The Register of Kite Aerial Photographers and Kite Remote Sensing Specialists

Originally a page of the West Lothian Archaeological Trust

Wales?

Those listed can describe themselves as registered kite aerial photographers (Reg.K.A.P.)

The register includes both kite aerial remote sensing specialists and those who use kites in parallel with other aerial platforms. Experienced, generalist kite aerial photographers, recipients within SNAPS and those who have contributed to KAP technology will also be included.

To be listed contact docjohnwells gmail.com

John on Linkedin

Archaeological Aerial Thermography and Near Infrared Photography

Balla Secondary School, Co. Mayo, Ireland.

The then Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland with seven registered kite aerial photographers and others, including Dr. Axel G. Posluschny who, at the time, was based at the Roman-Germanic Commission of the German Archaeological Institute and who was Leader of the EU's Culture Programme's ArchaeoLandscapes Europe Project. Also present is Dr Edel Bhreathnach, CEO of Ireland's Discovery Programme. This was a prelude to the main Archaeology Above and Below Conference at the Rathcroghan Vistor Centre in Tulsk, Co. Roscommon.

April 2014

Image Courtesy Western Care Association - Photographer John Moylette

Kite aerial photography survey of Rathealy, Co Kilkenny, Ireland.

This page is dedicated to the memory of Dr Alexander Wilson (Later Regius Professor of Astronomy) of Glasgow University and his student, Thomas Melvill, for their pioneering work, in 1749, on the use of kites as an aerial platform for scientific research.

Alexander Wilson 1714-86

See also kite aerial photography pioneers Arthur Batut, R. Thiele, ,William Abner Eddy (360 degree panoramas) and George Lawrence (2). E. Douglas Archibald (1897) is often credited as the first kite aerial photographer but any pre-Batut images (as far as we know) have not been verified or published.

Sir Henry Wellcome

1853-1936

Kite aerial photograph taken with the 'kite camera', at Segadi, Jebel Moya, Sudan. 1913. Published with the permission of the Wellcome Library. © Wellcome Library, London.

KAP & The 1997 Campanile Movie in California

Scotland

Nesley Farm, Gloucestershire, England.

2011

John and Rosie Wells

__________________________________________________________________

Honorary Member

James Gentles

Lothian

Website Galleries Innovation Photographic Service

James has provided an inspirational lead in low-level aerial photography and has demonstrated

excellence and innovation in the field of kite aerial photography.

KAPers Heidi Walker, James Gentles, Kieran Baxter, Rosie and John Wells

at Kieran's MSc presentation in Dundee. This was Rosie's last summer:

The Scottish National Aerial Photography Scheme (SNAPS)

(Kieran was awarded his PhD in 2017)

August 2012

Archaeological Aerial Thermography: Former Etna Brickworks site, Armadale, West Lothian, Scotland.

2017

John and Cade Wells

Dr Hugo Anderson-Whymark

Orkney

Archaeology, archaeological artefacts and photography

Hugo is an archaeologist based in Stromness, Orkney. He holds a PhD in Archaeology from University of Reading (2007) and is currently undertaking post-doctoral research with the University of York on flint and stone tools in the Orkney archipelago as part of the Leverhulme Trust funded project ‘Working stone, building communities: technology and identity in prehistoric Orkney’. Hugo is a keen photographer specialising in archaeological artefacts and sites, the latter using elevated pole photography and, more recently, kite aerial photography. He is currently experimenting with photogrammetry.

Dr Kieran Baxter

Dundee

Kite aerial photography, digital media, animation and visualisation

Kieran graduated with a BA first class honours in animation and went on to complete an MSc with distinction in visualisation, with a project based on KAP and structure from motion photogrammetry. Until recently he was a PhD student at the University of Dundee investigating the role of the creative practitioner within heritage representation. In his research, Kieran uses his own practice as a KAPer and digital media artist, reflecting on his influences within photography and film as well as querying how successfully a creative approach sits alongside an archaeological understanding of the subject matter.

