History + Art

History

The National Air and Space Museum and Smithsonian created a comprehensive account of the history of aerial photography on their page, The Beginnings and Basics of Aerial Photography.

Culture

Kites have been flown for centuries across the world for more than just recreational fun, they’ve been flown historically as a way to send messages across long distances, as a symbol of strength and prosperity, a connection to spirits and ancestors, and many more. Some of the extensive cultural history of kites is covered in two articles linked below:

Kite Tradition in the World
Exploring the Cultural Significance of Kites

Art

There is a vibrant and passionate community centered around kites as an art form. These communities spend hundreds of hours creating kites for the sole purpose of beauty, and they share these kites at competitions and kite meet-ups. Below are some examples of people and organizations that have dedicated their crafting skills to creating flyable works of art.