Updates
Inside the Basket - Don Henderson, Official Balloon Fiesta Photographer
February 13, 2024
Don Henderson is one of the Balloon Fiesta Official Photographers, specializing in aerial photos taken from the basket.
In this month’s Inside the Basket, he gives a look at his journey in becoming an Official event photographer, some unique challenges and advantages of taking photos from a balloon basket and gives advice for aspiring photographers coming to Balloon Fiesta in October 2024.
1. Can you share a bit about your background and experience as a photographer?
My passion for photography began in 1987 during a college Geology course where we visited Yosemite, Death Valley and Sequoia National Parks. I purchased a camera to document these experiences and I haven’t put the camera down since. I worked for a newspaper and a popular radio station in San Diego, CA. I was a track photographer for a regional NASCAR Track in southern California. A pivotal moment was having the opportunity to work with Bill Frakes, a Pulitzer Prize winning photo journalist and mentor. I photographed alongside Bill at the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, Daytona 500, NBA, and NFL games including two Super Bowls. These were all incredible experiences that helped me really understand what it takes to be a part of a photo team at a major sporting event.
2. How long have you been a photographer at Balloon Fiesta, and what was the journey to becoming an Official Event Photographer?
I attended my first Balloon Fiesta in 2017 and made thousands of photos. I was in awe of this incredible event. I will always remember the first time I drove through the tunnel entering Yosemite National Park. The view literally took my breath away. I say the same about Balloon Fiesta. When hundreds of balloons take to the sky during the early morning light it is simply magical. I had been sharing my photos with Art Lloyd Jr. who I have known for almost 25 years. Art suggested that I apply to become an official photographer. I applied and was thrilled when I was selected to join the photo team in 2022.
3. Can you tell the story of your favorite Balloon Fiesta photo you’ve taken?
When you make tens of thousands of photos during an event it is hard to pick a favorite. That being said, there is something incredibly special about taking photos of balloons while in a balloon. During Balloon Fiesta 2023 I had a spectacular flight with Pilot Peter Van Overwalle in his balloon Princess Nelly. It was great to be in a Special Shape and on this flight we had not one, but two splash and dashes in the Rio Grande.
4. The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta involves teams of people and a lot of coordination. How do you collaborate with other photographers, event organizers, and balloon pilots to ensure a smooth photography experience?
As an official photographer, I learned so much about the event, the processes, and the needs. The photo team must capture every aspect of Fiesta, not just the balloons. In order to be as responsive as possible, we created a chat group so we could keep in touch at all times. I personally listen to the Balloon Fiesta Live! Broadcast as Art and Glen have so much knowledge about the balloons, pilots and events. We make sure a photo team member attends the pilot briefing each morning and reports back to the team. And, as the photo team lead, I work closely with Art Lloyd Jr. and the Media team to help schedule flights, provide daily photos for social media, and to ensure we cover every special event. Communication is the key to success, and we will continue to refine processes to make sure we are ready to make the best pictures possible for everyone.
5. What are some unique challenges and advantages of photographing from a balloon basket?
The biggest challenge is choosing what gear to take with you. You have to pack light, as you will be in tight quarters with the pilot who is busy making important decisions. You also don’t know how long the flight will last. That being said, there are so many advantages. The 360-degree views from the basket are spectacular. You will never be in a situation outside of Balloon Fiesta to be in the air with so many balloons and such incredible landscapes to photograph. Learning about the balloon and the pilot is an added bonus. There is honestly nothing like it.
6. Do you have any advice for aspiring photographers coming to Balloon Fiesta in October 2024?
The great thing about Balloon Fiesta is that anyone can attend, and anyone can bring a camera. I would say the following to any aspiring photographer coming to the Fiesta this year. Pack layers, wear comfortable shoes, and expect the unexpected. As far as gear goes, bring a variety of lenses from wide angle to telephoto, bring extra batteries, and extra memory cards as you will need them. Most importantly I would say be respectful and mindful of your surroundings. Ask the pilots, crews and spectators if you can make pictures of them. Being courteous goes a long way when you are trying to take a special picture. And look for unique moments, beautiful light, and people interacting. And, if you are interested in joining the photo team, applications open March 1, 2024 on balloonfiesta.com.