Alan Hunter Blair

Edinburgh

Archaeology and kite aerial photography

Ron Dingwall

Bathgate West Lothian

Kite aerial photography, local history and SNAPS in primary schools

Ron is a retired West Lothian primary school teacher and Chairman of the History of Armadale Association. Ron has taken on the responsibility, on behalf of the Trust, for introducing kite aerial photography into local schools.

Katy Firth

Kirkwall

Orkney

Katy Firth graduated from the University of Glasgow with an MA (Hons) in Archaeology and German in 2008. Since then she has worked as Field Archaeologist, Park Ranger, Community Archaeology Bursary Holder and Museum Research and Activities Assistant. She became a Mum in 2015 and is currently working freelance on community archaeology projects, specialising in heritage learning and volunteer engagement. Katy is currently branch leader of Edinburgh Young Archaeologists Club (since 2011) and chair of the learning subgroup on the Archaeology Scotland board (since 2014).

Bill Kerr

West Lothian

Kites: designing, making, flying and aerial photography

Member of the Kite Club of Scotland. (Facebook)

Bronwen Knowles

West Lothian

Kite flying

Bronwen assists with Group kite aerial photography sessions, flying the kites with cameras attached. Bronwen assesses kites suitable for children and works with young children at public events.

Jackie Sangster

Scotland

Jackie is an education officer for Scran which offers access to half a million digital resources for exploring culture and heritage. This includes a significant amount of aerial imagery and information from such collections as Aerofilms and also NCAP content. In her role Jackie engages with schools and offers KAP as a learning activity.

Douglas Scott

Scotland

Photography and kite aerial photography of ancient monuments

For over 30 years, Douglas has been surveying ancient monuments such as standing stones, stone circles, the passages of burial cairns and rock art, in regard to their possible orientation to the rising and setting sun and moon. So far, he has managed to photograph about 200 of these events.

Dr Alison Sheridan

Edinburgh

Novice at kite aerial photography - as an artefact-orientated prehistorian - but extremely impressed by SNAPS' work and keen to get out and try doing it herself. As President of the Prehistoric Society she will encourage members of that Society to embrace the technique, since it offers an exceptionally cost-effective way of producing invaluable information. For details about her activities during the day job (in charge of the Early Prehistory section of the Scottish History and Archaeology Department, National Museums Scotland), click here

Ed and Ailsa Smith

Ed and Ailsa are members of ACFA (Association of Certificated Field Archaeologists). The association is interested in the use of kite aerial photography to explore and record areas where field surveys are undertaken.

Dr Cade Wells

West Lothian

Sensor and Imaging Systems

Cade's first degree was an MEng in Computer Systems Engineering from Bangor, Wales. His EngD was awarded jointly by the universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heriot Watt and Strathclyde for his work on machine vision. Cade is a Business Development Manager at the Centre for Sensor and Imaging Systems.

Trustee at the West Lothian Archaeological Trust 2013 - 2019

Dr John Wells

Armadale

West Lothian

(and Stroud Gloucestershire)

Near & thermal infra-red kite aerial imaging of archaeological residues

John is a Chartered Biologist and a graduate of the universities of Warwick (Physics), Salford (Applied Radiation Physics) and Oxford (Corpus Christi College, Medical Research). After leaving Oxford, and until retirement, he was a radiation research scientist at Berkeley Nuclear Laboratories in Gloucestershire.

Trustee at the West Lothian Archaeological Trust 2012 - 2019

West Lothian Aerial Archaeology 2007 - 2019

Brian Wilkinson

Linlithgow

West Lothian

Archaeology, education, interpretation and aerial photography

Brian is a Linlithgow based archaeologist specialising in rural settlement, community archaeology, historic environment education and interpretation.

bri.wilkinsongmail.com

Ireland

Rathrar, Rathbarna Quadrivallated Enclosure Complex, Co. Roscommon, Ireland.

Kite aerial photo © Christy Lawless

(Site visit of Ireland's annual community archaeology conference 'Archaeology Above and Below' in 2016, Rathcroghan, Tulsk.)

Kevin Barton

Claremorris Co. Mayo

Archaeological geophysics and kite aerial photography

Kevin Barton carries out archaeological geophysical surveys on commercial, research and community projects.

