Combat Camera

The history of military imagery in Canada officially dates back to 1916, with the inception of the Canadian War Memorial Fund. This fund enabled artists to create and exhibit specifically Canadian war art. Believe it or not, the great-grandchild of that program is still in existence today, although on a much smaller scale.

That's because photography has taken over from painting and sculpture as the principle visual record of military action. Starting in 1940, uniformed photographic units were formed for the Canadian Army, the RCAF, and the RCN. Needless to say, photographic technology back then wasn't what it is today:

Photographers either swore by or swore at "Old Reliable," the widely used Speed Graphic 4 x 5 press camera. It was at its best when shooting relatively static subjects under stable conditions. Consequently, photographers like Ken Bell, Alex Stirton and Gerry Moses preferred the 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 Rolleiflex camera in combat situations, as it was smaller, easier to handle, and could be protected inside one's tunic. The most important accessory that the photographers lacked was the telephoto lens; without it, for example, Gerry Moses, shooting from HMCS Uganda, was unable to zoom in on a distant Japanese kamikaze attack on the British Pacific Fleet, which would have produced striking photographs.

In WWII, two military photographers were killed: "Terry Rowe at Anzio early in 1944, and Jack Mahoney in the sinking of HMCS Athabaskan, also in 1944." Fellows Alex Stirton and Don Grant were actually decorated for their work documenting the Italian and Normandy campaigns, respectively.

Today, the pointiest end of that proud tradition is carried on by CF Combat Camera. Although there are over two hundred photographers in the Canadian Forces, less than twenty of them make up this cutting-edge unit whose photos and videos have brought us images of Canadian Forces members doing the work we ask of them from around the world.

Make no mistake, this is a tough job. I spoke with a photographer in the unit who reminded me that on patrol with the Battle Group in Kandahar, he has his arcs of fire and soldierly responsibilities just like any other uniformed personnel outside the wire. Sgt Frank Hudec knows all about that too:

[Photos] also can’t show how much body armour, webbing full of ammunition, two litres of water, a helmet and a rifle all weigh during the 40 C temperatures of a midday patrol in Kabul.

“And with us, plus our camera gear,” said Hudec. “You’ve got to be very physically fit to handle all that, and at the end of it, you’ve got to try and take these cool pictures.”

(That gear is getting lighter, more compact, and hardier, but as Sgt Hudec mentions in the article referenced above, work-arounds like plastic wrap over a laptop keyboard are still needed on a regular basis. In fact, the satellite transmitter used to get these greetings from the KPRT at Christmas up on the web is about the size of a small bookstand like you'd use for recipes in the kitchen.)

I recently had the opportunity to ask a few questions of the section head of Combat Camera, LCdr Kent Penney:

Babbling Brooks (BB): The CF has obviously had photographers in uniform for many years now, but how and when did the idea for Combat Camera specifically come about?

LCdr Kent Penney (KP): Combat Camera does not have a written history, however, it is my understanding that the unit was created in the early 1990’s in order to improve public visibility of CF operations. After the Cold War the CF started a transition in its operations and found itself with a deployment tempo that was unprecedented since the Korean War. Despite the importance of these missions there was not enough media coverage of CF operations to properly inform the public. At the time it was determined that part of the reason the Canadian media was not covering CF operations extensively was because of the cost of visiting some of these ops and the risk involved in covering some operations. The CF public affairs decided that in order to close this gap the CF would have to develop their own Electronic News Gathering (E.N.G.) capability and so CF Combat Camera was created. Initially Combat Camera was one Public Affairs Officer and a small team of Imagery Technicians. The team’s original mandate was to capture and distribute photographs and video B-roll of CF operations to the Canadian media. Over the years the team gained credibility with the media by providing timely and high quality imagery of operations in such places as Kuwait, the Persian Gulf, the Balkans, Somalia, Haiti and Rwanda.

BB: What's the unit's mandate? How has that evolved since its inception?

KP: The unit’s mandate is to provide still imagery and broadcast quality video of deployed CF members on domestic and international operations on behalf of the CF.

Combat Camera has constantly evolved since its inception. In order to meet the demands of the media industry and the needs of the CF public affairs community the team has expanded its size, increased the services it offers, and continuously invested in the latest media technologies. Today Combat Camera continues to maintain its original mandate but the team also provides technical support for media interviews (telephone, live, double-ender) with CF members, produces video messages from deployed CF members for major events (NHL, CFL, Canada Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas, etc.), produces short video stories about CF operations that the team visits, and delivers its photos and video content via the internet so that the public can download all of Combat Camera’s imagery without relying on the media. Recently Combat Camera has added www.YouTube.com and www.iTunes.com to its Internet distribution methods.

BB: Give me a sense of the range of operations the unit undertakes.

