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Original post 2012.11.12

Nov. 11 was a two-fer: Veterans Day proper (although it was observed on the 12th), and my birthday. As such, after reading at IRIS, I treated myself to some kite-flying near the Indiana War Memorial and the IPL Central Library. I then looked back at other kite photos I've taken and realized that I have a backlog of unposted pictures. I also thought it'd be a good idea to collect the best kite photos in one place for those of you really into that sort of thing.

I'll frequently update this post, so a bookmark will lead right back here each time you click, but the entry itself will fly to the top of the main blog page every time I update it. That way, when you come back to the blog, whether you go to the entry or not, you'll notice if there's a new photo. I'm sure you're gonna love this. I mean, who doesn't like kite photos?

Updated 2012.11.26 and 2013.02.18

Skyline, Adler Planetarium, and 12th Street Beach, Chicago, Feb. 17, 2013

While visiting my friend the afore-appeared Steph Feeley and celebrating her graduation from iO Chicago, I took some time out to do a bit of kite-flying. I had remembered the comment I made before about trying a flight at the 12th Street Beach, and given its relative proximity to downtown and Soldier Field, I thought the place would make for some good photos.

Unfortunately, this weekend the Windy City didn't live up to its name. I didn't get the kite very high up at all because the wind was either weak or turbulent nearly the whole time. I found a grassy area next to the beach, though, and the more consistent winds there made for at least one quality photo. The rest of the take turned into the accidental session of self-portraits, crashes, and tangled line you see below. The photos come straight from the GoPro, simply sized down; later tonight, I'll put up beautified versions of some of the photos on the catch-all KAP page.

One other thing: when I pulled the kite out of the car, I found out I had lost the cross pole. There were some fallen branches nearby, though, so I improvised.

This is my favorite photo from the session, despite (or perhaps because of) the failure to launch.

I got two assignments last night, merged into one IndyStar gallery, to cover that greatest of pre-religious-purge festivals: Mardi Gras. Even though Spain did it right in 2010, I can still say Indy did okay. In between the fresh (and shipped live!) Louisiana crawfish at Kilroy's and the quite lively band at the Jazz Kitchen, I'd say the night was a success.

Jazz Kitchen near Broad Ripple was host to Nashville jazz band Halfbrass during Mardi Gras, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. Halfbrass ended its set with a march through the bar of "When the Saints Go Marching In." (Alex Farris / For The Star)

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