| Ever flown a kite or taken a photograph? Well, | | | | by using KAP to document whale behavior. This |
| that's most of us isn't it! No wonder aerial kite | | | | took place at San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja, in Mexico. |
| photography holds such a fascination for so many | | | | In November, 2002 a 360-degree panorama of |
| people. More correctly, it's known as Kite Aerial | | | | the San Andreas Fault was created from KAP |
| Photography, or KAP, which is less of a mouthful. | | | | images. |
| Some have theorized that it's part of our human | | | | The Equipment |
| nature to want to see things from the air. | | | | You've probably gathered by now that this hobby |
| Consider the fact that aerial views of cities and | | | | requires a kite, a flying line, and a camera. It might |
| landscapes were sketched or painted long before | | | | come as a surprise to learn that the camera is |
| any flying machine was invented! | | | | usually suspended from the flying line, not the kite |
| The hobby of aerial kite photography got started | | | | itself. |
| in earnest around the mid 1980s. However, the | | | | Although other types can and are used, |
| very first examples of such photos date back to | | | | flow-form kites are very popular in kite |
| not long after photography itself was invented. In | | | | photography. With no spars and therefore no |
| 2007, KAP is more popular than ever. The | | | | assembly required, you can just turn up |
| subject matter varies widely, but buildings and | | | | somewhere and get your camera in the air |
| landscapes are particularly popular. | | | | immediately. These kites are convenient to |
| Digital cameras are widely used in aerial kite | | | | transport as well, since they roll up into a small |
| photography. In fact, their use in KAP has pretty | | | | bag. Another advantage is that they are tolerant |
| much stayed in step with their acceptance by the | | | | of quite strong winds. |
| general public. Initially, the cheaper cameras just | | | | Interestingly, zoom lenses are of little use in kite |
| couldn't take a decent picture compared to a | | | | photography. In fact, people often try to cram |
| 35mm film camera. As we all know, that is not | | | | more scenery into the field of view by using |
| the case now! Some digitals are very small and | | | | wide-angle lenses, even fish-eye lenses. Another |
| light, which is an advantage for doing KAP. | | | | popular technique is photo-stitching, where a |
| At the cheapest end of the scale, disposable | | | | number of images are combined into one |
| cameras combined with ice triggers and balsa | | | | super-wide panorama. |
| wood cradles enable small, cheap kites to be used. | | | | Accessories |
| On the other hand, this approach allows bigger | | | | A piece of gear commonly used by serious |
| kites to take pictures in very gentle breezes | | | | KAPers is the Picavet, an arrangement of lines |
| which wouldn't allow heavier gear to stay airborne. | | | | and pulleys. Yes, it was invented by a Frenchman, |
| Some enthusiasts are after quality at any cost. | | | | in the early 20th century. However, it wasn't until |
| Hence, they spend many hundreds of dollars on | | | | the late 20th century that it was re-discovered |
| high-end cameras, radio-control gear and special | | | | and put to widespread use in KAP. It's purpose is |
| equipment to suspend it aloft with a minimum of | | | | to provide a stable and self-leveling platform for |
| movement. The R/C gear allows the camera to | | | | the camera, while suspended from the flying line. |
| be panned around to get the best shots, and the | | | | Some aerial photography enthusiasts add other |
| shutter clicked on command. | | | | devices such as vanes and porous sheets to |
| Some Aerial Kite Photography Highlights | | | | reduce the movement and give even more |
| Here's just 3 of the more notable activities of | | | | opportunity for getting good pictures. |
| these photo-artistic kite fliers: | | | | Finally, it's handy to know what the average wind |
| A quite famous aerial photograph was taken from | | | | strength is. With a little device called an |
| a kite in 1906, documenting the San Francisco | | | | anemometer or wind speed meter you can |
| earthquake. A KAP enthusiast named Scott | | | | decide what kite and camera rig to put up. In |
| Haefner did a re-shoot of this striking picture, | | | | stronger winds, it can help you decide whether to |
| close to its 100th anniversary. | | | | attempt flying at all. Kites and cameras can get |
| A small group of experts known as Team | | | | lost when the flying line snaps! |
| Drachen made good use of some grant money | | | | |