Kosovo

Browsing through an old archive of mine recently I came across some photographs I had taken in Kosovo in 1999. I had shot them on film, I don't remember what type, and subsequently scanned the images onto my computer at a later stage....

In the Spring of 1999 NATO resorted to military action to force the Serbs, under the leadership of Slobodan Milosevic, to withdraw from Kosovo and stop the violence against the Kosovar Albanians. An air campaign began in March 1999 and lasted for 74 days followed quickly by ground troops entering across the border with Macedonia to ensure the withdrawal of Serbian forces following their signing of the UN-approved peace agreement on June 9.

A Serb T-55 tank in a village in Kosovo

A shallow grave in a garden of a house in a small village in Kosovo contains the body of a man, his wife and his sister

KFOR troops prepare vehicles and equipment in Macedonia

British tanks and armoured vehicles mass on the border with Kosovo and Macedonia

Armoured vehicles and a Chinook helicopter move through a steep sided valley as they enter Kosovo. A vehicle with a TV crew joins the convoy.

Kosovar Albanian refugees sit outside a tent erected in a refugee camp on the border. They were among many thousands forced to flee from the fighting and from persecution by the Serb forces during the conflict

Waiting for food and water at the refugee camp

A Serb T-55 tank drives down a road as it makes it's way back to the border following the peace agreement.

A cheeky grin on the face of a young Kosovar

A group of smiling and cheering Kosovar children react to the camera during a stop in a small village in Kosovo.

Thistle-Doo Nicely

The North Yorkshire fishing village of Staithes offers many opportunities for the photographer - whatever the weather or time of year.

Any visitor to the town will be astounded by how much history such a small place can have.

Staithes is famous for its past fishing industry and hundreds of years of mineral production, an industry that continues to the present day with the Boulby Potash mine being one of the deepest in the United Kingdom.

Staithes was also home to many hero's. From Captain James Cook, to those with their names recorded in stone on the War Memorial and those who today at the sound of the maroon take the Staithes Lifeboat to sea as their ancestors have done for the last 100 years.

Staithes was once one of the largest fishing ports on the north east coast of England. In its heyday there were just under 300 men engaged in fishing with three trains a week, from Staithes Station on the Whitby, Redcar and Middlesbrough Union Railway, delivering the catch to the rest of the United Kingdom.

The fishing port of Staithes

Brightly painted doors on one of the houses in the town

A rusty padlock keeps a shed secure

No parking sign

Slipway into the sea in Staithes harbour

View down one of the cobbled streets

Sign on a house wall

Fishing boats moored in Staithes beck

Seagulls perch on the chimneys of the tightly packed rooftops

Corus Steel

Steelmaker Corus has announced today that it will end production at its Teesside Cast Products factory, putting 1,700 people out of work.

It had been announced in May that the 150-year-old Redcar plant was to be mothballed, an announcement that brought about a demonstration through the streets of Redcar to raise awareness and began a fight for the survival of the factory.

The news of this closure today will devastate many families from the region who have employment with the factory.

Below is my multimedia slideshow I produced during the demonstration march in Redcar.

Apache Multimedia

Arizona

The huge expanse of desert in Arizona has to be seen first hand to be appreciated, I only had a limited amount of time to get a few pictures of this environment because of my other photo requirements out here but it would be worth a trip back to explore it further.

Arizona Apaches

Apache Attack Helcopter crews train in the harsh desert conditions in Arizona in preparation for operations in Afghanistan. The desert environment is very similiar to that which they will encounter when in Afghanistan and allows them to train and practice and perfect their drills and procedures.

An Apache Ground Crew take cover from the down draft after re-arming the aircraft.

A Forward Air Controller directs the Apache crew onto a target.

An Apache flies over the vast Arizona desert.

An Apache Attack helicopter fires a missile onto a target.

Apache pilots.

Sit Here and Rest Awhile

Sit Here and Rest Awhile

The remembrance ceremony at Wylye in Wiltshire took place today. Rather than a large event I wanted to cover a smaller village event and show, through Wylye's example, that throughout the towns and villages across the country people are remembering the servicemen and women that have made some sacrifice towards what we call freedom.




See the next entry for a multimedia piece from Wylye.

Busker Jack

Keeping the shoppers in Salisbury entertained and recently back from a performance on the Fourth Plinth in London, 'Busker Jack' does his thing in Salisbury city centre.

Ride to the Wall

Dressed in a tatty, faded denim and leather jacket adorned with patches and Harley Davidson badges, oil stained and worn out jeans, with dark shades masking his eyes and heavy boots crunching on the gravel he walked forward.

Eyes fixed on the wall in front of him.

He stopped, then bent forward and laid a wreath of red poppies on the ground in front of him.
Taking a few steps backwards he bowed his head in a moment of silence - reflection - thought, before turning and walking away.

After him came many more, all bikers, all sharing a passion for motorcycles, coming from many parts of the United Kingdom, from towns in Wales and Scotland. Some were ex-servicemen, many had never served in the military, but they had all come together for this gathering.


The event - 'Ride to the Wall' - Close to ten thousand bikers from all over the country descended on Drayton Manor Theme Park in Staffordshire for the start of 'Ride to the Wall 2009'. An event that even though it's only in it's second year is rising in recognition and support all the time.


The event sees the bikers, from many different 'chapters' and clubs, ride the eleven or so miles from the theme park to the National Memorial Arboretum in a long procession of motorbikes.
The National Arboretum is located in the heart of the country within the National Forest near Lichfield.


It is the home of the Armed Forces Memorial, a striking and emotive structure that gives recognition and thanks for those who have died whilst on duty or as a result of terrorist action since the Second World War and acknowledges the enduring sacrifice of those who mourn their loss.


'Ride to the Wall' is the brainchild of Martin Dickinson and aims to remember those that died during these times and remember those that can, "No longer ride beside us."



Exact numbers attending this years event and the amount of funds raised is still being worked out, but if this year was a sign of the increasing popularity of this amazing and moving show of support and recognition, then next years event is something well worth attending - whether you ride a bike or not.

For further information see....

Ride to the Wall - http://www.rttw.org

The National Memorial Arboretum - http://www.thenma.org.uk

Teach a man to fish...

Duncan Weston has been a professional fly fisherman for over fifty years.


Working as a freelance fly fishing instructor for a Hampshire company called 'Fishing Breaks', founded and owned by Simon Cooper, who is also a very experienced fly fisherman, Duncan teaches the art of fly fishing.

I spent Saturday at Fishing Breaks in Hampshire and with Duncan as he met up with four guys who wanted to give it a go...

Click the arrow below for a multimedia piece on Duncan...
'Teach a man to fish'.

For more information visit www.fishingbreaks.co.uk