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All white, backlit by sunset is fun, too...

And if you want to go super cheap, head over to Home Depot and take a look at surveyors' tape, or over to Joann's Fabrics and check out the ribbon rack. I don't have any "good" tails, but I do carry a couple rolls of surveyors tape in my bag for when I get the urge.

Be careful in moving water such as rivers or the Ocean. When ocean waves change from coming inland to going back out it greatly effects the flow around the kite. Or if your lucky enough to fly off a bridge over a river use caution when dunking your kite, the moving water could grab onto your kite. Sent from my IPhone

I think the KAP of the cemetery is awesome ! I see nothing disrespectful about that, either. I too have flown too close to an airport, but was not challenged over it. The spot is actually a popular kite flying spot (Canarsie Pier in Brooklyn) but it is inside the 5 mile radius of a major airport (JFK). I have only flown my own kite there once, but I have flown other people's kites when they kindly handed me their line.

In the alley, behind the local bar, line going across the railroad tracks, within 3/8 of a mile of the local airport. SLK, started out at about 50 feet but with a couple of beers that changed to over 200. The airport called the FAA people, who called the local police, who came by to visit me. Luckily they told me to bring it down and never do that again, with no fines or jail time. I felt very lucky and thankful. Definitely a feeling of I shouldn't be doing this, as it's happening, and I should have known someone would nail me, but hey -- beer.

I hate to burst your bubble, but here goes. You must see a solid black icarex quad backlit by the sun in late afternoon. At first you won't believe what you're seeing. Then there's purple and red at sunset, or yellow and orange in the morning. I love/want them all. Then there's white against a deep blue sky. I give up. Help!

Best way to handle your "how should I begin" dilemma is to fly someone else's kite. Tell us where you live, city & state, and we can guide you to someone in your area you can meet with, or to nearby festivals coming up this year. Kite people are a friendly bunch -- really, we don't bite -- and 99% of us would be more than willing to let you try one of ours and clue you in on how to use it, including a lesson or two. If you go to a festival, don't be afraid to ask questions or ask to try. We love being the center of attention and showing newcomers how much of an expert we are. Or you can just do what I did. Buy a single line kite. Two weeks later get a dual. Two months later get a quad. No matter what you do, you'll have fun. Just do it.

That is remarkable! I have one (well two files then) with quotes I collect from mostly quote of the day servers. This one (yes the "First the came...) I first saw say two years ago and decided to save it directly when I saw it. I got it from alpha.mike-r.com (port 17 as is the standard for QOTD-servers, in fact the QOTD-link from the web page doesn't work). To get a new quote (typically when my focus is dropping) I just type "nca" since I got the alias alias nca='nc alpha.mike-r.com 17' in my environment.

Then don't. Many people take photographs of cemeteries for a wide range of reasons. Topo surveys, maps, documentation, and memories of those who have died, to name a few. They're legal, and you shouldn't stop someone who is doing it. If someone wanted to do it would be fine. If someone posted KAP of a cemetery writing "This is where grandpa is buried, I miss him; maybe he's watching me and can see me fly for him", they could build some touching tributes. But if you don't feel comfortable taking the photos, or don't feel comfortable flying there, that is your choice. Listen to your conscience and personal morals. If you don't feel good about it, don't do it. My most recent case of not flying due to discomfort was being asked to fly at a location right off the highway. I was concerned about potentially triggering a crash from a rubber-neck driver, so I declined for moral reasons.

I don't see it as disrespectful at all. People put up beautiful memorials to those they loved or respected and why wouldn't they want that shared? Eerie maybe but not disrespectful. Think of it as sharing a place of serenity and reflection. People walk through that place all the time. Some take photos. Most if not all would appreciate that what you guys are doing is beautiful and done with respect.The shot is really neat.Looking at the pictures and reading a little of the history reminded me of a quote that I have kept on my refrigerator door for over 30 years. It is from Pastor Martin Niemoller. First they came for the socialists and I did not speak out-because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionist and I did not speak out-because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out- because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me. Maybe somebody in Argentina looks at those pictures and remembers they have a great, great uncle buried there and it brings a sad smile of reflection. Thinking about the way things once were and should have been. Then they go buy a kite because kiting is so cool. Ya never know.

