Behind no-fly zones, past the commercial aircraft-restricted borders, kite aerial photographer Nicolas Chorier shows you India from an angle that challenges your perspectives and assumptions about this old and sacred land.
Ask the average person what words he’d use to describe India, and he’ll probably offer adjectives typical of TV depictions: noisy, crowded, congested, stressful. Ask Nicolas Chorier, kite aerial photographer, and he’ll say something different. He’ll speak of peaceful beauty, of sensual appreciation, of vibrant colors sparkling over warm temples and sites of reverence. “Kite aerial photography makes me strongly interact with the close environment of the picture. I meet the people on the site, I spend time with them. I take time to feel and impregnate the spirit of the site I’m shooting.”
Free from engine noises, Nicolas can lead his kite into the heart of a site and bring the viewer within touching distance of some of India’s most revered temples. “Kite aerial photography allows low altitude shots close-up from above,” Nicolas notes. “[It] preserves the human dimension in the compositions, and, the logistics being minimal, gives access to remote sites in intricate environments.” His custom-designed kite, built with a cradle suspended 100 feet below that holds his remote-controlled camera, can soar through spaces restricted to other aircraft, making his photos completely unique.