Kite Aerial Photography, or more commonly KAP, is a method of suspending a camera from an airborne kite in order to take pictures with a unique perspective. Sounds easy, but there’s more to it than just duct-taping a camera onto a kite. A kite requires fairly delicate balance in order to achieve flight, so attaching the camera directly to the kite is out of the question. The only alternative is to use the kite’s flying line to lift the camera. But without some way of holding the camera such that it retains its orientation, there would be no way to control where the camera is aimed.

the Picavet and cradle in flight

So I built a suspension rig. It contains essentially two parts – one for holding the camera securely and the other for keeping it lined up. Because I have a relatively small kite (14ft²) and a limited budget to work with, I decided to use the lightest, cheapest and most simple rig I could. The suspension mechanism is known as a Picavet. It consists of a single loop of line which winds through four hooks arranged in a cross. It isn’t nearly as complex as it looks. Where many KAPers use radio controlled pan and tilt servos on the camera cradle, I use...well, nuts and bolts really. It may not be as sophisticated or as pretty, but it works. The whole thing is held aloft by a Power Sled 14 kite.

The Power Sled lifting the KAP rig

So how do I actually take the pictures? Most KAPers once again use complex RC electronics for precise control. I use my camera’s built in timer. It takes one picture every minute. Precise? No. But it’s cheaper, lighter and easier.

looking back at the pilot


straight down


blown sideways by a gust