Playing with a ring flash, the opportunity arose to take some wide angle portraits which is not something I usually do. By going extreme, the portraits became a caricature especially with this motley crew.
Also took the opportunity to photograph the cat, only because it is too fat to run away.
This is one of my personal favourite shots from my tour of Iraq in 2007-2008. I know the colour popping is not to everyone’s taste and is not something I tend to do much of, but this moment was one of intensity and connection that I felt I had to do something to separate them from the background, from everything that was going on around them. This situation was played out in a small village just outside of Basra and it was usual for numerous kids to come right up to you, into your personal space and beg for sweets or water, or even just grab at anything hanging off your body armour. In this instance this boy just stopped and looked up at the young soldier. For a moment they just looked at each other and connected in some way.
This image sat in my portfolio submission for Operational photography in the 2008 Army photographic competition and is still an image that I enjoy.
Our latest mission has been to go out with the Afghan National Army (ANA), to film and photograph them, as the ‘defining moment of operation Herrick 15’ would be their first major operation planned and executed by themselves to clear an area of Helmand from the influences of the insurgents.
Being the video guy, my job was to film them from the orders through the patrol phase, to watch them as they took over compounds and created, from scratch, their Check points in an area that insurgents had been deeply embedded in.
Say what you will about the ANA, they may lack an element of our professionalism, skill or ability, but when you consider that they are poorly paid, receive only a fraction of the training we get, are nowhere near equipped (by our standards), they do a fantastic job and in light of all this they are beyond doubt very brave indeed.
During this operation, they moved with all they needed to sleep rough across difficult terrain in freezing temperatures, which was tough indeed. They don’t get issued the warm or wet kit that we all get issued, and yet they just continue to work. The Afghans seem to work without complaint, they know what they need to do and they have a resolve to do what they need to, in order to rid their country of the enemy.
The ANA is a fledgling army, already growing to the required numbers, they know they have a tough job and continue to do their best to get it done, and they are proud.
Regardless of any shortcomings, I tip my hat to the Afghan braves and only hope that they gain the popular support of their countrymen because they above all deserve it and with it can begin to make the giant step towards peace, the likes of which has not been seen in this part of the world for decades.
These soldiers are going to be a big part of this countries future and every journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.
Good luck.
This post is really just a selection of images from a recent trip out which will hopefully give you an idea of what a soldier is. They are random images that I hope will show we are human and they do have a sense of humor.
Soldiers will have a laugh whenever they can and will make light of anything even the bad. On a recent trip one of the officers was shot in the leg during an operation and all the guys could talk about was how he had only been out here a few days and was already on his way home again, ‘lucky bastard!’
Of course this was what we term banter and like most things said out here is not to be taken seriously. It is designed to lighten the load and of course everyone was glad he was not more seriously injured.
Mascots, the soldier will name their vehicle, stick mascots on it or personalise anything including their bed spaces.
Even when it gets cold, and boy does it get cold,
there are ways and means to feel the heat.
In confined spaces anywhere you can dry your kit, you use.
We love getting our mail and when it comes in so infrequently it can mean lots arriving at once.
There is always an opportunity to get into the party spirit, and sometimes you get the impression that fancy dress is code for hardly any dress at all.
Soldiers like getting tattoo’s and many of them have meaning, many of us have been here before and will come again.
Food HAS to be so hot you no longer taste it!
It does seem that out here most soldiers smoke.
It is difficult to keep your hair short or do Jedward have a lot to answer for?
Mustaches and Christmas hats should be worn at any and every opportunity.
Preparations to go out on an operation are a ritual, everyone has their own. Nothing is ever taken for granted.
Although there is always time for a smile no matter how tense.
It is better to be ready early and then wait than wait til the last minute, it pays to be organised.
We are just regular people, just like anyone else but we adapt to circumstance and adversity, we just find a way to deal with things we would have no cause for otherwise.
If only!
The mastery of life, work and Photography 