Photographer: Kaitlin Ziesmer, Denver, Colorado
Getting the shot: The shot was taken at the Rocky Mountain Balloon Festival at Chatfield Reservoir on August 25th, 2007. I had just moved back to Colorado for school a couple days before, and my parents had just left that morning. I drove to the reservoir at about 5:30 in the morning, perfectly timing the sunrise. After waiting about 30 minutes, the balloons took to the sky all at once.
The Details: The lighting happened to be just perfect, so I was quite lucky. I believe I used the smallest aperture on my Rebel xTi and a shutter time of about 1/2000, because a lot of the time I was shooting directly into the sun. When it came to the processing all I had to do was slight cropping, bumping up the contrast a little, and for my own personal touch, I pulled the saturation down slightly in Photoshop. It was an amazing experience, even though I was by myself and it would have been nice to share with someone. But overall it was perfect weather, perfect lighting, and a perfect moment.
IT loves the washed-out colors of the picture, and we kind of wish we could float away. Want your own photo featured in Global Eye? Add your pics to IT's Flickr pool.
That's beautiful Kaitlin,
One question, was it more special because you were viewing it as a photographer, or would any moments without the camera have been just as special - or do you spend those moments thinking what a great shot it would be?
In a world of visual people, I'm not one, and I always want to know what's going on in your head.
Posted by: Annette | November 09, 2007 at 04:10 PM
That is one gorgeous photo. Wow.
Posted by: Raoul | November 10, 2007 at 01:31 PM
Hey Kaitlin ! This is totally awesome ! Love you, Aunt Cindy & Uncle Chris
Posted by: Cindy LayduHill | November 12, 2007 at 11:30 AM
Kaitlin! you are amazing! yet another perfect moment in time captured by you!
- KDja
Posted by: Khadija | November 12, 2007 at 08:46 PM
Kaitlin! you have done it again! brilliant photo.
-KDja
Posted by: Khadija | November 12, 2007 at 08:51 PM
annette....
its hard to explain, but.... there are times when something just clicks in my mind, when theres something really.... incredible, going on that's so much bigger than just me. i have certain moments like this from my life when i just say to myself right in the middle of whatever is going on "this is totally a perfect moment, im going to remember this forever".... i dont necessarily always have a camera, actually, i usually dont. but its cool because i dont feel like i need to share all the time realizing others might not appreciate it like i do. with this photo in particular, i have a lot of people tell how great of a photograph it is, not realizing what exactly was going on in my mind at the time of taking it, (which is still great, and i love hearing what people think!), but i should thank you for actually taking the time to absorb my words too. i hope i somewhat explained/helped.....
thank you all for the kind words *kaitlin
Posted by: kaitlinziesmer | November 12, 2007 at 09:39 PM
Dang your slowly getting famous...haha loveyou
chester
Posted by: Ches Whinery | November 12, 2007 at 10:23 PM
omg. i love this...it looks like national geographic. you are surely amazing.
Posted by: Rashieda | November 13, 2007 at 01:09 AM
my goodness. this is an amazing photo. i really like the one you took with your polariod too.
Posted by: rach | November 13, 2007 at 12:06 PM
It is a beautiful picture. I am so proud of you !
love you
Aunt Annie
Posted by: annie lorenzen | November 15, 2007 at 02:18 PM
Kaitlin this photo is spectacular as were the others from that day, keep up the beautiful work!
Posted by: Jennifer | November 16, 2007 at 04:17 PM