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Kite Aerial Photography

Posted by chrisd on from the less-funny-than-knife-aerial-dropography dept.

SethJohnson writes "People have been attaching cameras to kites for quick-and-dirty aerial photographs for almost a hundred years. Hobbyists have progressed the art far beyond it's quick-and-dirty origins to produce stunning results. NASA even has a fairly detailed how-to using a disposable camera. Looks like a fun science fair project for those dads out there with kids."

2 of 183 comments (clear)

  1. I've done it... it's easy by AntiPasto · · Score: 5, Informative
    Check out my house! This was done with the LASS system... VERY satisfying hobby, and I encourage more to do it! Kite stability (an oxymoron for those who fly kites, as the fun is that they go all over) is really key. The line has a lot of vibration, and it can be scary seeing your investment bobbing around in the sky, or heading for the ground!

    Those along waterfronts know that daily patterns of onshore and offshore breezes can aid in getting good wind.

    Brooks Leffler pioneered the art with a magazine (!!!) that he still has back issues of. He even sells stabilizing tails. The most stunning pictures in my opinion have been by the vastly-experienced Chris Benton... he inspired my finally getting into this. $100 for the kite, $80 for the camera, $100 radio+misc, and you're up and going.

  2. From a kite flyer by MxTxL · · Score: 5, Informative

    I run a kite site and am fanatical about the sport, so i should hope to have a little authority on the subject. While i haven't done any KAP myself, i've read extensively on the subject. There are some amazing photos coming back from people lofting cameras on their kites. There is also some interesting tech going into the works too. I've seem plans for radio controlled microcontrollers that will depress the camera trigger, hold it till a beep for the camera to focus, then press the trigger harder to take the photo. There are setups using small video cameras and transmitters that allow the user to see what he's about to take a photo of. There are a bunch of pan-rotate-zoom setups using servos and the like. It's mostly R/C tech, but still quite cool.

    My fav site for KAP is here.
    My website (in sig) doesn't have much for KAP resources, but it is useful to look at to see some of the other spiffy stuff.

    By the way, the kite obelisk folks are still at it, planning an even bigger lift, and with period materials. Should be exciting, but I don't have the full scoop, they are keeping it quiet until they pull it off.