5 Behind the Scene - Fav Photos 2023

Behind the Scenes, part 5

Taking a look behind the scenes of some of the photo shoots, in the Dragon and Elf Twins Balloon Adventure

La Cloche Mountains

I had bought a package of 'Helium Quality' balloons at Walmart, and there were there most (nine) red ones in the package, so those were what I was going to use for the twin's Hot Air Balloon. When I first designed the upper frame of the balloon, and we took it out for a test flight, the balloon was not tied down, so it blew off, and popped when it hit the ground. So I had to figure out a way to tie the balloon to the frame so it wouldn't blow away. Then the first balloon I blew up on our trip just started to shrink almost immediately. Same with the second one. What as going on? At this rate the nine red balloons were not going to last an entire trip.

So I blew up a third balloon and we headed outside for the first photos. The balloon basket had a wooden disk underneath, into which a long dowel fit. Jan would hold the balloon by the dowel so I could take my photos...

Then after we got home I would remove the dowel in PhotoShop....

After we continued on our way, there was suddenly a bang in the back of the RV. The balloon had popped. With it being so cold outside, and just a bit above freezing, the balloon had expanded when it went back in the warmer RV. And I'd forgotten to loosen the string that was holding the balloon into the frame. So it popped. From then on I would need toto remember to always loosen the string, so it wouldn't happen again.

Serpent River

The first place we stopped where I wanted to set up a scene, was at the picnic area along the Trans Canada Hwy in Serpent River.

A few leaves scattered on the table would help blend the table top into the background....

More Flying

We stopped in several scenic locations to take more 'flying' photos. I wanted it to look like the dragons were flying onside...

But Jan only has two hands....so sometimes I'd hold a dragon as well...

Flying scene at Sinclair Cove - the same photo before and after PhotoShop....

At the waterfalls, before and after PhotoShop...

Rabbit Blanket Campground

There was one night as we were passing back through Lake Superior Provincial Park, that I really wanted to stay at a proper campsite, so I could take my time with some 'camping' photos. I was in a lot of pain at the time and couldn't get down on the ground to take photos, so everything needed to be set up on picnic tables, so it was a more convenient height for taking photos.

Some pine needles scattered throughout the tiny campsite, help tie it into the forest background..

Losing Teddy

Towards the end of the trip I started to get more creative. I'd taken enough simple 'flying' shots, and came up with a short storyline. So first thing one morning we headed over to the Kilarney lighthouse. I was planning on having Emily drop her bear, so needed Jan to hold the balloon higher up. That way I could shoot from below to give the impression of a great height with the tins looking down over the edge of the basket...