Andrew Chittock Photographer

Monday up in the hills

2012-01-27T11:34:00.000-08:00

Well I had to go ,the wealth was half descent and I had a free day so up I went to the Mach loop to do some low lever photography, . It all started off badly as I was making my way up the hill two jest few over my head ,also as this is the first time for about 12 months I was huffing and puffing , thinking that the hill has grown, but when I was in postction the rain came but that cleared and the one plain I wanted came around the comer the A Jet. So all wells that ends well.

Officers Mess play the Sgt's Mess

2011-12-23T14:41:00.000-08:00

.I spent a day with my old Battalion the Welsh guards up in London, and this is the start of a long project over 24 months covering them as the deploy to Afghanistan and come back and will be trooping there colors on horse guards in June 2014. And all bean well there might be a book coming from it.

This was there last day before they go on leave and the Guardsmen were having there Christmases dinner and all the officers serve up the dinners and then it was off to the rugby pitch , were the officers Mess play the sgt's mess.

Wet and windy on castle martin firing Ranges.

2011-11-30T08:50:00.000-08:00

Well I joined my old Bn the Welsh guards, down in Castlemartin firing ranges and is was nice and wet, good training conduction's,where you think they will be in Afghanistan during the summer with temperatures well into the 50's.

project Welsh Guardsman

2011-11-24T07:43:00.000-08:00

Well it all starts on Monday I am off to castle martin as sp coy and No. 2 coy are there for a week,on the rangers AS PART OF THERE PRE DEPLOYMENT TRAINING. AND Matt the mortar platoon commander has asked me to come along and do some photography. The last time I was there was to photograph the Germans and there MK II leopard tanks,a long time ago.

This is the start of a long term project to make a photographic book of the Welsh Guards in Afghanistan.

HFM London

2011-11-22T11:30:00.000-08:00

Went up to London to day for a meeting with Dan Jude the Deputy Editor of HFM had a good chat and might get him to come out with me to Afghanistan in March when the Welsh Guards deploy, Also he is interested in the Cambrian Patrol photos to do a peas, Glad to be back in Wales London is too much hassle.

Sinpers Course

2011-11-10T00:35:00.000-08:00

Well winter is here and I have started my next project to keep me out of trouble and that is photographing the snipers instructors course which is running over November.

Trip to Afghanistan.

2011-11-02T14:52:00.000-07:00

Well I have time on my hands and looking at going out to Afghanistan and if anyone reading this is looking for a photographer to cover there tour of duty there or just to come out and do some photography just let me know. Thanks.

Cambrian Patrol 2011

2011-10-30T14:14:00.000-07:00

Well I spent this week going up and down to Brecon photographing this years Cambrian Patrol. I was hopping to spend all of the week there but had to cut things short due to work and I need the cash. But still was Abel to get some good photos. And they were all happy to see me.

Night out on Sennybridge training area.

2011-10-20T09:35:00.000-07:00

Spent a could but dry night up in sennybridge last night with 4th regiment Royal Artillery. with there L 118 light guns 105 mm also thy had some mortars with them. As they are only firing on charge 1 there was not much of a flash but the mortars made up for it in the end.

Liyba Inside the regime's brutal prison system

2011-08-28T09:57:00.000-07:00

This prison was built inside a ammunition compound just outside the town of Ajdbiya, 5 km into the desert. A prison inside a prison. The cells had one small bared window with no bed or toilet and the size was only 1.5m by 2m. Not even enough space to lye down in. The walls had graffiti from the prisoners telling there story.

FHM

2011-07-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

Well I am in FHM and I which thy would let me photograph some of the ladies.

Back from Lidya

2011-07-20T14:34:00.001-07:00

Got home on Saturday after spending 10 days in sunny Libya. Not verey happy with the photos as they would not let the press to the front line . I tried and got arrested and tried again on my last day and got about 10 Ks from the front. But never mid they will al be used for stock. One thing I have lured is to get in fast when something like this happened's before they all get organized ..

Trip to Libya.

2011-06-20T15:09:00.000-07:00

Well it has bean going on log anuff and I think it is time for me to get out there and take some photos. Plans going well and will be working with Annibale Greco a Italy editorial photographer and hopefully one other.

Time to catch up.

2011-06-20T14:50:00.000-07:00

Well I must admit that I have bean quite lazy with my blog and it is well time I caught up. From my last blog I have spent the start of new year up in Brecon photographing the Platoon Sgt's course which lasted 8 weeks but go some nice photos and was Abel to restock on my compo.

Sunday Express

2010-11-07T10:07:00.000-08:00

I am starting to sell more work and Terry from the Sunday Express picture desk rings me up on Fridays for the odd photo which is nice ,I just need to let more papers know that I exist and what I can offer them.

Exercise Cambrian Patrol

2010-10-11T12:52:00.000-07:00

I am speneding most of this week up in Brecon photographing the Cambrian Patrol. and so far getting some good photos.

