sense of playfulness and joy to the event, attracting photographers, families, and enthusiasts from around the world.
If you visit Albuquerque for the Balloon Fiesta, it’s not just about the photography—it's about the entire experience. The culture of New Mexico, with its rich Native American, Spanish, and Mexican heritage, infuses the event with a sense of celebration and tradition. Alongside the balloon launches, you’ll find local food vendors, live music, and performances that highlight the cultural diversity of the region.
For an additional guide on best spots for photographers at Balloon Fiesta, check out National Geographic's photography tips here: Best Photography Locations at Balloon Fiesta
For a more in-depth exploration of Albuquerque’s Ballooning History, visit: Albuquerque Ballooning History