He is involved in a number of training workshops for community and school groups. As part of a contribution to the ArchaeoLandscapes Europe Project he is introducing KAP and elevated photography with a pole to community groups. With some help from Group members he is beginning to experiment with 3-D visualisation of monuments and landscapes photographed using KAP as a complement to airborne LiDAR and ground geophysical surveys.

John Campbell

John has a background in computers and desktop publishing. He was introduced to KAP after attending the Rathcroghan ‘Archaeology Above and Below’ conference in 2016 and over the last few years has been having fun capturing local monuments.

Gary Dempsey

Archaeology, Heritage Visualization, Photogrammetry, Kite Aerial Photography and UAV survey.

Gary is the co-founder of @DH_Age (www.digitalheritageage.com), and Lead 3D Environmental Information Model Designer and Historical Researcher for RealSim Ltd (www.realsim.ie). He has a background in Heritage Studies (BA, Hons. GMIT) and Irish Studies (MA, NUIG). Gary also holds a MSc in Heritage Visualization (SimVis Glasgow School of Art). His background includes archaeological research, education development and digital community training (Roscommon3D, Galway iCAN, Achill Field School). He is the lead researcher on the Rathcroghan Legacy Project, a digital landscape project matching his interest in digital heritage with the archaeological landscape in his home county of Roscommon. This project grew from his work using aerail photogrpahy and is furthering the understanding of the Rathcroghan landscape in Co. Rocommon Ireland.

Simon Dowling

Waterford

Low Altitude Aerial Surveying and Photogrammetry

Simon has a background in Aeronautical Engineering and Pharmacy, with a keen interest in applying the emerging technology of Structure from Motion Photogrammetry to Archaeology. He publishes much of his work on his blog http://aerialarchaeology.blogspot.co.uk and under the Twitter name @dubhlain

Joe Fenwick

Galway

Archaeology and kite aerial photography

Joe Fenwick is the Archaeological Field Officer in the School of Geography and Archaeology, NUI. Galway. He received his BA degree from UCD in 1991 and his MA degree from UCG (latterly NUI Galway) in 1997. He has contributed to numerous field research projects over the years including Knowth Excavations (UCD), The Tara Survey (The Discovery Programme) and the ArchaeoGeophysical Imaging Project (NUI Galway). He also worked in the commercial sector of Archaeology for a number of years, trading as Archaeological Ltd. He has an on-going research interest in the ancient royal sites of Tara, Co. Meath and Rathcroghan, Co. Roscommon, in addition to the and Brú na Bóinne area of Co. Meath, on which he has published widely. As Archaeological Field Officer (Senior Technician) Joe specialises in the area of field research and scientific survey techniques and has a new-found interest in kite aerial photography – a simple yet remarkably effective survey tool for students and a wonderful excuse to explore the archaeological riches of the Irish landscape with the family!

Tina Keating

Copper Coast Geopark

Co. Waterford

Christy Lawless

Turlough Castlebar

Co. Mayo

Archaeology and kite aerial photography

Christy Lawless is a Field Archaeologist and is a member of the Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland (IAI), the Irish Association for Quaternary Studies (IQUA), the Mayo Archaeological and Historical Society and Westport Civic Trust. He has discovered and recorded over 300 previously unrecorded archaeological sites and monuments in Co. Mayo. His aerial photography has brought to notice many previously unknown archaeological sites in Co. Mayo. He has published articles of archaeological interest each year in the Journal of the Westport Historical Society from 1987-2003 and also in other publications. He gives talks and field trips on archaeological heritage to Historical Societies and Community Groups. He is an authority on Irish Fulacht Fiadh (Bronze Age Cooking Procedure) and has carried out this piece of experimental archaeology on ten occasions from 1986-2002 for students, teachers and colleges. The introduction of Kite Aerial Photography (KAP) has added a new dimension to his archaeological studies and he is now using KAP as follow-up to Lidar ground survey images.

