What's that in the clouds

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Last weekend my Aunt invited me to join her to go down to Putrajaya for a Hot Air Balloon fair. Being a cloud-scape freak that I was, I didn't think twice!

Weather was on my side. It was bright, sunny, hot day and the clouds were darn blueish with no haze in sight! Yeah!!

And so we touchdown at about 3.30pm and on the way I had to fill up my Aunt's film point-n-shoot olympus camera and was very dusty and dirty inside. Being a freak, I had it all in my bag so I did some servicing of her camera inside the car and for a millenia I haven't touched film cameras. Fortunately I was able to insert in the film and I hope it was proper... hehehe.

Reaching to Putrajaya (for the 1st actual time - previous visits kept me wondering where to go and which roads to drive to) I was stunned of the scenary. I just then got too many ideas of what to shoot - damn should have charged my flashgun batteries. I just couldn't stop hitting my shutters then - this is where I love the battery of my weapon as it only had half battery life and that was last charged about 2 weeks ago and still running strong.

Problematic lah me, here snap, there snap walk here walk there, on the bridge, under the bridge haih... then my Prayers time... lagi la shooting. But 1 thing sure amazed me, there were darn too many guys with dSLR (and I rarely see the entry models) with big big guns, battery grips, bla bla bla... and I had to create a phrase and messaged my wife... "With the ammount of people holding dSLRsssss, the point-n-shoot cameras looked like phone camera".

Well the event actually started at 5.30pm and it was short lived as once the balloons were away you either run with them to their drop point or join the teams of photographers lining up on the bridge with your tripod trying to get that low light shot (my Aunt had to leave at that time).

One thing for sure, for those who yet to grab the opportunity to shoot at Putrajaya here are some tips:
1. Check the weather forecast!
2. Bring a tripod (MUST).
3. Bring food and lots of water (Another MUST).
4. Bring a darn wide angle lense.
5. Bring a tele lense.
6. Bring a prime lense.
7. Head down to Precint 2 - these are where lies the Goverment buildings that are yet to be filled up.
8. Reach about 3 - 4pm.
9. Get the architechture shots on that time and the boat rides.
10. Head down to the Mosque (also Precint 2) - more architecture shots.
11. At about sunset, be at the Wawasan bridge to get the sunset and ready your tripod to start your low light.
12. Round the precint 2 for more low light shots.
13. Remember to park wisely. Police there are used to photographers so they know the sweet spot so park your car wisely.
14. Remember to drink lots of water.
15. Remember to also have some excercise before this excercise.

Enjoy...

-R-