The annual event covers some of the harshest and mountainous terrain on offer in the mid-Wales countryside. Arduous, physically and mentally demanding, it is a highlight in the British Army’s training calendar and regarded internationally as one of the toughest tests facing the modern-day soldier.

This years’ exercise, which runs from Friday, October 8, to Sunday, October 17, has attracted an entry of 94 eight-man/woman teams. Joining the British Regular and Territorial Army soldiers this year are 16 international Army teams from countries such as Pakistan, India, Australia, Canada, United States and France.

However, this year’s nine-day event will see 45 Regular teams take part – the highest number ever to have done so in the 51-year history of Cambrian. On average, 35 Regular teams sign up for the demanding 48-hour challenge.

Soldiers from 1^st Battalion Welsh Guards and 1^st Battalion The Royal Welsh (The Royal Welch Fusiliers) – both having served in Afghanistan last year during Operation Panther’s Claw and Operation Moshtarak, respectively – will take on the patrol.

On arrival at a given assembly area in Sennybridge (Grid Reference: 852345; OS Landranger Series, Map Sheet 160), teams will be subjected to a thorough check to ensure that they are in possession of the correct kit, equipment and clothing required for the exercise. Team patrol commanders will then be given a set of orders, for onward briefing to members of their patrol. Patrols are then taken to a number of drop-off points in the hills.

Split into seven phases, the teams, some with female soldiers, then have to march a mind-and-muscle sapping 55km carrying full personal kit and equipment, weighing in at some 60lbs, on a two-day patrolling mission.

Navigating both by day and night, the patrols face many testing and specialist challenges, including observation and reconnaissance of enemy forces, cold river crossings in full kit without access to boats, first-aid and defensive shooting under attack. At the completion of their patrol, each team faces a comprehensive debriefing session on their mission.

‘I’m with stupid’

2010-08-29T02:48:00.000-07:00

Got this photo more by luck than skill and when it was cleared by the MOD ,I think they knew that it would be a good advert for them and the feedback is 95% positive.
A RAF Tornado navigator decided to pull a prank on plane photographers when they were flying through Snowdonia, Wales by flashing a card reading ‘I’m with stupid’ with an arrow pointing at the pilot.

Low Flying in the Mach Loop North Wales.

2010-08-28T07:09:00.000-07:00

Coming from Aberaeron on the west coast of Wales we get quite a lot of military jets doing their thing as we have bombing range in the south and west and the mountains all over. And when I see them I thought that the only way to photograph them would be from another plane (air to air), but I was wrong, just by chants I found some outstanding photography. But a group of aviation photographers and there they were doing it just up the road from me well about 1 hours drive and the rest is history.

Wootton Bassett.

2010-08-28T06:16:00.000-07:00

As always I have bean watching the repatriated fallen coming home via Wooton Bassett and like most of use it was becoming routine to see it and was forgetting what it was all about and I just thought that if I don’t do anything now the war in Afghanistan will be over and all of this will be history.
I did four trips down the M4 and I am glad I have done it. Like all of my photography , it is not until you get up and do it and experience what you are photographing that you get the satisfaction of doing something that will be capture for ever.

2009-11-18T13:59:00.000-08:00

I spent some time photographing the Cambrian patrols which I have bean trying to do for years and by Moor luck than judgement was Abel to do it this year and have bean asked to come back for 2010. enjoy

Cpl Dean Elson 24 July 2009.

2009-08-18T14:13:00.000-07:00

To
day I drive south to Brdgend for a sad day but one that must be remebered.

L/Cpl Dean Elson, 22, originally from Zimbabwe but living in Bridgend, South Wales, of the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards, was killed in an explosion.

Repatriation

The leviathan of the sky does land
In England's green and pleasant land.
Its cargo more precious than gold
The body of a hero, bold.

Once the giant's engines stopped
The cargo ramp is gently dropped
Carried by six on shoulders true
The hero is saluted by the crew.

The coffin draped in Union Jack
Is slowly carried out the back.
Out of the dark and into light
Slowly down the ramp and to the right.

The six approach the hearse all black
And place the hero gently in the back.
The six then turn and march away
Their duty has been done this day.

Politicians usually have much to say
No sign of them near here this day.
They hide away and out of danger,
Much easier if the hero is a stranger.

The hearse with its precious load
Moves slowly out onto the road.
The floral tributes line the route
While comrades snap a smart salute.

At the edge of a Wiltshire town
The cortege slows its pace right down.
The streets are packed, many deep,
Some throw flowers, most just weep.

The crowd have come to say farewell,
The church bell rings a low death knell.
Regimental standards are lowered down
As the hero passed through the town.

The cortege stops and silence reigns
The townsfolk feel the family's pain.
The nations' flag lowered to half mast
Our brave hero is home at last.