Xref: das-news.harvard.edu rec.kites:1877 rec.photo:28181 From: dtalmage@guvax.acc.georgetown.edu Subject: Query: Aerial photography with kites Message-ID: <1992Dec31.081233.2050@guvax.acc.georgetown.edu> Date: 31 Dec 92 08:12:33 -0500 Organization: Georgetown University Would any of you aerial photography fans care to tell us about it? I'm interested in basic stuff, like the kinds of cameras people put aloft using kites, how the cameras are controlled from the ground, and what modifications, if any, need I make to a standard camera to make is suitable for kiting. I'd also like to know what kinds of kites people use for this. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Xref: das-news.harvard.edu rec.kites:1878 rec.photo:28187 From: siegela@deshaw.com (Andrew Siegel) Subject: Re: Query: Aerial photography with kites Message-ID: Date: Thu, 31 Dec 92 11:11:54 EST Organization: D. E. Shaw & Co. In article <1992Dec31.081233.2050@guvax.acc.georgetown.edu> dtalmage@guvax.acc.georgetown.edu writes: >Would any of you aerial photography fans care to tell us about it? >I'm interested in basic stuff, like the kinds of cameras people put >aloft using kites, how the cameras are controlled from the ground, and >what modifications, if any, need I make to a standard camera to make >is suitable for kiting. I'd also like to know what kinds of kites >people use for this. I've done it before, with some success. What you need is a kite with a lot of lifting power and stability, like an airfoil kite, and a small camera with a self-timer. Having a lot of wind doesn't hurt either. Here's what I used to do. I'd make a little harness out of string for my Olympus XA-2, and tie this to the bottom of the kite. Then I'd pay out 100-200 feet of string, and with the kite downwind, set the self-timer, have a friend hold the kite straight, and then start running with the kite. It would almost always get up to full height before the self-timer would go off. Unfortunately, the pictures I got back were inevitably blurry; the kite shakes a lot, and the camera's shutter speed probably wasn't all that great. The best picture I was looking back down the string towards me. -- Andrew Siegel D. E. Shaw & Co., New York, NY siegela@deshaw.com (212)478-0000 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Xref: das-news.harvard.edu rec.kites:1879 rec.photo:28189 From: jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu (Jeffrey C. Burka) Subject: Re: Query: Aerial photography with kites Message-ID: <17758@umd5.umd.edu> Date: Thu, 31 Dec 92 11:15:28 EST Organization: University of Maryland at College Park In article <1992Dec31.081233.2050@guvax.acc.georgetown.edu> dtalmage@guvax.acc.georgetown.edu writes, regarding aerial photography: >I'd also like to know what kinds of kites people use for this. Unfortunately, I'm of no use when it comes to techniques, cameras, etc. However, I would like to relate that some of the most interesting aerial photos I've seen were taken from a camera attached to a stack of Revolutions! The camera was of professional caliber and had the ability to shoot a series of pictures at a pre-determined rate. The flyer just maneuvered the Revs and hoped to get good pictures. This is not a _great_ method because most variables are left to chance. The pictures that were worth saving, though, were incredible. Jeff -- |Jeffrey C. Burka | "Show what you are / Be strong, be true | | | Time for you to / Be who you are." | |jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu | --Happy Rhodes | = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Xref: das-news.harvard.edu rec.kites:1880 rec.photo:28207 From: foster@nzkites.UUCP (Foster Schucker) Subject: Re: Query: Aerial photography with kites Message-ID: Date: Thu, 31 Dec 92 15:40:13 EST Organization: Kiteflyers Roost dtalmage@guvax.acc.georgetown.edu writes: > Would any of you aerial photography fans care to tell us about it? > I'm interested in basic stuff, like the kinds of cameras people put > aloft using kites, how the cameras are controlled from the ground, and > what modifications, if any, need I make to a standard camera to make > is suitable for kiting. I got started using a "One-Step" instant film camera. I built a hinge arm for it that is attached to some 15lb line. When I pull the line the arm pushes the button and takes the picture. On a normal windy day the breeze catches the protruding picture and it flutters to the