Ciarán May

http://www.birdseyekite.com/

Dr Séamus Ó Murchú

Dublin

Upland archaeology, kite aerial photography and remote sensing

Growing up in Carlow, Ireland, Seamus has a BA and MA in Archaeology from University College Dublin and started a PhD also based in UCD in January 2012 funded by the Archaeolandscapes Europe Network. This research aims to better understand the archaeological potential of an understudied upland landscape in Ireland. To answer this question the Blackstairs Mountains in Counties Carlow, Wexford and Kilkenny, Ireland are being taken as the primary focus with the better researched Dublin and Wicklow Mountains offering a parellel site. The period around the time of the Great Famine in Ireland is of particular interest in answering this question. Kite Aerial Photography is being used too as a follow up on ground survey, LiDAR and satellite imagery to obtain low-level, high resolution images of particular sites in these landscapes where most of the existing imagery and remote sensing data is either of poor quality or of limited coverage and value. This has been kindly facilitated by SNAPS.

Seamus.O-Murchuucdconnect.ie

Frank Scott

Roscommon

Professional photography, aerial and heritage photography and archaeology

Frank studied professional photography in the early 80s and went on to work as an Assistant Cameraman on shoots for BBC, ZDF, CBC, RTE and UTV . He then went working for RTE Sports and Lifestyle shows. Frank later went into sales and, after 20 years, decided to develop his interest in Archaeology, studying in N.U.I. Galway.

Frank is Chairman of Roscommon Heritage Group and is involved with their local museum. He loves all types of aerial photography.

Going forward, he wants to develop some community archaeology in the Irish midlands, using both still and video to produce small productions for the Archaeology and Heritage sectors.

fes.400.fsgmail.com

England

Bill Blake

Cambridge

Heritage documentation, digital recording and kite aerial photography

Bill was formerly Measured Survey Manager, responsible for QA and drawing production with English Heritage. He specialises in low level aerial photography for metric survey, visitor orientation, site context and condition record, using a range of tools.

Dr Hannah Brown

Bradford

Archaeology and kite aerial photography

I did my undergraduate degree in Modern History at Oxford University (Magdalen College), followed by an MA (distinction) in Medieval Studies at the University of York, which specialised in early medieval archaeology, history and art history and involved a dissertation investigating Viking occupation (as a result, I am now involved in the Torksey Project - google it!). I then discovered geophysics and did an MSc (distinction) in archaeological geophysics and prospection at Bradford University, before working commercially as a geophysicist for several years. I have now returned to Bradford and am doing a PhD; I am using a GIS approach to examine later prehistoric coaxial field systems in the Yorkshire Dales, which involves collating the existing evidence in combination with field observation. The PhD exploits, including some kite aerial photography attemps, can be followed here: www.coaxials.wordpress.com

Giles Carey

Shropshire

Archaeology and kite aerial photography (1, 2, 3, 4)

I am an archaeologist, currently working in England, with experience across the community, commercial and local authority sectors. I have dug across Britain, but most enjoy excavating and researching the Neolithic of Orkney, where I have been exploring the remote sensing of Early Neolithic timber sites. I am passionate about communicating the past and what archaeologists do with all whether I'm being paid to do so or not! Although a fairly new practitioner of kite aerial photography, I am excited by its prospects for engagement and research and am keen to develop it as a tool to produce images that inform and entertain!

Tim Carter

Archaeology and kite aerial photography

Tim is a graduate of Plymouth University (BSc in Archaeology), and has been on the commercial field archaeology scene since graduating. He is currently a Senior Field Archaeologist working for Suffolk Archaeology CIC, based in Needham Market, Suffolk. He uses his kites and rigs primarily at work to obtain low level high resolution photographs of ongoing archaeological excavations. Tim also uses his KAP gear in his spare time to capture the local landscape around him, and the features within it, both natural, and man-made. Contact timcarterphotography2015yahoo.co.uk

Hamish Fenton

Oxfordshire

Archaeology, kite aerial photography and kite aerial photogrammetry

Juan Jose Fuldain González

London

Kites, drones, NIR, NDVI, archaeology and plant health

Juan José graduated in geography and history from the University of Deusto in 1993 and gained diplomas in archaeology and modern European history. He then worked as a freelance archaeologist, archaeological illustrator and surveyor and since 2008 has been working at the Museum of London Archaeology Service as a senior illustrator.

