Since the 1990s, kite aerial photography has experienced a renaissance for commercial, scientific, and popular purposes. The rebirth of kite aerial photography is based on several factors.
Increasing popularity of high-performance sport and technical kite flying.
Development of low-cost, light-weight, automatic cameras of high quality, particularly newer digital cameras.
Need for low-altitude observations in situations where manned aircraft or drones could not operate safely.
Low-cost alternative to conventional airplane or helicopter aerial photography.
Fewer legal restrictions and ethical concerns compared with UAS (drones) in many situations.
View over the city of Skagen, northern Denmark. The historical lighthouse, "Hvide Fyr" (white light), appears in lower right corner. Note typical red tile roofs of Danish buildings.
Small town of Liebenthal in the prairie of west-central Kansas. St. Joseph's Church (right) is built of native chalk stone. Water supply tower to lower left; sewage treatment ponds upper left. Trees in the background follow Big Timber Creek, a tributary of the Smoky Hills River.
Closeup view of the dam, outlet gates, and spillway at Fall River Reservoir, southeastern Kansas. Constructed and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for flood control and recreational purposes.
Vertical shot of tennis players, Loose Park, Kansas City, Missouri. Numerous tennis balls are scattered about the court.
Fishing camp set up on the beach of Padre Island, South Texas. Various tents, vehicles, small boats, and fishing equipment. Preparing for a major fishing tournament.
Tundra landscape and one-lane road meandering over the island of Magerøya, northernmost Norway. The farthest north place we've done KAP at approximately 71° N latitude.
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Home states in which we do most of our aerial photography. Other states where we have conducted aerial photography.
Beyond the United States, we have acquired kite aerial photography in Saskatchewan, Canada as well as in Europe—Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, and Sweden.
Map composed with source code by Ben Markowitz at Stately with assistance from Jeremy Aber at MTSU.
Free Wind, as the sign says, whether for flying kites to take aerial photographs or for spinning turbines to generate electricity. Mount Maestas in the background, near La Veta, Colorado.
Selected kite aerial photographs
Home states in which we do most of our aerial photography.
Other states where we have conducted aerial photography. 
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