The Things We Carry

Such a fuss over a little bit of kit to carry..........;)
 
I know 'togs in Glasgow that carry similar kit...

Seriously though, that's pretty impressive. Makes you wish you had more than two hands.
 
Would you ever consider having a helmet mounted camera, for recording video? I guess that's not really what you're job is , but it'd be kinda cool.

Also a friend of mine who was in the US ARMY did something similar, but every piece of media/photography or writing, had to be screened first before being sent or posted out anywhere. Is that the same with you? Are you heavily censored? Or even censored at all?
 
KayJay said:
Would you ever consider having a helmet mounted camera, for recording video? I guess that's not really what you're job is , but it'd be kinda cool.

Also a friend of mine who was in the US ARMY did something similar, but every piece of media/photography or writing, had to be screened first before being sent or posted out anywhere. Is that the same with you? Are you heavily censored? Or even censored at all?
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All images are vetted to some extent - I perform my own vetting by dint of what I deem to be a 'good' photograph and what I don't.
My work has to be cleared through the chain of command, but I've never had an image 'spiked' before transmission to the Press...
Even my predecessor who worked a lot with the Medical Response Teams wasn't 'censored' in the strict sense of the word - we are sympathetic though - photographs of casualties usually focus on those carrying out the care, rather than the victim and we tend not to show wounded soldiers' faces out of respect to the families - but that's self-censorship rather than official policy...
There are rules and regulations as to what can and cannot be recorded, but that's more to do with the International Law on Human Rights than Big-Brother looking over my shoulder...
For example, photos must not show the faces of detainees or captured prisoners (now) after clarification of the Hague Convention and the Geneva Convention with regard to prisoners' rights - again nothing to do with official censorship...

I once had an image pulled from the MoD website showing two paratroopers in Afghanistan taking a breather during an attack...that was pulled because at the time the press emphasis was on military 'overstretch' and the phot showed two clearly exhausted soldiers, which could have been used to illustrate that quite well...The photo went back up again a month later. So there are factors at work back home that we'll be unaware of in-theatre that also have to be considered.

Also any really contentious images I get don't always have to be sent through channels...hint, hint...
I got a photo of the remains of an Iraqi suicide bomber published in the Italian and Spanish press by this method...
 
That's amazing. I'd rather have another couple of weapons rather than the cameras though :p
 
MadaCup said:
That's amazing. I'd rather have another couple of weapons rather than the cameras though :p
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Too much weight...and if I have occasion to open fire, it means everything's gone t*ts-up in a big way...

TBH I'd rather just carry a pistol and a couple of mags of 12 rounds...
if the need arises there'll be weapons a-plenty lying round...:(
 
Arkady said:
Too much weight...and if I have occasion to open fire, it means everything's gone t*ts-up in a big way...

TBH I'd rather just carry a pistol and a couple of mags of 12 rounds...
if the need arises there'll be weapons a-plenty lying round...:(
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Do you often come under fire when taking your pictures? Quite a dangerous job, even more so than an angry bride!
 
Arkady said:
Some of you have expressed an interest, so:

The-Things-We-Carry.jpg
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And I thought it was rough round my way!! We use an evil stare to keep the ruffians away.... machine guns haven't yet caught on in Rugby. :)

That's some serious gear. I bet the dust is an absolute ballbreaker?
 
Jesus with biscuits, that's some kit. Exlcuding the bleedin' obvious, what's the biggest difference with your togging to back home? And Is the sand a big problem? (I have a Nikon film body that's never really forgiven me for taking it to the Sahara).
 
Sand here is more like a fine talc...I just keep blowing it off and the cameras seem fine - it helps that they're brilliantly sealed compared to others...

Mostly I just take images that catch my eye - latest ones here:
LINKY

The brief for general stuff is quite loose - some jobs follow a fixed format, like Ramp Ceremonys, Grip & Grins and the like - but for 'proper' tasks, I get free-range to do my own thing - more or less...
 
I guess when it comes down to it, if you need to use your gun rather than camera, the number of weapons isn't really of much importance. It is the number of bullets and how quickly you can change/use them that counts.

Thanks for sharing the equipment you use. It has been a certain curiosity whilst I have been reading your other threads.

Good luck, and I hope you don't have cause to change your weapon of choice in the next year and a bit.
 
Great thread, quite an interesting read. I'd like to think I would like to try something like this but I bet if push came to shove and end up wanting to run away! Lots of respect is due me thinks :)
 
hi rob what bn of the queens regt were you in i,m ex 2nd battalion :thumbs:

once a queensman always a queensman :) stay safe:hug: as you,re sig says you need one
 
We use similar kit, cameras and lenses anyway - but I'm guessing yours has a tougher life :D

Great thread - and just wanted to say that you boys have the support of shedloads of us back home. We understand what a tough job you've got and we're behind you. Stay safe.
 
Thanks for posting Rob - makes interesting reading / viewing. Hope you're OK out there.
 
And I thiough carrying just a body, few lenses and some filters was a pain , heheh
 
Interesting thread Rob thanks for sharing :thumbs:
Stay safe!
 
Whos needs a gun like that, just fire your D3 off at 9 fps ( thats right isnt it or is it less? :lol:)

That will get anyone running.
 
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