Juan José´s passions for maps, plan making and archaeology, combined with his life-long enjoyment of making and flying kites have lead to more recent experiments with NIR and NDVI pictures from kites and drones in order to see buried archaeological features from above.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/151602588@N02/albums

Dr Helen Goodchild

York

Archaeological Project and Fieldwork Officer

Susie Green

Kite aerial photography and Structure from Motion

Susie has a first class degree in photography and an MPhil in 3D Graphics from the Digital Design Studio, both Glasgow School of Art. After 12 years working as a 3D video game artist for Sony she returned to university to study archaeology at UCL, where she completed an MSc with distinction in GIS and Spatial Analysis for Archaeology.

Mark Woolston-Houshold

Durham

Kite aerial photography and archaeology

Just completing a BSc in Archaeology (already has BSc in Prosthetics 1993). Specialising in near east dessert KAP, mainly for the dept of Antiques and Museums in Kuwait. If all goes well he should be continuing with a Research Masters using KAP as a source of images for producing maps of Early Christian, Islamic, Bronze Age and Hellenistic sites on Failaka Is. in the north of the Gulf. He has also used KAP and Helikite photography to support research projects over the last two years for Durham University in Spain, Kuwait, Nepal (in conjunction with UNESCO and National Geographic Magazine), Ukraine, Bulgaria and UK. In July (2013), he will be working at the Badgendon Oppida (Cirencester) to combine gradiometer surveys with aerial photography (similar to other work he has completed in Nepal, producing background images for ground penetrating radar surveys) and then having a week or so at Silchester for Reading University.

Jim Knowles

Jim's first degree is in Archaeological Sciences from the University of Bradford. He then undertook a a postgraduate degree in computing to extend his knowledge of computational programming. Jim has worked as a professional archaeologist for a number of years. His varied career has undertaken all aspects of archaeological field work across many different areas, from prehistoric, battlefield and industrial archaeology. Jim has a specialist knowledge of archaeological prospection, including the use of magnetic, earth resistance, ground penetrating radar and chemical methods to detect and identify archaeological areas of interest. Also, he has an interest in scientific analysis, including chemical and metallurgical, and in computer use, including 3D modelling, database manipulation, spatial information use and programming.

Trustee at the West Lothian Archaeological Trust 2012 - 2019

Dave Mitchell

Devon

Low-Level Aerial Photography (KAP and PAP)

Dave has been a kite aerial photographer for 15 years.
His main interest is in photographing urban landscapes, particularly roofs
(e.g. Tate St Ives https://www.flickr.com/photos/dave_mitchell/3947532898)
but has also photographed work on archaeological sites for South West Archaeology and Exeter University.

As well as a variety of kites, Dave also uses a 9 metre pole.

Peter Neville

Rainow

Peter has been involved in aerial photography as an ad hoc hobby since the early 70’s. Mainly as an aid to enhance his interest in industrial archeology. Early imaging was done from either fixed or rotary wing, whatever came by chance.
More recently this has now become kite and pole based. Imaging taken by Peter has been included in professional work done by the Peak District Mines Historical Society and DVD’s produced on Titan and High Rake Mine.
360 degree photography has also been an interest since the mid 90’s. This includes post production using the likes of PTgui, Photoshop, iMovie and open source software from Google, Zoomify and Marzipano. Standard cameras and dedicated (LG 360 Cam) are used.
As an extension to the interest, mapping using Google and Ordnance Survey SDKs are also used.
Peter is based in Rainow, East Cheshire in the Peak District National Park.
Websites
http://www.anaerialview.com
http://www.toadstone.com/360/magpietour/

Dr Mary K. Saunders

Bradford

Archaeology, geophysics and low-level aerial photography

Mary has a BA in Archaeology from Durham and an MSc in Archaeological Prospection from Bradford and has spent the last 11 years working in commercial archaeology, firstly with GSB Prospection for 2 years, with Oxford Archaeology and latterly with ORCA Geophysics (OCGU) in Orkney. Originally from West Lothian, Mary's PhD project was on "Unravelling the later prehistoric landscape of the Yorkshire Dales: A fieldwork based approach" and used a whole suite of techniques to look at parcels within the landscape to address various research questions. Mary is now working as a freelance archaeological geophysicist and geomatics specialist.