ground. A nearby child retrieves it. By the time I get it it is developed and I can see how I'm doing for direction and height. The camera is cheap, so if there is a high speed landing (aka CRASH) it's not a big deal. I've bounced mine a few time and it's still working. The film is $15 for 20 shots (two ten packs). I'd also like to know what kinds of kites > people use for this. I use an 8' parafoil, a 7' delta and my Codys. Depends on the wind and the day and what I feel like flying. You want a kite that can lift about two pounds and is fairly stable. The camera can be mounted in a number of ways, attached to the spars, in a sling, etc. The key thing is not to have lot's of motion, you get lots of blur then. I have lots of shots of houses and cars, nothing real great. My best shot is of me with a panic look on my face. It was taken when the big Cody crashed about six feet away. I heard it coming and was trying not to be killed by it. The camera took the shot with the shock of impact. Good luck!! Foster Schucker (foster@nzkites.uucp) (1-215-458-8354 (voice)) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Xref: das-news.harvard.edu rec.kites:1881 rec.photo:28209 From: andpph@ritvax.isc.rit.edu Subject: Re: Query: Aerial photography with kites Message-ID: <1992Dec31.221237.862@ultb.isc.rit.edu> Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology Date: Thu, 31 Dec 92 17:12:37 EST In article , siegela@deshaw.com (Andrew Siegel) writes: >In article <1992Dec31.081233.2050@guvax.acc.georgetown.edu> dtalmage@guvax.acc.georgetown.edu writes: >>Would any of you aerial photography fans care to tell us about it? >>I'm interested in basic stuff, like the kinds of cameras people put >>aloft using kites, how the cameras are controlled from the ground, and >>what modifications, if any, need I make to a standard camera to make >>is suitable for kiting. I'd also like to know what kinds of kites >>people use for this. One of the truly GREAT kite photographers was George "flashlight" Lawrence if my memory serves me right. He lifted swing-lens panoramic cameras of his own manufacture and photographed in Chicago, San Francisco fire aftermath, and even strung his kites of the poopdeck of a steamer near the coast of Africa. I believe his kites were box kites and he would stack maybe up to a dozen or so before lifting his camera. I am not sure what method he used to trip the shutter. A photographer who knows all about George Lawrence is Tom Yanul who works in Chicago. He also makes his own 10 inch wide by 3 feet long swing lens panoramic cameras. Does not need to enlarge them... contacts are great! see ya, andy * * * * * * \/\/\/\/\/\/ Andrew Davidhazy, RIT, High Speed Photography Lab. | | IN"andpph@ritvax.isc.rit.edu" fax 716-475-5804 _________/ \_____________________________________________________ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Xref: das-news.harvard.edu rec.kites:1882 rec.photo:28227 From: ksampath@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Krishna S Sampath) Subject: Re: Query: Aerial photography with kites Message-ID: <1993Jan1.173400.11878@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> Date: Fri, 1 Jan 93 12:34:00 EST Organization: The Ohio State University In article <17758@umd5.umd.edu> jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu (Jeffrey C. Burka) writes about aerial photography: > >Unfortunately, I'm of no use when it comes to techniques, cameras, etc. >However, I would like to relate that some of the most interesting aerial >photos I've seen were taken from a camera attached to a stack of Revolutions! > ....stuff.... ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >Jeff / > -------- dumb question: -----------------------------/ / what is a "stack of Revolutions?" will some one enlighten me? thanks krishna -- krishna s. sampath....graduate research assoc.....kss@ampere.eng.ohio-state.edu ohio state u, electroscience lab......(614) 292-7981 (w)....(614) 292-7297 (f) 1320 kinnear rd, columbus, oh 43212...