Customer Reviews

Hanging by a Thread: A Kite's View of Wisconsin (Spanish, German and English Edition)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I first heard about this book I was not enthusiastic. Pictures from a kite? It sounded like sort of a hobby project, or a curiosity piece. I figured the photos would be lousy.

I was wrong! I'm not sure if the pictures are National Geographic quality, but they are darned nice pictures. Don't think "pictures from a kite" think about the pictures you'd take if you could float gracefully over the landscape.

As noted by another review, the pictures are much more intimate than normal shots taken from above. They are much more elegant and personal.

My wife is a recent immigrant and has come to love Wisconsin. I bought this for her because I haven't seen any other book that so gracefully and truthfully captures the spirit of Wisconsin. Thanks Mr. Wilson!

Most of the aerial photography we see was taken from an airplane. These photos usually lack the detail that Craig Wilson has captured in the images taken from his camera attached to his kite string. Giving us a unique perspective of common objects and areas. The patchwork of picnic blankets, the aerial view of a frozen lake, a closeup of the top of the capitol building in Madison are just some of the fantastic photos in this book. This book gets two thumbs up!

A very unique and fascinating book. Although the photos in the book are all of places and events in Wisconsin, there is a universality of subject matter that shoiuld make it interesting to photographers and anyone who likes photo books.

How refreshing to see a perspective in photography that profiles the life and times of Wisconsin and the residents with such clarity and storytelling. Hanging by a Thread brought so many great memories back to someone who has since relocated East. Absolutely amazing that the photographs can capture the life of Wisconsinites on a kite and string. The stories behind the photos added a refreshing prespective on Craig's art. And behind each photo is an inventor, an entrepreneur who's passion in flight and photography has brought me back home again within these pages.

Thank you Craig for capturing my memories in a fresh perspective through the pages of your book.

As a native Wisconsonite now living in the tropics, I've tried to keep a balanced view of the state. Of course--it's beautiful. The people are great. There's no lack of interesting things, crackpot ideas, places to go and things to do. But hey--there are other places in the world, right? As my brother once said, "hey, I've never seen a place where people were so INTO their state!" Sometimes, the cult of Wisconsin can be a little heavy.

But then along comes this book, and I'm completely entranced.

The photographs are great. The perspectives are amazing. The text is understated and fun. And the stuff photographed brought tears to my eyes. Especially the Mississippi River covered in fog.

And the stuff people do in Madison--Opera in the Park and the Concerts on the Square and jogging for this that and the other thing and ice fishing and...on and on. All of the oddball things and places and events are endearing.

If you've lived in Wisconsin and loved it...well, buy this book!

There are photo-guides to Wisconsin and then there's HANGING BY A THREAD, A KITE'S VIEW OF WISCONSIN by Craig Wilson. A longtime kite builder/flyer, Wilson combined his interest in kites and photography to produce aerial vistas of various Wisconsin sites. The result is an alltogether fascinating and charming photo-tour of the Badger State.

Published in 2011 by the University of Wisconsin Press, HANGING BY A THREAD features over 140 pix taken by Wilson's 'kitecam' of the UW-Madison Memorial Union, EAA Fly-In, UW-Whitewater Stadium, Lake Monona, Milwaukee Blues Fest, High Ground Memorial and various buildings, lighthouses, cranberry bogs, rivers, lakes, bridges, churches, houses, golf courses and farm scenes. Since most of the photographs were taken between 100-150 feet off the ground, they capture detail missing from shots taken by aircraft.

HANGING BY A THREAD is a rara avis, the result of an individual applying his talents and imagination to realize a dream. Highly recommended.

Bought this book about a year ago; amazing. Great gift for anyone from Wisconsin to see the true beauty of the state from a different perspective. I know the author too...he's a great guy :)

I purchased the book with the intent to give it as a gift to a 10 year old in Germany. I live in Wisconsin and thought it would be a wonderful way for him to see the great state that we live in. I was surprised, but more over impressed with the quality of the book and the photos inside. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes photography, lives in Wisconsin, or wants to give the book to someone as a gift. It is a real piece of art, only in book form.

This book has the most gorgeous photos from the most unique vantage points: a kite! I saw this guy demonstrate his kite prowess inside a gym on a rainy day, and he is indeed a master. He also has a creative flair that allows him to try an innovative way of capturing images. You will love this book.

Steve Busalacchi, Author, White Coat Wisdom
White Coat Wisdom

I purchased this book for my son who is a member of the UW band. We'd been to "Kites On Ice" several times when he was younger and the combination of the kite/camera and the views above Madison made this a perfect gift. It turned into a sort of "Where's Waldo", trying to see if he recognized himself or any of his band-member friends from the kite's view. The stories of the author's children and the paranoid police officer are a fun personal touch to the spectacular photos.