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Low flying

Low flying balloon over Västerås

Short trip to Västerås for another exiting flight with the Rabbit-balloon! We did a quite long flight, over 2 hours instead of the normal 1-1,5 hours due to the absence of wind. People often think that the perfect weather for a balloon trip would be when the wind doesn´t blow at all. This would be true if you didn´t have to plan where to land. Since you can´t steer the balloon at all the pilot need SOME wind to be able to predict where he will land. During this flight there winds was almost nonexistent so we drifted everywhere before we finally found a good spot to land on.

Photos taken with Canon 5D II and EF 24-70 F/2.8L

Turn on the heat!

John, the first one to leave the balloon at 3000 feet…

Coming in low over Västerås. Might be a little bit to low…

Spectators cheering at us from bellow.

A small aircraft did some really close passing´s.

Safe on the ground again!

/Thomas Tanisawa

July 11, 2013
Cool looking

My cool looking girl

I just love this image. She looks like there is nothing in the world that could push her out of balance. She will probably be the one that finally turns my hair from black into Mr. Miyahi-white… (Yes the karate master from the movie Karate Kid).

/Thomas Tanisawa

May 12, 2013
Kolmården

Kolmården

Just a simple photo of the kid, studying the animals on the other side of the fence. I sometimes wonder who looks at who at the zoo…

Leica M9 and 50 Summicron

/Thomas Tanisawa

May 10, 2013
The frozen coast

The winter is getting a grip of Sweden

There photos were taken in Skåne during March 2013 so it´s just a reminder of things to come. Anyway, this year there is almost no snow and the snow thrower is parked quietly in the garage… The only ones complaining is the kids…

Leica M9 and 50 Summicron

Some of you locals might recognize this road? Lövestads landsväg is the name of the road and it will today represent the typical winter in Skåne.

This is taken at Mossby strand. This is where we spend our summer vacation, at least when it´s not raining…

This could have been any sunny summer day, but it is not… Hard wind and under zero on the thermometer.

Water and wind is creating this cool patterns all over the beach!

It was just as cold as it looks…

/Thomas Tanisawa

March 30, 2013
Tac-Up Gear

With Tac-Up gear in the woods

Did a small photo shoot for Tac-Up Gear in Sweden. They needed a couple of new live shoots from the green wood’s of Sweden.

Canon 5D II, EF24-70 f/2.8L

Martin, owner and founder of Tac-Up Gear is posing in the terrain.

/Thomas Tanisawa

November 11, 2012
The cat

Stinky the cat

Nothing special really. Just wanted to add this picture of a friend’s curious cat! (Oh, the cat goes by the name “Stinky”)

Leica M9, 50 summicron

Anna, you own a cool cat!

/Thomas Tanisawa

October 17, 2012
Cirkus Cirkör is performing in Stockholm

Photoshoot with Cirkus Cirkör

Today I was attending an event with Cirkus Cirkör in Stockholm. I have never before seen them perform and it was quite amazing. Without any safety nets (or fear) they make acrobatic acts high up in the air!

Leica M9

This is also a position that could be used when talking in your cell phone, but not for me… If I could get my legs into that position (and I can´t) I would probably have to break them first.

“Don´t let go”

Waiting for the next act.

Next Cirkus Cirkör team takes into the air.

“Maby this is the best angle”

Wow!

/Thomas Tanisawa

August 16, 2012
Another flight with skydivers!

Jumping from the hot air balloon

Today we arrange another balloon activity for Aros skydiving club in Västerås. We made a total of two lifts with the balloon so that a total of 12 skydivers could jump.

The first team takes to the sky for a super exiting trip!

The balloon ascends quite into the sky and it only takes around 5-10 minutes to reach an altitude of 1200 meters, that is the planned jump height.

The burners produce aprox. 10.000.000 watt of heat!

When gliding over the landscape you can´t help to compare it to Google maps…

First pair of skydivers waits for a go at the ledge of the balloon basket.

…and then the second pair climbs out to face 1200 meters of free air.

Can you see the small air strip in the upper left corner? The green field with the gray runway? That is our preferred landing place for this flight and in this case as an extra bonus, it´s just outside Aros skydiving center!

And of course we manage to get the balloon to the right place just outside of the club house!

/Thomas Tanisawa

August 12, 2012
Hunting mushrooms

Hunting in the woods

Today the whole family went out for walk in the wood to see if there was any mushrooms just waiting to be picked!

Leica M9 and 50 summicron

Typical scenery in the woods surrounding the area where we live.

Pine trees everywhere you look that creates a dense sometimes a little too dark and scary looking place.

“Where are the mushrooms hiding dad?”

In the end we got a whole basket full of chanterelles!

/Thomas Tanisawa

August 12, 2012
Flying hot air ballon with parachute jumpers

Another day with Aros

This day was spent at Aros parachute club in Västerås for an exciting event. We were going to arrange parachute jumps from a hot air balloon. So off we went to Aros in Västerås with a big hot air balloon and meet up with some super exited skydivers. After some preparation and planning we went off to the starting point.

Canon 5D, 24-50 f/2.9L

This kitchen at the club looked like it was in need of some love and care, or at least a sign saying “Your mother doesn’t live here. Clean up by yourself!”

The balloon is starting to come in to shape. This is taken from inside of the balloon before we start filling it with hot air. To start with you only use two big fans, just to get the initial shape up…

…then comes the heat and there is a lot of it!

This is right after takeoff and the ground getting smaller quite fast!

The first brave make his final preparation before taking a leap of faith.

Then there was a wing suite jumper to dive outside of the balloon basket!

The sun started to set over the beautiful landscape as jumpers left the balloon.

This is what it looked like below the balloon. 1000 meters up in the air doesn’t give you much time to correct any errors on the way down…

Can you spot the two skydivers in the air?

Flying in over the city of Västerås. We had a really lovely flight and our three passengers that didn´t jump (they weren’t supposed to do that either) enjoyed it a lot!

This is the not so fun part of flying balloon… waiting outside for the transport to arrive surrounded by millions of mosquitoes…

But flying hot air balloon is worth it!

/Thomas Tanisawa

August 6, 2012