VII. Subjects

At first it's exciting to see any image taken from your kite's point of view. After taking so many pictures of your neighborhood, though, you start looking for more interesting subjects. Some seem to work better than others, and some of it's a matter of taste.

I've seen a number of interesting pictures taken straight down, but I've never been satisfied with doing this. I prefer including the horizon line toward the top of the picture, which gives me a better sense of perspective of the subject. I particularly find more interesting large objects, such as buildings, that extend above the horizon line.

Large subjects seem to work better. While pictures of other kites seem like they should be interesting, usually they're too small and far away to make a successful picture.

Depending on the wind, the line itself will be included in the picture. While this may be distracting to some, it can add dramatic perspective, especially for self-portraits with you at the other end.

Look for sunny days, ideally with your subjects lit from the side. The contrast between the shadow and sunny sides helps reveal the depth of your subjects. On an overcast day, everything often appears flat.