(614) 293-0913 (h)...011-91-4542-4127 (H) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Xref: das-news.harvard.edu rec.kites:1883 rec.photo:28232 From: salanne@convex.csc.FI (Simo Salanne) Subject: Re: Query: Aerial photography with kites Message-ID: <1993Jan1.203308.23467@nic.funet.fi> Date: Fri, 1 Jan 93 15:33:08 EST Organization: Finnish Academic and Research Network Project - FUNET Organisation: STACK Finland In <1993Jan1.173400.11878@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> ksampath@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Krishna S Sampath) writes: >dumb question: -----------------------------/ > / >what is a "stack of Revolutions?" will some one enlighten me? I am sure Jeff would explain this better, but it seems I just happen to be on-line before him:-) Revolution is a four line, highly manouverable kite. You make a "stack" (or a train) by connecting two or more kites behind each other. Simo Salanne STACK Finland P.S. STACK is also an international sport kite flyers assosiation (Sport Team And Competitive Kiting). = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Xref: das-news.harvard.edu rec.kites:1884 rec.photo:28277 From: jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu (Jeffrey C. Burka) Subject: Re: Query: Aerial photography with kites Message-ID: <17776@umd5.umd.edu> Date: Sun, 3 Jan 93 23:27:26 EST Organization: University of Maryland at College Park In article <1993Jan1.173400.11878@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> ksampath@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Krishna S Sampath) writes: >In article <17758@umd5.umd.edu> jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu (Jeffrey C. Burka) writes about aerial photography: >> >>Unfortunately, I'm of no use when it comes to techniques, cameras, etc. >>However, I would like to relate that some of the most interesting aerial >>photos I've seen were taken from a camera attached to a stack of Revolutions! >> ....stuff.... ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >>Jeff / >> -------- >dumb question: -----------------------------/ > / >what is a "stack of Revolutions?" will some one enlighten me? Whoops--sorry 'bout that. I hadn't noticed that this was cross-posted out of rec.kites. A Revolution is a kite with 4 lines that can be moved in just about any direction and rotated around a variable point. What, to my mind, makes it good for this sort of application is that the flyer can control its height and cause it to hover in many different orientations, not just down- wind, but off to the sides as well. A single Revolution is not large enough to support the weight of anything other than a very light plastic camera. However, multiple kites can be strung together in a line, increasing the amount of weight that can be supported. Hope this helps... Jeff -- |Jeffrey C. Burka | "Show what you are / Be strong, be true | | | Time for you to / Be who you are." | |jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu | --Happy Rhodes | = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Xref: das-news.harvard.edu rec.kites:1890 rec.photo:28606 Subject: Re: Query: Aerial photography with kites Message-ID: <1993Jan8.025352.9355@netcom.com> From: sevenup@netcom.com (Mark W. Moorcroft) Date: Thu, 7 Jan 93 21:53:52 EST Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest) Write to "Into the Wind" @ 1408 Pearl St. Boulder, CO 80302 for a really cool kite catalog that includes kites that will lift up to 10 pounds.or call @ 800-541-0314 --have fun -- ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Mark W. Moorcroft -- sevenup@netcom.COM -- C.I.S. 70741,325 ------------------------------------------------------------- "I speak for myself and those who agree with me !" ;-) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Xref: das-news.harvard.edu rec.kites:1891 rec.photo:28607 From: sasaki@netop3.harvard.edu (Marty Sasaki) Subject: Re: Query: Aerial photography with kites Message-ID: <1993Jan8.151508.27242@das.harvard.edu> Organization: Harvard University Date: Fri, 8 Jan 93 10:15:08 EST The most elaborate setup that I've seen used model airplane radio control technology. The camera was attached to a bracket that hung from the kite line. Using the RC transmitter, the camera could be rotated around or angled up and down. A third control set off the shutter. The camera was an F series Nikon, so the whole thing probably weighed around 5 pounds. My memory of the kite used to loft this is a little dim, but I think it was a large flow form. -- Marty Sasaki Harvard University Sasaki Kite Fabrications sasaki@netop3.harvard.edu Network Operations Division 26 Green Street 10 Ware Street Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 Cambridge, MA 02138-4002 phone/fax: 617-522-8546 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =