Big hello from Afghanistan

[planetx]

Hi guys
Well I finally made it out here, and boy is it hot!!! mid day reaches 50 degrees in the sun - so far the D3's are holding up, but the sand gets everywhere.
The cameras get that hot you need to wear gloves to hold them or you risk scolding your pinkies!

Heat shimmer is also a big pain in the arse.
Sunsets/sunrise is very quick..usually only 10 mins. The sun goes down at 19:15...by 19:30 it is pitch black.

Managed to rattle a few shots off this morning of the eclipse ( we only had a partial here)

 

[planetx]

 

[Sash]

Wow, never seen an eclipse as spectacular as that before.

What are you actually doing out there? PM me if u like.

 

[Cookie]

Awesome!

Just make sure you don't post anything up that'll f**k up opsec

 

[Inferno]

Good luck out there mate, stay safe! My brother's been out there since June - he's still not liking the heat, or the food, or the driving!

 

[Andy.]

Lovely shots.

Good luck matey!

 

[Darren S]

Great shots. Take care of yourself out there. Anyone out there has far bigger balls than me.

D.

 

[McBunny]

i like the plane in the second photo

 

[joebonthuys]

Awesome pictures matey, just make sure you stay safe out there

 

[Darren]

stunning shots mate. stay safe.

 

[Rob Clark]

fook me they are impressive ! Kinda puts into perspective pics of rainy English day and a close up of a Renault badge, when youve got a eclipse in a dessert and a stonking great chinook to play with !
Hope the others are that good and have fun and stay safe !

 

[Needster]

Those shots are awesome, and beautiful. Good work.

 

[mace¬]

Excellent work mate.

Do you get free reign on where you take pics or are certain areas a no go for pics?

 

[planetx]

Awesome!

Just make sure you don't post anything up that'll f**k up opsec

I am a bit past that stage mate - I am an Army photographer not a wannabe with a mobile phone wanting to post up the latest firefight on youtube!

As for "free reign" yes apart from an Apache cockpit I can get pretty much anywhere I like.

 

[Greeny.]

Those shots are amazing!

 

[Ben..]

Great shots mate! pretty lucky too...those chinooks are rare you know

 

[JD]

The first is a superb shot! Well they all are, just the first is the best IMO. Do you work for a photography company fella, as sure I have seen it mentioned before!

EDit; just read up a bit.

 

[Coby.]

Amazing Pics.... As said hope you stay safe.

 

[Feirny]

Awesome! Look after yourself out there dude.

 

[Brad182]

Amazing Photos. loving the sunset and the chopper!

 

[planetx]

photobucket is destroying the colours/contrast out of my images for some reason

But here are a few more teasers from this afternoon.

For anyone interested in the techy side of things you will notice that the rotors in all of my flying shots have some degree of movement, this is vital when shooting aircraft. The problem comes when selecting a slow enough shutter for this, but not getting any movement in the body of the Heli itself.

So I selected 1/250th at f22 200iso....because it is so bright out here.

 

[sneeks]

Loving the Apache. Great photos.

 

[m4rkie23]

wow. some awesome pics there mate! stay safe (we want more )

 

[DrR]

Epic some cracking pics, i'm currently joing the RAF so guessing i'll be going out there in a year or so, can anyone take pics out there?

 

[Spiezels]

ACE pics mate. Keep them coming.

And as said stay safe.

 

[5parky]

Would love to see more, sounds like my dream job being able to take pictures of the forces in action.

 

[planetx]

last 2 of the day.....not the best but hey I am knackered now!!!

 

[Greeny.]

You have skill!

 

[Spiezels]

Sweet. Those chinhooks are MINT.

 

[Reyes]

Nice shots! I can't wait for Afghanistan. 2011 though :/

 

[Justin]

Awesome mate! Can't even imagine what it must be like over there!

 

[Nick_P]

Great shots,

More more more more

 

[Ian]

Really good shots, makes my shots from Fairford look like a play in the park in comparison! Damn hard shooting the Chinook helicopters; I just about managed to get some keepers at 1/125th and 1/200th, but even then they hardly look like they're moving!

Hope these are the first of many.

 

[Spiezels]

Nice shots! I can't wait for Afghanistan. 2011 though :/

Keh?

 

[Gaz.]

Quality shots. Stay safe fella.

 

[NOT! gary l]

Got any of a Camel Spider?

 

[Cookie]

Awesome shots

 

[dk]

what an awesome canvas to play with, jealous!

 

[BIFCAIDS]

my mums gonna love these when i show her them, amazing shots buddy

 

[Pete.]

Awesome pics ther fella. My nephew is out there on his second tour already.