Kite Aerial Photography (KAP)

This page is a record of my ongoing attempts to do better at kite aerial photography. The first few attempts were somewhat crude, but the results were still pretty cool to look at. You can tell what I mean by crude, when you see how I had the camera harnessed for each of the flights noted. At some point, I finally built a picavet suspension for better camera stability and flexibility of camera orientation. The picavet is commonly used by Kite Aerial Photography enthusiasts everywhere. My kite is a 5 foot double box delta with 450 feet of braided dacron line - 80 pound test ... Click here if you would like to contact me about anything ...

May 4, 2011 - Winnipeg Flood Gates south of the city

Wind was S over 30 km/h, bad wind gusts, highest altitude ~200 feet - click here for video excerpt - actual video speed, some camera blinding here and there. Camera is an HP Photosmart E337, Weight ~0.43 lbs, bolted (tripod screw) to a flange mounted on the *reduced* (lighter) metal picavet. It was far too windy to fly the kite, could have damaged it, very large wind gusts. Even with the use of a picavet, the video was not very stable.

March 7, 2010 - Radio Tower on Saskatchewan Ave - West of the Perimeter

Wind was SSW ~19 km/h, -1 C, highest altitude ~200 feet - click here for video excerpt - actual video speed, camera was snow blinded most of the time. Camera is an HP Photosmart E337, Weight ~0.43 lbs, bolted (tripod screw) to a flange mounted on the metal picavet. The stability of the video was actually quite decent.

November 23, 2009 - Building a Picavet

I used thin sheet aluminum and metal eye bolts - in hindsight, a bit heavy ...

November 21, 2009 - Assiniboine Park

Wind was SSE ~30 km/h, gusting ~40 km/h, highest altitude ~200 feet - click here for video excerpt - slowed down to 2.5 fps for easier viewing. Camera is an HP Photosmart E337, Weight ~0.43 lbs, bolted (tripod screw) to a guide on a broken piece of fishing rod, marline hitched to the kite line.

November 16, 2007 - University of Manitoba

Wind was E ~20 km/h, highest altitude ~80 feet - click here for video excerpt - slowed down to 2 fps for easier viewing. Click here for kite recovery team. Camera is a Dimage Z10, Weight ~0.94 lbs, encased in styrofoam box, using a 4 arm crab trap / pot harnessed to a loop knotted in the kite line. It was swinging all over the place.