Since I normally post with about a 1 1/2 – 2 week lag so as to avoid waking the OPSEC monsters, I haven’t technically been back here long enough to post today. However, in order to get back in the swing of things, I’m dropping in a photo or two from an operation that happened while I was out tear-assing around on my bike. The other guys were kind enough to supply me with a set of pics from their days without me, and though most of them can’t be used, a couple are interesting.
Take this shot for example:
Classic case of IED materials and their usual storage state: bad. I feel twitchy looking at stuff like this, knowing chemical compounds that are known to be explosive are also generally not known to be especially stable (at least for the amateur versions). Yet some of our IA counterparts sling this stuff around like it’s a sack of potatoes. Zoinks!
This next shot leads me to talk about a tactic I’ve been forced to adopt since I’ve gotten here: ‘drive-by’ photography.
Note the jundi in the far background. Even he is looking straight at the photographer. Once the Canon comes out, everyone stops what they’re doing and starts mugging for the camera. I’ve found that I either have to be a good ways off and shooting through some kind of optics, or have to walk up nonchalantly and rip off a couple of good shots before anyone notices I’ve got the damn camera out. Iraqis love to have their picture taken. Usually, the cameraman is assaulted with a string of “Mistah! Mistah! Pictcha!”, implying they want you to print them a copy. I can get about 2-3 good shots before all work has stopped and everyone is looking dead at the camera. If I had my wife’s Canon Rebel XT, I’d shoot a continuous sequence to illustrate how exactly it works. Kinda comical.
If you haven’t read the article linked in the last post, do so now. Declaration Diatribe still forthcoming.
Leave a Reply