Hanging by a Thread: A Kite’s View of Wisconsin

Introduction

introduction The thought of using a kite to lift a camera bubbled through my mind. A simple thought, like thousands before it. It seemed possible when I realized my new kite—controlled by my left hand—had more than enough power to lift the camera I held to my eye with my right hand. That thought struck in 1987, on an afternoon when my big new Delta kite was pulling hard, flying high in the rays of the setting sun. I stood at the end of the line in a meadow, already deep in shadow, wondering what it looks like from up there. After a few weeks of thinking and tinkering I figured out how I could do it. I needed a timer to epoxy to the back of a camera—a camera that I could live without—a camera I would surely ruin. I waited for the hobby shop to call with the miniature timer I’d ordered, and a few days later emerged from the garage successful. The shutter tripped each time the timer expired. Oh I was proud of myself—so proud of my invention that I wasn’t sure I wanted to attach the thing to a kite and risk dashing it to bits. Eventually good judgment gave in to temptation and I gave it a whirl. I sent the camera up the kite line and waited until I thought the timer, rubber bands, and duct tape had tripped the shutter. I retrieved and reset the camera and then repeated it twenty-four more times. It took most of the afternoon. The next day, I picked up the photos from the lab and saw a roll of poorly framed, blurred pictures that looked like me, or part of me, standing in my backyard. That view from 150 feet up captured on that first roll of film, although technically flawed, ignited a passion in me to figure this thing out. The unique vantage point of a kite-borne camera would allow wonderful, amazing shots. I could see the potential for a system that would actually work. All I needed was a faster camera, better control, more interesting subjects, lots of practice, and lots of film. Over the next several years, I rebuilt the controllers, bought better cameras, and improved my techniques . I learned to estimate the camera’s view because I can’t look through the camera when photographing. The kite-borne camera taught me to see pattern, textures, and shapes from above. So this book is a collection of Wisconsin photos made from a kite. A collection of special treasures, some intended and some unexpected, but treasures discovered along the way. —Craig M. Wilson Madison, Wisconsin A Kite’s View of Wisconsin 1 (right) Kite’s portrait with Craig • (a la derecha) Retrato del papagayo con Craig • (rechts) Craig mit dem Drachen • The Shadow knows . . . • La sombra sabe . . . • Der Schatten verrät es . . . • 2 hanging by a thread Fun on the carnival rides at a Monona festival • Paseos en el parque de diversiones, en un festival en Monona • Spaß auf den Rides bei einem Fest in Monona • A Kite’s View of Wisconsin 3 John Nolen Drive along Lake Monona with Lake Mendota in background, Madison • John Nolen Drive a lo largo de Lago Monona con el Lago Mendota al fondo, Madison • Die John Nolen Drive entlang des Monona-Sees mit dem Mendota-See im Hintergrund, Madison • 4 hanging by a thread “Wisconsin” on the Capitol dome looking over Lake Monona • “Wisconsin” en el domo del Capitolio, contemplando a Lago Monona • „Wisconsin“ auf dem Dom des Capitols blickt über den Monona-See • A Kite’s View of Wisconsin 5 Governor’s residence on Lake Mendota • Residencia del Gobernador en el Lago Mendota • Gouverneursresidenz am Mendota-See • A Kite’s View of Wisconsin 9 (pages 6–7) Concert on the Square—Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra on the Capitol lawn • (páginas 6–7) Concierto en la Cuadra —Orquesta de Cámara de Wisconsin en la grama del Capitolio • (Seite 6–7) Platzkonzert - Kammerorchester von Wisconsin auf dem Rasen des Capitols • (left) Music lovers, Concert on the Square • (a la izquierda) Amantes de la música, Concierto en la Cuadra • (links...