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Acknowledgments
The Kite Aerial Whale Photography Project has been possible through the participation of different scientists and professionals bond together by The Drachen Foundation.
Special thanks to Ali Fujino and Scott Skinner from The Drachen Foundation for their friendship, their constant support and advice, for sharing their expertise and for the passion dedicated to this project since the summer of 2003.
Thanks to Nicholas Chorier for his participation KAPing Humpback whales during January 2004 at Banderas Bay, Mexico.
Thanks to Eric Muhs for his support at the field work activities KAPing Gray whales in San Ignacio Lagoon during April 2004 and February 2005.
Thanks to José Sainz for sharing his passion and spirit for kites and for the tequila moments at San Ignacio Lagoon during Easter 2006.
Thanks to Kuyima, eco-tour company, specially to Manuel Gardea, for his unconditional support, helping with logistics and providing lodging, boat operations and amazing food at San Ignacio Lagoon, Mexico, during the 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 surveys. And special thanks to Maxximo & Ramiro for their friendship, transporting us safely on their boats and for sharing their detailed knowledge of the whales and San Ignacio lagoon.
Special thanks to Eric Sánchez and Giovanni Macedo for their support in providing boat operations for KAPing Humpback whales in Bahía de Banderas during 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Very special thanks to Jorge Luis Guzmán and Keith May for their brotherhood, their constant support, their commitment to whale research and conservation and for their creativity and patience during years of fieldwork in the ocean.
Mike Jones has been providing state of the art Rokkaku kites for the Kite Aerial Project fieldwork activities during 2007 & 2008. His assistance and dedication has been invaluable to the results of the KAP research. Gracias amigo!
Thanks to the members of the Laboratory of Remote Sensing and GIS of the CINVESTAV-IPN at Mérida, and to the archeologists of INAH at Dzibilchaltun for their interest and support to test the applications of Kite Aerial Photography in the Yucatan peninsula during 2006 and 2008, specially to Andrés Maldonado, Alfonso Cuevas, Jorge Euán, Rubén Maldonado and Diana Trejo.
A very special acknowledgment to Keith May, Alejandra del Castillo and Luca, Nance Ambe, Tavo Grageda and Juan “Chile” Avila for their unconditional support, true friendship and loving patience. Thank you for the spicy ceviche and sparkling sambuka moments, I cherish the easy sense of humor and harmony during the KAP sessions at Holbox Island, at the Yum Balam Reserve, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Me gusta mucho!
Thanks to the Wild Life Department of the Natural Resources Bureau of Mexico and to the Administration of the Biosphere Reserve of Vizcaíno for providing the permits and authorizations for Scientific Research and Documentation of Whales in Banderas Bay and San Ignacio Lagoon, Mexico.
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Kite Aerial Photography (KAP) is achieved by elevating a remote controlled camera over its subject with the use of a kite. The kite is used as a low altitude platform with the wind working as the lifting force.
The type of kite, the camera equipment and the rig to be used, as well as the maneuvers involved to obtain still photographs or video footage with this technique depend on its applications and the environmental conditions where the kite is to be flown.
