In the archive of images I found that I thought I’d lost forever, I discovered the scans of my first and only foray into kite aerial photography.
This was done before I had a digital camera, so I bought a cheap film camera, taped it to the center of a large kite, and rigged up a servo and radio from a model RC airplane to it. The whole shebang was appallingly primitive, but I still got some pretty neat shots of Ft. Desoto in Florida from it.
You can see the newly restored post on the experiment here.
I also found some pics of the rig itself, which will show you how truly awful it was (dedicated kite photographers use much more sophisticated setups):
We had a log of fun doing that.
Do you still have all the RC equipment? You “should” modify your idea with a digital camera. That would be cool.
I still have the RC gear, but what I don’t have is the kite any more. Might have to get anotehr one.
We had a log of fun doing that.
Do you still have all the RC equipment? You “should” modify your idea with a digital camera. That would be cool.
My big brother is the pioneer(in Australia, well around Orange anyway) of attaching a small camera like that to a radio controled model aircraft so he could take photos of crop fields. Fields injected with poo. They got some good shots too. Cheaper than hiring a helicopter or light plane. Dept of Ag budget doesn’t stretch very far.
Now THAT is seriously cool.
My big brother is the pioneer(in Australia, well around Orange anyway) of attaching a small camera like that to a radio controled model aircraft so he could take photos of crop fields. Fields injected with poo. They got some good shots too. Cheaper than hiring a helicopter or light plane. Dept of Ag budget doesn’t stretch very far.
If it works, it’s not “truly awful”, merely “field expedient”. Nice photos.
“Field expedient.” Hmm. So packing tape and wires aren’t all bad, then, I suppose?
One thing I didn’t like about the setup is that I couldn’t put the camera in a place where it wasn’t shooting through the kite strings; putting it higher or lower on the kite messed up the balance. There were probably a lot of ways around it, but none that presented themselves wile i was sitting there out in the field with some packing tape and a cheap camera.
If it works, it’s not “truly awful”, merely “field expedient”. Nice photos.
You’re too modest. That’s fun.
It is! I’m considering trying again, with a digital camera and a bit more finesse, ’cause I need, y’know, another hobby.
I’m thinking this would be a good project for my Grandson and I. There’s a lighthouse near Seattle, on Vashon Island that we go to every summer. That would be a great spot for this experiment.
You’re too modest. That’s fun.
I still have the RC gear, but what I don’t have is the kite any more. Might have to get anotehr one.
Now THAT is seriously cool.
“Field expedient.” Hmm. So packing tape and wires aren’t all bad, then, I suppose?
One thing I didn’t like about the setup is that I couldn’t put the camera in a place where it wasn’t shooting through the kite strings; putting it higher or lower on the kite messed up the balance. There were probably a lot of ways around it, but none that presented themselves wile i was sitting there out in the field with some packing tape and a cheap camera.
It is! I’m considering trying again, with a digital camera and a bit more finesse, ’cause I need, y’know, another hobby.
I’m thinking this would be a good project for my Grandson and I. There’s a lighthouse near Seattle, on Vashon Island that we go to every summer. That would be a great spot for this experiment.
Gosh your the only other person I have ever met that actually owned a double French military kite. I had one with a 8′ wingspan. Oh teh fun I had with that !!!
It’s an awesome kite design–heavy lifting capability in a small size. I don’t have that kite any more, and I wish I still did.
Gosh your the only other person I have ever met that actually owned a double French military kite. I had one with a 8′ wingspan. Oh teh fun I had with that !!!
It’s an awesome kite design–heavy lifting capability in a small size. I don’t have that kite any more, and I wish I still did.
Hey! I see on you ST all the time, and you’re always so interesting and insightful, so I figured I’d hop over here and add you. Hope you don’t mind. 🙂
Howdy, and welcome aboard!
Hey! I see on you ST all the time, and you’re always so interesting and insightful, so I figured I’d hop over here and add you. Hope you don’t mind. 🙂
Howdy, and welcome aboard!