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Drachen Foundation Board Members Ali Fujino, Jose Sainz, and Scott Skinner, accompanied by videographer, Matthew Stubbs, made a quick trip to San Ignacio, Mexico to advise DF 2006 grantee Oscar Frey on photographing gray whales with kite aerial photography (KAP). Frey, a marine biologist, was introduced to KAP to assist his research in identifying whales and documenting their behaviors. He has been using kite-borne cameras to document both humpback and California gray whales for several years, and this was an opportunity for Scott and Jose to give him tips and training with specific kites with which he has little experience. It also allowed Matthew and Ali to film and photograph the entire process for use in educating other researchers interested in the technique.
Oscar uses a state-of-the-art camera and rig (engineered by KAP designer Brooks Leffler), a Nikon D70 with fisheye lens. This camera configuration allows him coverage of many whales in as much area of the bay as possible. While out on the water, Scott flew kites and mentored Oscar on wind ranges, line choices, reels, and the advantages and disadvantages of different kites. Jose was instrumental as an extra pair of hands and eyes to help with rig-attachment, line management, and tequila distribution (on land only). The goal for Oscar, and researchers like him, is to be completely self-sufficient, that is, able to assemble, launch, and fly the kite, ready the rig, launch the rig, photograph, and then retrieve the entire assembly, by himself. If he has the luxury of an assistant, he saw how the division of labor worked with our crew.
In the almost-perfect winds and weather of our two-day stay, Oscar got a good idea of the comparative strengths of the rokkaku and the Dopero, to complement his experience with flowforms. On the beach, in light winds, the Dopero showed its advantages in low wind, while on the water, the rokkaku proved to be our favorite for its maneuverability in a range of winds with the movement of the boat.
Thanks to Matthew and Ali, both Explorers Club members, this field expedition was honored to “fly the Explorers flag.” The Drachen Foundation now stands among those organizations whose scientific exploration has been recognized by The Explorers Club.
Oscar will present the results of his research at KAPiCA/06, an international conference on Kite Aerial Photography at Asilomar Conference Grounds, Pacific Grove , California , from October 29 through November 2, 2006 . Attendance is limited to forty participants. Contact organizer Brooks Leffler for further information, at 831-647-8363 or kyteman@redshift.com.
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