KP: Combat Camera is an extremely busy unit. With a staff of only 14 military personnel (Image Techs and Public Affairs Officers) Combat Camera conducts an average of 16 missions a year using teams of three. In addition to our missions personnel are regularly sent on training courses (military/civilian), conferences, conducts guest lectures for other organizations and supports other public affairs events such public affairs training courses and special events. Combat Camera missions are normally conducted by a team of three (Public Affairs Officer, photographer, videographer), and for a period of between 2-8 weeks each.

With approximately 90,000 personnel there are too many operations to cover them all. Combat Camera tries to cover a cross-section of CF operations in order to expose the public to the wide variety of activities conducted by the military every year. This year for example the team covered operations in Afghanistan with three missions, the Canadian Navy’s participation in NATO’s SNMG-1 fleet with three missions, peace support operations in the Sinai and Golan Heights (the Middle East), Navy operations in the Arabian Gulf, Canada’s experimental amphibious exercise in South Carolina, a Canadian Special Operations Regiment’s exercise, Canadian Air Force long-range aerial surveillance patrols, Canada’s annual international fighter exercise Maple Flag, and an international Search and Rescue exercise. In order to successfully conduct these missions a lot of preparation must be done, including specialized operational training.

BB: Last time I checked, "Photographer" wasn't an MOC. How do you recruit photographers to the unit - military and civilian?

KP: The photographers in Combat Camera are CF Imagery Technicians, MOC 541. These are the photographers of the CF. The trade is not trained to media standards so new members of Combat Camera must undergo additional training. Imagery Technicians posted to Combat Camera are selected from volunteers within the trade and are chosen by the senior technicians of the trade based on their skills and experience.

[Ed: OK, so as it turns out, "last time I checked" really meant "I haven't checked." With free content, you get what you pay for sometimes, I'm afraid.]

BB: Some of the stills and videos on the website show that the photographers are right in the thick of some pretty fierce action in Afghanistan. How many photographers do you have deployed with pointy-end troops at any one time, and how long do they stay with their "embed" units?

KP: Each Combat Camera mission is unique. The unit trains and prepares its self as best as possible so that it can “embed” with any CF unit during operations but the decision always rests with the military commander on the ground, in charge of the operation we are covering. Most units give us unrestricted access during operations while some occasionally limit our imagery collection activities and access due to operational safety and security. Throughout Combat Camera’s short history the team’s Imagery Technicians have captured truly amazing and historic images of Canada’s military in action. Unit members have time and again exposed themselves to great risk in their effort to give the Canadian public the best visibility possible of CF operations.

As mentioned before, the duration of our missions are between 2-8 weeks and we normally deploy as a team of three. How long team members stay out with their units depends on the operation. In Afghanistan, for example, there are many different units doing different activities as part of the Task Force, therefore, Combat Camera’s teams must travel around the theatre of operations visiting several different units for short periods of time during the 8 weeks the team is on the ground.

With respect to how many teams are deployed at one time, that also depends on many factors. The type of event or operation and the activities of the Canadian Forces at large all have an impact on Combat Camera mission planning. For example we only send three personnel for operations in Afghanistan due to the risk and limitations of transport in theatre, however, for domestic training exercises such as a Search and Rescue exercise the team might deploy 4-6 personnel and also work with Image Technicians from other CF units. During some periods of the year (Remembrance Day) up to 12 out of 16 members of the entire team can be deployed at one time on different missions in order to support several CF operations at the same time.

BB: How do you choose what to cover and what to publish?

KP: Combat Camera identifies unique and strategically important CF operations throughout the year to cover. The unit also receives direction from the CF’s senior leadership and receives requests from the various commands. With respect to publishing or distributing the imagery Combat Camera collects the unit must respect issues of privacy and security. Combat Camera also manages the CF Imagery Gallery on behalf of all Imagery Technicians in the CF. Imagery posted in the CF Image Gallery must meet media standards (IPTC) for format and quality in order to be posted on the site.

BB: Given their proximity to the fighting, I'm sure your photographers have been in some tight places. What's the hairiest situation one of your photographers has been in?

KP: Whether it is combat operations in Afghanistan or Naval boarding operations in the Arabian Gulf Combat Camera personnel accept the same risk as the CF members they are embedded with during these operations. Combat Camera does its best to get all the training necessary in order to ensure that we are not a burden or a liability to the operational units we work with. Unlike the media who embed with military units Combat Camera personnel are CF members so we are expected to be able to take care of themselves and assist other CF members in the event of an emergency or attack. This added requirement that Combat Camera has does give the team an advantage. Because team members are military Combat Camera can often capture imagery the media cannot due to security and safety concerns or regulations.

BB: Knowing soldiers, I'm equally sure your photographers have witnessed some pretty funny hijinx, and maybe even caught some on camera - even if it wasn't published. What's the nuttiest situation your photographers have been witness to - or party to for that matter?

