KAP - What's the Point?

Before launching into the hows the whys and the whatfors of doing kite aerial photography, or KAP, one question that should be laid to rest early is:


"What's the point of hanging a camera from a kite line?"


The answer to which is: "What's the point in putting a camera anywhere?" The answer to that question is, "To take a picture from a particular vantage point." It's no different with a kite.

Photography is photography whether you do it from a tripod, from a hand held camera, or from the air. The whole point is to capture an image that shows the world from the vantage point of the photographer's choosing, showing a view of the photographer's choosing, and portraying the fall of light, shadow, and color as the photographer chooses. What a kite specifically offers is a vantage point that would otherwise be unavailable.

Which raises the next question:


"Why not just use an airplane?"


Kite aerial photography and airplane aerial photography really fill two very different needs, and a photographer who can utilize both is very fortunate indeed. In the United States, FAA regulations require airplanes and helicopters to stay at least a thousand feet above the ground over populated areas. If the vantage point you're after is between a thousand feet and several tens of thousands of feet above the ground, the airplane is probably your best bet. But if you're after a vantage point somewhat lower than that, you're out of luck.


"Why not just use a tall pole?"


You can, and many do. But even poles have limits. I use two, a 16' and a 25' hand held pole. Some photographers use hand held poles considerably longer than mine, and there are commercially available photography masts that can reach 100' above the ground. If you're after a vantage point higher than that, once more you're out of luck.

Kite aerial photography fills a gap in the list of available vantage points. Between the top of the pole and the bottom of the airplane, it's practically the only game in town.

Another advantage to KAP is that of cost. These alternatives are not cheap, nor are they typically portable or convenient. A 100' mast needs to be mounted in a vehicle of some sort in order to insure stability. This is an operation costing several thousand dollars, and few if any amateur photographers would get that kind of modification done to their own car or truck. Likewise, few photographers own their own airplanes or helicopters or have the resources to hire one that will give them ideal shooting conditions, like removing windows or doors, etc. By way of comparison, the entire contents of my KAP bag cost less than a two hour helicopter flight, and a small fraction of what a 100' mast would cost, and there are altitudes available to my KAP equipment that aren't available using the alternative methods.

Finally, KAP is convenient. Except for framed kites, my gear all packs into a single bag that still leaves room for food and water. By car or by foot, I can take it anywhere I could pack an SLR camera bag and tripod. If I need to move a little farther over to get the shot, I don't have to worry about roads for my mast truck. If the light is making and I need to stay a little later I don't have to worry about fuel or rental fees on an airplane or helicopter. And if I'm out walking and see a neat subject for a shot, I don't have to plan for an airplane or try to figure out how to get a mast truck into position. I can simply get a kite up, clip the camera on, and be shooting in minutes.

So what are you waiting for?

-- Tom