Lets rephrase the question, should every KAP photo (etc.) of a church be considered as not appropriate and therefore should not be even exist? Of course not! That being said, one can be respectful to the living persons being there. If there would be on ongoing funeral it is certainly not the most considerate thing to do to fly close to/over the church at that time, especially with a noisy kite (or multi rotor etc.). On the other side, if one would apply the eventuality of a geographically localized souls argument (as in the above link), close to no photos taken on earth should exist because "residues" of generations over several hundred thousands of years have ended up well mixed with soil and current life everywhere. If you think it takes the fun out of kiting or thinks it is intrusive to people in your surrounding, go up very early when there are few persons around. I think this is close to the usual considerations for any type of kiting that you need to do whenever there are people or traffic around. What density of people (or how close can they be) can it on a beach before it is time to stop flying (not to be intrusive and for safety). How desolate should the parking lot be to be safe? How close to a road can you be without distracting drivers and others?

Doing kite aerial photography with non-motorized rig means you need to point the camera before the flight - and this is somewhat of a black art. But while the camera swings under the kite, it covers more ground, so you can stitch the photos together into a wider view. We did this with photos of some of our KAP sessions - here is a stitched view from the Karst ridge cliffs to Sočerga valley, Slovenia. St. Quiricus church can be seen on the left. If you'd like to see more of them - just check the new post on our KAP website! ;-) Thanks :-)

When I 1st started looking at kites the color choices were mind boggling. How do you choose? None are ugly. Not even a black and orange combo to my surprise. Not even kites with polka dorts err dots. Pretty soon I didn't care.Just get the best deal for the kite and color quickly became secondary. Colorizers sure are fun though. Picked neon green for my PDSUL figuring that would pop well in a blue sky. It does. The prairie around here is pretty much golden 9 months of the year and neon green looks good on the ground too. Noticed right off with the semi translucent neon I could see the kite better.Got the Hydra and noticed I could see the lines and flow of the kite a little better than the others. Figured that's just me getting better and the kites are different then the others. Hydra comes white with the choice of blue, red or green stripe across the center. Mines blue. Then I got the White Widow. It's not the difference in the kites or improved skills accounting for better perception. It's white!! Monday I flew the Mind Trick for the 1st time and had the same sense. It's predominately white. Yesterday morning winds were 30 mph early morning and dropped in a steady fashion throughout the day. Was not up to the 25+ of Mondays fly. Waited till winds were between 15 and 20. Went up on the Mind Trick for about a hour. Figured out I hadn't been tensioning the sail right. Those nocks are sure different. Really like them a lot. Winds went below 15 and flew the Hydra for about 1 1/2 hour .Winds dropped lower and got the Zephyr. Hadn't flown the Zephyr for a bit and wow. The inferno red was startling. Again. It's beautiful. For the 1st time ever I thought the orca color would be better. Orca color mostly white. My perception of the kites flow was not as good as the others because of the color. Not drastic at all but slightly noticeable. Wind forecast for today was a little off. Got the MT right and flew for about a hour. Was massively impressed with the 2 previous flights. Can you believe it's even better when put together properly . Winds got lower and flew the Widow Maker. Winds got even lower and wanted to get the PDSUL to see what I would think after flying 2 white kites. Had so much fun bouncing the Widow around in 0 to 2 waiting for a gust to fly that I got tired before getting it out. The shine and glitter of white in the light is stunning. Did not choose white. Just the way these 3 kites have come to me. I am so OK with white that if I had to go back in time and start over every kite would be white, mostly white or a very light color scheme. Think it helps the learning curve for me. Next kite I hope is black or midnight blue cause I want to see what that'll do too. Hmm if the deals right though don't think I'll care .