M.K.Saundersstudent.bradford.ac.uk

Sue Storey

Yorkshire

Kite aerial photography (Ipernity)

Óskar G Sveinbjarnarson

Durham

Dr Fleur Visser

Worcester

Fleur is based at Worcester University and is investigating the possibilities of applying remote sensing techniques for detecting and mapping submerged aquatic vegetation and algae in shallow river systems, mostly UK chalk streams. Continuing development of remote sensing sensors and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), in combination with object-based image analysis techniques will soon enable the application of remote sensing in these environments that were previously beyond the reach of the technology due to their limited size and high biodiversity. She is also a member of the University’s River Science Research Group.

Dr Amy Woodget

Amy is a researcher and lecturer within the Geography department at the University of Worcester, with broad interests in the environmental applications of remote sensing and GIS. She joined the University in 2011 as a PhD student, and has been in her current post-doc role since 2015.

Her research focusses on exploring novel methods, which make use of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) and structure-from-motion photogrammetry (SfM), for quantifying a range of physical habitat parameters within river systems. Her aim is to investigate whether these emerging techniques hold value as a tool for robust, reliable, routine assessments of river habitat. Amy is a trained and CAA licensed pilot for sUAS, and has used a variety of platforms for data collection, including the rotary-winged Draganflyer X6, an Allsopp SkyShot helikite and a variety of traditional kites. She has conducted fieldwork at a number of sites in the UK and abroad (including Chile), and worked on collaborative projects with colleagues from the Universities of Concepcion (Chile), Durham (UK), Bath Spa (UK), Cranfield (UK), the Institute for Water (Slovenia) and the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust (UK).

Stroud District

Gloucestershire

Archaeological Aerial Thermography: Stratford Court Playing Fields, Stroud, Gloucestershire, England.

2016

John Wells

Heidi Walker

Paganhill Stroud

Illustration and kite aerial photography

After preliminary courses at The Slade and Stroud Art School, Heidi graduated with a first class honours degree in Illustration (with John Hullah Award) from the University of the West of England. She completed her studies with a Masters in Sequential Design and Illustration from Brighton University. Heidi works as Design Manager at Meri Meri and has been a volunteer photographer (including KAP) with the National Trust.

Dr John Wells

Stroud

As above

Alice Fallon

Cirencester

Archaeology and kite aerial photography

From 2008-2013 Alice completed BA(hons) and MA Archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London, collaborating with the Thames Discovery Programme to survey the river foreshore and researching the archaeology of whaling in 18th and 19th Century London. She currently teaches A Level Archaeology and History at Cirencester College and is a module leader on the Archaeology and Historic Landscape Conservation and Environmental Conservation and Heritage Management Foundation Degrees delivered in partnership between Cirencester College and the Royal Agricultural University. Staff and students regularly undertake fieldwork including geophysical surveys, excavation and using KAP to investigate local archaeological sites.

Near infra-red kite aerial photo: Rufford Abbey, Nottinghamshire, England.

2011

Jim Knowles

Outside the UK and Ireland

Isle of Man

Prof. Mark Noel
Archaeological geophysics. Kite aerial photography.

I have a particular interest in using geophysical survey methods to map and characterise subsoil features of archaeological interest. As founder and director of GeoQuest Associates we carried out numerous surveys on sites in the UK, and Ireland in advance of development, but also for national heritage organisations. Kite aerial photography provides another opportunity for landscape evaluation, and I am particularly interested in applying engineering design, 3D printing and electronics to the development of novel equipment for lifting and controlling airborne cameras. Examples of my KAP gear and aerial images are presented on the aeronaut website:
http://www.aeronaut.org.uk

France