Kites

[Esquire]

Is kiting a sport? Anyway, kites flown by Kiteworx on beach off Masonboro Inlet, Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. The kiter described the 40-foot gecko as a medium-sized kite. He has an 80-foot octupus, which he did not fly that day.


http://www.pbase.com/lighttalker/image/39818671.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/lighttalker/image/39818892.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/lighttalker/image/39819004.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/lighttalker/image/39819032.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/lighttalker/image/39819075.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/lighttalker/image/39818781.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/lighttalker/image/39819356.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/lighttalker/image/39819493.jpg

[eastcoast909]

Wow, whatever it is these are very nice pictures. I especially like the 2nd of the "swallows". The Gecko is impressive but they have my vote as the better shot.

Very interesting the requirement for a good anchor. Any kites that I have flown have only been babies compared these.

Thanks for posting

[Pugdaddy]

Excellent subject, Esquire. Kites are so colorful. Those are some really nice ones. Actually I like the one in the background of the first pic the best. Those bird style ones are great, too. I use to fly one at the beach when I was in my 20's. Great way to meet chicks. Maybe now that I'm older (49) I'll take that hobby up again. It will give me a good excuse to tell my wife that that's why I'm hangin out at the beach, besides looking at (and taking pictures of) girls in bikinis. Besides that, there's something really relaxing about flying a kite.

[iwatkins]

Nice shots, I love these kind of kites.

I actually fly a stack of traction kites for exercise and to unwind and occasionally with a buggy as well when I can get the coast. There is something pleasing about using free power directly.

If you are really interested in kites, do a search for "KAPping". It stands for Kite Assisted Photography. Basically, you loft your camera on a kite for low altitude aerial shots. I've seen some stunning shots from these rigs. However, I don't yet have the guts to loft my 10D on my rig yet. :)

Mind you, I upgraded the missus camera to a Canon S1 at Xmas, so the Sony Cybershot 2Mp thing is lying around somewhere. Bwahahaha !! :)

Cheers

Ian

[Esquire]

Ian, interesting you should comment on KAP. There was another kiter at the beach that day who was setting up a KAP rig to fly. I had to leave before he got it aloft, but when I got home I went to a KAP website and read up on this type of photography. http://arch.ced.berkeley.edu/kap/ Sounds really neat. The guy who hosts this site had actually used the D-Rebel on a kite. I don't think I'll be flying my 20D anytime soon . . . Esq.

[Pugdaddy]

Very interesting. That looks very cool but I've seen where guys do this with helium balloons instead. It seems to me like it would be more economical and safer for your camera. About 12 years ago a friend of mine had a guy knock on his door. The guy was standing there with an aerial view photo of my buddies farm house and property, ready for framing. He bought it and still has it hanging on his wall. I had forgotten all about this untill now. Money to be made, huh? Hmmm.