Ink

During a semester in my Bachelors of Fine Arts – Photography program, I took the opportunity to photograph portraits of people with tattoos.  I placed a sign in the Mitte building (the Art Building) of my university, Texas State, and the people came pouring in.

Tattoos in our society have become so ubiquitous that there are even conventions devoted to the art in every major city.  I find it interesting that tattoos have become so commonplace that they challenge the stereotypical and I like to challenge the stereotypical.

 

Dancing in the Mine Field ... not a good idea

U.S. Military approved Mine Field uniform

Mine fields are a horrible consequence of war.  Thought only to be used by world powers during major wars, the world is now understanding how vast the use of mine fields are within all war mongering countries.  The elimination of mine fields was a small project until the brilliant light shown upon it by Princess Diana of Wales, who took up the cause and not only used the crown of England but all the media resources at her disposable.

I have always understood that Americans see things through what I call the United Stated filter, that is to say, we believe that how the United States does things is how the rest of the world does it.

Working in Ethiopia, 2007, I came across a United Nations (NATO) Mine Field Detection and Disposal team.  When you apply the “United States Filter”, one would think that their people are as safe as our bomb detection personnel.  Our bomb squad personnel wear the Bomb Squad Suit pictured here, Blast deflecting neck shield, poly-Kevlar lining and blast padding.  There is just no way to describe the NATO suit, so here is the picture.

United National Land Mine Sweeping Team

Although working in a mine field could be considered one of the most dangerous jobs in the world, with the intricacies of photographing in one is considered, absolutely insane, even by Combat Camera Standards, and that says a lot. Not he smartest thing I have done.

Combat Camera

Brand new out of the box

Everyone has a family, whether it is by blood or bond, you have a family.   My family is the 4^th Combat Camera Squadron, United States Air Force Reserves.  In 2004, they took me into the fold and thus began my journey as a photojournalist.  I work with some of the most talented, creative and dedicated people on the planet, that coupled with the fact that I travel the world makes for a good day at work.

  

As I stated above, I am a Combat Photojournalist, the emphasis being Combat.  Combat photojournalists are highly trained not only in photography, but also in combat maneuvers and weapons tactics.  Although our area of responsibility is war, not every assignment is dangerous.  There are those, however, that carry and innate danger far above all others. 

One of my friends just returned home from an undisclosed location, prior to his assignment he was issued the brand new, out of the box, Nikon D3 camera, (Nikon’s latest and greatest at that time), so pristine, shinny, so boring.

After six months he returned home, all in one piece thankfully, as did his camera.  Not to sound cliché but if this camera could tell stories, but then again it would have to kill you.  Battle born and battle tested, it is now a thing of beauty.

Me, a self portrait, on the road to self discovery?

I have always carried a camera, though not technically trained, nor did I know what I was doing, but I knew I wanted to do this forever.

Accomplishing a great many thing I have set out to do, when I was Nineteen, I thought it would be cool to be an Emergency Medical Technician, (EMT).  I never knew how hard I would have to work to realized that dream, but then everything good is rarely ever easy, After countless missions, I set my sights on Surgical Technician training, and it 2000 that dream was realized.  I would never miss being a medic until the collapse of the first tower in New York. It wasn’t until several years as an Orthopedic Surgical technician; that I realized the dream called, Combat Camera.

 I have spent my life working with local doctors in the Philippines, Japan and Korea providing minor and major medical procedures to villages, who haven't seen medical professionals in several years

From the surgical suite, no matter where it may be.  This particular surgical area was in the dining facility of the Philippines village school.  It was an area largest to host our equipment and us and still had high enough celling’s so the bats would not be an issue.  That day we performed over 35 circumcisions, most without anesthetic, only a lollypop, which the children held in their mouths and did not break, we should be so tough at 3.  There was one particular case where we were taking a tumor from a gentlemen’s head, I held the skin of the skull opened as the surgeon removed it carefully, as I held the skin of the skull opened with my bare hands, guess it was a time before we considered Hepatitis and HIV/AIDS were a concern from the medical worker.

Spent just as many years working in broadcasting, basically I call it "pimping the message".  This is me back in Korea 20 some years after I left the first time.  On monday, I had a Top 40 show in the  mid to late 80's.  It was exonerating, taking a break from the day to day military operations to spend 2 hours on the air Monday and Thursday nights.   Of course Thursday nights were my passion, Jazz, where I played requests, classics and fusion along with the up and coming - I remember debuting the first vinyl of Dave Kozz.

 Now I leave a dream life, with my bonded family, Combat Camera, The last nearly 10 years of my military career have be exhausting, frustrating, exhilarating, exciting and rewarding.  And no photojournalist’s life would be complete without a picture with Wilmer Valdarama.

Camp LeMonier, Djibouti

Going Native in Ethiopia

Laying in wait undisclosed location

Local Shoot, Henderson, NV

Where oh where is the stained glass??

The art of the stained glass is gradually finding itself absent from the very venue it was created for, churches. I have always enjoyed look at and photographing stained glass. During my recent trip to Augusta Georgia, I made a side trip, as I always do, to the local church hoping to find some old and distinguished glass, low and behold, I find painted glass instead. Although I love stained glass, the intricacies of the painted glass have caught my eye and my lens.

Pararescue

Each branch of the Military has its special brand of bad assess.  The Air Force is no different we have the most elite of elite in combat search and rescue, Pararescue, the pinnacle of Air Force battlefield medicine and personnel recovery Units, whose sole purpose in life is combat search and rescue, and their motto pays true homage to their life and their life choices, and really explains them to the core "These things we do so that other's can live." really explains them to the core.

It is not an easy task to become a rescueman, many have tried, but only the best of the best make it through their qualifying courses, and that is before they get into the medical portion of their school. 

Once fully graduated from the program, they willingly take on the position as battle field doctor, although they do not have a Doctorial in Medicine degree, even the on ground physician yields to their knowledge and instructions.   

When they perform a task, whether it is for personnel recovery, combat rescue of hostage rescue,  rest assured they have practiced it for months before the mission and they are always ready.    To the Men and Women of Luke Air Force Base Pararescue Squadron, I salute you.

This is a simulated patient care exercise, no actual patients were used for this training mission.  The military member playing the part of the patient was not actually injured.