On 25/5/04, TROOPER WATERSON, discombobulated, offered: >In my absence I have also been 'touring' with the Australian >Army and decided to give the *istD a holiday with me. The >sleeping accommodation was a sleeping bag, and the stars, >no tents or the like, ><python>ooh, we used to dream of sleeping in a tent...</python> > >The below images have been declassified. >When using the istD and carting it about I found it great >for its lightweight, I wish I could get some light weight >lenses for it, here I used a Sigma 28-300 lense at 300mm >as some guys dropped in us. >http://www.wildcherry.com.au/tour/dropzone.jpg > >As time wore on, so did the istD, I was able to recharge >my batteries for a few hours at night when the generator >was active, I also took this time to plug in my iBook and >burn the days images to CD. During one of these days as we >wait in readiness >http://www.wildcherry.com.au/tour/gun.jpg >a strike was ordered on a target and with the usual >Australian attitude of 'If you can't drink it, blow it up', >the target was prompty aquired and dealt with. >http://www.wildcherry.com.au/tour/mortar2.jpg > >Here you can see me along side a mortar with the trusty 6x7 >to record it all, note the smoking target in the distance. >http://www.wildcherry.com.au/tour/kev.jpg > >The temperature at night drops below freezing. Major decisions >need to be made at this time. At 3.00am, with ice covering the sleeping bag >you must decide wether you _really_ need to go the toilet or can >wait till sunrise. At 4.00am you decide you cannot wait and brave >the elements and then just as you think you can get back to sleep, >there is shouting in all directions and people scrambling >everywhere as an enemy target is transmitted to our position. >Any thought of trying to sleep through this quickly disappears as >BOOOM, a barrage of mortar fire begins >http://www.wildcherry.com.au/tour/mortar.jpg >(note the shell emerging from the mortar tube). > >Eventually the sun rises and an uneventful day passes with the >troops cleaning thier guns and me cleaning lenses, the dust is >a killer with the *istD as the CCD needs cleaning almost 4 times >a day. At the end of the day the sun sets but a vigilant watch >is kept for the enemy. >http://www.wildcherry.com.au/tour/sunset.jpg > >Later as more of the pics are declassified I will bring them >to you. some will be used in recruiting brochures, (those taken >with the 6x7) and some will be shown in a gallery on Australian >Reserve Forces Day on July 4.
Some really nice pics there Kevin. You're a hardy soul - well done! Cheers, Cotty ___/\__ || (O) | People, Places, Pastiche ||=====| www.macads.co.uk/snaps _____________________________
