UPDATE…
And the winners are.
In first place: Danie Minnar
In second place: Marc Nuthall
In third place: Richard Bovell
Well done to ALL the participants.
See you all next year.
Time for me to brave a very chilly Highveld morning,
to be part of the media contingent that would be covering
one of the tasks that the participants in the 2018 BAFSA
would be completing this morning.
Although the sun was shining,
it was bone-chillingly cold on the ground.
(And not much warmer in the basket)
“Captain, my Captain”…
Bill Harrop fires up the media balloon.
He has about 4700 hours of flying time,
making him one of the most qualified pilots
in South Africa.
I do hope that the knots in these lines are machine made!
Time for the competitors to take to the sky…
Banner 6: Marc Nuthall
Banner 7: Brad Smith
Looking East towards Hartebeestpoort Dam,
glowing in the early morning light.
Our basket was packed with camera crews,
all vying to get that shot.
Space was tight, but I believe that everyone
was able to get the footage/stills they needed.
The loneliness of a balloon pilot?
Banner 10: Jim Seton-Rogers, all by himself.
In the background, the oldest mountain range in the world.
7 of the 11 pilots over the Skeerpoort area.
The balloon in the lower right corner
is piloted by Alan Turner and he has named his balloon
“Bumblebee.”
The bright red balloon is being flown by the only female pilot
 in the competition this year, Felicity Clegg.
The task for the morning…
Pilots had to drop a weighted streamer
 closest to the red cross.
There is nothing wrong with the canopy of the balloon on the right.
We were told that it is a racing balloon,
piloted by Danie Minnaar
and is manufactured like that…long and thin.
This flock of birds made several appearances,
but the balloons did not seem to bother them.
Neither did they bother the balloons.
This is what awaited the media once we landed…
And well deserved it was.
And a Citation…
just to prove that I was there.
Brad Smith coming in to land.
A hearty breakfast was served to all in the Pavilion
at Bill Harrop’s “Original” Balloon Safaris.
(Where the event is taking place)
The competition concludes on Thursday, 28/06/2018.
If you have every wanted to balloon,
then contact…
http://balloon.co.za/
A new addition…
This will be part of the platform
 for my new venture…
&
Photographic Safaris
 
My camera brand of choice for more than 4 decades!
When it is time to print out my special images,
this is the company that I rely on to do that.
Bush gear to make me blend in…
in comfort and style.
https://www.ruggedwear.co.za
I have worn these shoes in the jungles of India
and on the beaches of Croatia.
Not to mention, many game reserves in Africa.
They are probably the most comfortable pair of shoes
that I have ever owned.
When I get home. I rely on this ISP
to provide me with high speed fibre connectivity
to enable me to get my postings published in record time.
www.cisp.co.za
This powerbank is my constant companion
 while I am travelling.
It can do up to 4 full re-charges of my phone before
needing to be charged.
Supplied by…
When offered an option…
ALWAYS be Batman.
The newest of my travelling companions.
To find out more about the collectable Funko range of figurines,
visit:
My new addition, this awesome laptop bag from Solo.
Padded for protection and with enough pockets to keep
almost everything INCLUDING the kitchen sink in,
this is definitely an stylish addition to any business presentation.
Be it in the boardroom or the bush.
This bag can also be worn as a backpack.
There are straps in a hidden compartment that can be deployed
when you need both hands for other purposes.
To find out more about the stylish Solo range,
visit:
A new “tool” in my camera bag.
This locally made product was indispensable when using a long lens.
The ball and socket might look simple…and it is,
which is why it should be in the gear bag of every serious photographer.
This locally made, deceptively simple device is ideal
for tracking birds in flight or animals in motion.
The base can be used on a beanbag or a tripod,
with the ball being fitted to the camera.
The simplicity of the device allows to to move from supported
to hand held in a fluid motion.
There is also a version that can be used on a car window.
To see more about the product,
visit their Facebook page:
Or order directly from:
Â
Â
www.sablogawards.com
All images are the copyright property of
 
and may not be used without permission
Follow me on Twitter:Â @davidbatzofin
Visit my Facebook page:Â www.facebook.com/david.batzofin
Travel & Things Facebook page:Â https://www.facebook.com/travelandthings
Instagram:Â https://www.instagram.com/davidbatzofin/
Coming soon: http://www.db-photo.co.za/ and www.fbtours.co.za