Categories: Inside the Basket
Get to Know Alain:
Alain has been an avid flying enthusiast his entire life.
As a young boy, he built and flew dozens of his model aircraft creations.
As a certified skydiver, Alain has jumped almost 1,000 times from various types of aircraft, helicopters and hot air balloons, and is a certified skydiving instructor and parachute rigger. In 2012, he achieved the Canadian record for the largest formation in freefall (102 parachutists).
Alain is a paraglider pilot, and is a Transport Canada certified pilot in powered paragliders and hot air balloons. He is also a hot air balloon flight instructor and a Transport Canada certified Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) for balloons.
Since 2009, Alain's main passion has been piloting Hot Air Balloons. He is one of the rare people in the world to have constructed his own hot air balloons and baskets from scratch. He manufactures these balloons under the Bard Balloons moniker. Seven of these balloons are "Special Shape" hot air balloons in the shape of an Alien Rocket Ship, a Christmas Deer, a Polar Bear, a Tiger, a Robot, a Sun/Cloud and a Mushroom.
Alain also designs modern hot balloons in 3D CAD for other balloon builders with 18 of these designs completed to date.
Alain has flown balloons in some far-away places in the world, a total of 13 countries: Czech Republic, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Qatar, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom as well as locally at many of the hot air balloon festival in Canada and the USA.
Alain is the Ontario sales representative for Kubicek Balloons, the largest balloon manufacturers in the world.
Since 2012, Alain has been the President of the National Capital Balloon Club where, along with other club members, he has helped create several other balloons from scratch. As President, he helps promote the sport in the National Capital region and also acts as liaison to Transport Canada.
How and when did you become involved in Balloon Fiesta?
After designing and building my first special shape hot air balloon - Alien Rocket - I was invited to attend with this balloon in 2016 and again in 2017. I am returning this year, for the first time since 2017 - with Météo.
What is the story behind Météo?
MÉTÉO is the latest Special Shape Hot Air Balloon to come out of the Bard Balloons workshop and was conceived during the depths of the 2020 covid shutdown where I had lots of time to design the perfect version of this concept. It combines elements such as clouds, a sun, a rainbow, and a star (there is even a hidden lightning bolt to discover). It took 5 full design iterations to get this one just right before I started building it – and it took a full year to cut and sew together, and another year of flight testing, for a total of almost 3 years from start to finish.
“Météo” is the French word for “weather”, the perfect name for this balloon.
While seemingly simple from the outside, this special shape balloon is quite complex, with internal structure walls and internal cone, over 150 airflow holes and 16 appendages (including the largest appendages I have ever built – the 2 side bubbles of the cloud – each with a diameter of 9.5 m / 31 ft) – all these details come together to give this balloon a distinctive shape.
It is made with my very special, custom-designed lightweight fabric, as well as fluorescent fabric for the yellow sun portion, and in a few colors of the rainbow.
The base is a sphere and has an internal volume of 2,260 m3 / 80,000 cubic feet and it has a total volume of 2,660 m3 / 94,000 ft3. It is almost as wide (21m / 69 ft) as it is tall (22m / 71 ft), and because it uses lightweight fabric, the balloon envelope only weighs 100 kg! (220 lbs).
What are you most looking forward to at Balloon Fiesta this year?
Seeing all my ballooning friends attending from all around the world and talking shop - mostly about hot air balloon design.
A few innovations that I have been using in the amateur-built balloon scene have been picked up by some of the major balloon manufacturers over the last few years such as lightweight fabrics and hybrid balloon profiles - it's an exciting time with new technologies.
What do you do when you’re not flying hot air balloons?
My life pretty much revolves around balloons, but when I'm not flying, I am usually designing or building new balloons or inspecting and repairing balloons.
I also like to paraglide from time to time.
What is a favorite ballooning memory?
Adventure ballooning in the Philippines with Jonathan Trappe.
We flew for a couple of hours across unknown terrain for a first ever balloon flight in this particular area - first over one side of the ocean, then over fish farms, then crops, then forest, then up and down crevasses of a volcano face, and had to find a landing spot before running out of land - as the wind at the end of the flight was pushing us out to the ocean.
Recovery was by Water Buffalo and a wooden cart.