MUSINGS..........
KITE AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY - KAP INDEX

John Maxworthy, Long Island, NY
Updated: May 10, 02

Whether interested in photography, kites or just trying something different, these pages are meant to encourage and provide enough complete information for you to get a camera up in the sky and see what Kite Aerial Photography is all about....

The information on these pages present my perspective on learning some of the techniques and equipment used in taking aerial photographs from kites. The key words in the previous statement are "my perspective". I believe there is not a single best overall design, best kite, best camera, or best rig for taking photographs from a kite. Every person's preferences seem to originate from their existing skills, available equipment & money, weather conditions where they live and their degree of interest in taking aerial photos. These personal preferences also change constantly as new ideas are tried.

Another reason for " going to the trouble of " documenting my experiences with kap on WWW pages is my interest in learning the skills involved in HTLM and is a means of keeping current on what is happening on the Internet. (Most Internet servers now offer storage space for Homepages, etc. I encourage you to give it a try.)

SOURCES

The great source on Kite Aerial Photography are the web pages of Charles Benton. The quarterly journal published by the AKA called Kiting also occasionally has a KAP photo spread. Mr. Benton has put together an amazing collection of graphics, photo images and text about the people and equipment currently in kap. For anyone interested in taking photographs from kites and keeping current on the subject, visit Mr. Benton's WEB pages. I noticed these web pages are now stored in a archives section; not sure what this means.

Publication Sources

Some of the written sources I have saved are shown below. The aerial eyewas another quarterly publication of the AKA, but was discontinued about a number of years ago.

KITE LINES, Summer-Fall 95, Vol. 11, No. 3, pg 52
Taking an Aerial View ... Where Only Birds Can Go by Craig Wilson
KITE LINES, Fall 94, Vol. 11, No. 1, pg 52
George Lawrence: A Giant in Kite Aerial Photograghy by Simon Baker
AMERICAN KITE, Summer 93, Vol. 6, No. 3, pg 32
View From A Kite by Michael Dusariez
AMERICAN KITE, Fall 95, Vol. 8, No. 2, pg 31
Window in The Sky by Craig Wilson
DRACHEN MAGAZINE INTERNATIONAL, Mar/June/July, 2/95, pg 14
Kite Aerial Photography by Michael Haugrund
KITE AERIAL PHOTOGRAPGHY, Copyright 1987, pgs 43
by Mark Cottrell, The Kite Store Ltd., London, England
AERIAL EYE, Fall 94, Vol. 1, No. 1,
Camera Cradles
Nine or more different cradles from the simple to the complex.
AERIAL EYE, Spring 95, Vol. 1, No. 2,
Camera & Films
Color print, slide, black/ white, video, infrared.
AERIAL EYE, Summer 95, Vol. 1, No. 3,
Lifters and Line
Everyone has a favorite.
AERIAL EYE, Fall 95, Vol. 1, No. 4,
Gadgets & Gimmicks
Detailed article on picavet system.
AERIAL EYE, Winter 96, Vol. 2, No. 1,
Camera Cradles II
Additional cradle designs, getting more detailed with information.
AERIAL EYE, Spring 96, Vol. 2, No. 2,
Targets/ Subjects
Liked article, Use cheap gear & take lots of chances by Henry Jebe.
AERIAL EYE, Summer 96, Vol. 2, No. 3,
Aerial Techniques
Recommend 2 articles,Boundary layers & bluff bodies by Cris Benton and Windmill camera station by k. Murooka.
AERIAL EYE, Fall 96, Vol. 2, No. 4,
Kites and Kite Flying
The plan for the Double-Box Delta looks like a versatile kite and would be very compact when disassembled.
AERIAL EYE, Winter 97, Vol. 3, No. 1,
KAP Electronics
Some very interesting RC articles. This is the best AERIAL EYE to date.
AERIAL EYE, Spring 97, Vol. 3, No. 2,
KAP On The Edge
Several articles using KAP in reserach projects in isolated loacations and a couple electronics projects.

EDITORIAL COMMENT

I have one critical comment about kite aerial photography. The majority of current aerial photographs I have seen on the Internet or in magazines lack originality, including those of mine in the gallery. Many of the aerial photos dating back over 100 years have more appeal. I realize it is difficult to loft and control a kite in areas where more interesting photos might be taken, i.e. It is easier to photograph on a beach or in a park versus in a metro area with buildings and other obstructions.

A notable exception are the photos of Mr. Craig Wilson. Two techniques Mr. Wilson uses has been to either compose the subject as an interesting study of geometry & color or to include a foreground subject in the image.

INDEXED KAP PAGES, Click on Image or Title

CAMERA RIGS & MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT

KITES & ACCESSORIES

KAP PHOTO GALLERY

You can reach me by e-mail at: john@maxworthy.com

http://www.maxworthy.com