KP: I am sure that my team could answer this question better than I can but the fact is we provide a pretty candid window for the public and we have been able to share the humorous side of life in the CF along with the serious side. We have shared imagery of CF members joking with celebrity visitors such as Rick Mercer and Guy Lafleur. We have even put the humour of CF members to work by producing some very funny greeting skits from deployed personnel for events such as: the Grey Cup weekend, Stanely Cup playoffs, Vanier Cup, Coach’s Corner, tracking Santa, and some charities.

BB: If you had to pick the best three shots your unit has taken in the past six months, which would those be, and why?

KP: I really don’t think I can answer this question. [Ed: Penney, you wimp. And I mean that in the nicest possible sense, since I know your weapons training is right up to date now.] As the person in charge of Combat Camera my biggest enjoyment with this job is seeing the steady flow of creative and impressive imagery captured by the Imagery Technicians on the team. Over the last six months my team members have delivered historic images of Canadian troops in intense combat against enemy forces, images the like of which have not been seen since the Korean War. Equally as important, Combat Camera has captured imagery of the Canadian Navy’s participation in NATO’s Naval Reaction Force and coalition maritime operations in the Arabian Gulf. Without Combat Camera the public would not be able to see the important work that is being done for Canadian security on both of these maritime missions because they have largely been ignored by the media. The team also added to our impressive collection of imagery of the heroic work the military’s SAR Techs perform everyday during a SAR exercise last fall. This was the same year that the SAR community lost three of its members to an aircraft accident during training. As an amateur photographer it always amazes how my Combat Camera Imagery Technicians parachute into the complex and stressful environment of an operational CF unit and consistently bring back photos and video that stop you dead in your tracks because they have captured so much of what the CF is really all about in one image. Their skill is very impressive.

BB: Mainstream media is currently adjusting to the realities of "citizen journalism" - like your friendly, neighbourhood blogger. How does Combat Camera view the proliferation of digital cameras with the troops? Is there any plan to manage that latent resource?

KP: As more and more means of communications are introduced into society it becomes more and more challenging for organizations such as the CF to reach their audience by means of a single media. For example 25 years ago you could reach the majority of Canadians by having a story on the nightly news but in today’s world there are more networks and new forms of communications via the Internet. Therefore, in order to reach as many Canadians as possible Combat Camera’s philosophy is to distribute our imagery as widely as possible. We still provide as much imagery as possible to the TV and print media but we also do the following:

1. Post all photos in the CF Image Gallery for anyone to download and use;


2. Post video B-roll on an FTP site for all media to access (old method required mailing tapes and normally only to the national news bureaus);


3. Supplies B-roll to the Army’s internal information program Army News;


4. Supplies video to documentary/specialty cable programs;


5. Combat Camera now produces short videos about the missions covered and post them in the CF Image Gallery;


6. The best Combat Camera videos of the year are compiled on a “CF Year in Review” DVD each year and distributed to every high school, university, and public library in Canada; and,


7. All Combat Camera videos are posted on www.YouTube.com and www.iTunes.com.

All that being said, the proliferation of digital cameras has resulted in imagery of the CF showing up in the public that has been captured by CF members on operations. This new source of imagery is a situation that was recently addressed by the Chief of Defence Staff [Ed: see here]. As I said before, Combat Camera’s philosophy is the more the better, however, only within strict guidelines. Combat Camera imagery must be approved by the chain of command before it is released publicly and it must meet quality and format standards. Imagery from Imagery Technicians from across the CF is posted alongside Combat Camera imagery in the CF Image Gallery, which proves we do believe in “the more the merrier”. The problem experienced with CF personnel distributing imagery of CF operations to the public via the Internet is that many of them are not following the regulations described above and, furthermore, there is a safety concern about CF members taking photos when they are engaged in operations and suppose to be concentrating on their primary duties.

[Ed: It seems to me there's a simple way of tapping into the trend without running into OPSEC issues: put out an open call for CF members to send in their own photos, and then put the best vetted ones up on the 'net. The safety concerns are a discipline issue best dealt with at the lowest level: if you see a sailor with his hands on a camera instead of a line, chew him out. But if he's out of the way observing with a digital camera, then why not use his shots? I find the 'professional grade' standards and bureaucratic roadblocks frustrating on this count. Let Canadians see what our soldiers, sailors, and airmen do every day, and they're more likely to support them. Combat Camera is one of the most 'net-saavy units in the CF - it's time to take the next step and remove the barriers in order to get the best pictures out there, no matter where in the CF they come from.]

BB: Your photographers in Afghanistan are serving witness to history being made, but not all of it can possibly reach the Canadian public. If there is one thing you've seen in Afghanistan that Joe and Jane Canuck should know about that the mainstream press isn't covering well enough, what would it be?

KP: The challenge for us has been that there are so many stories to cover in Afghanistan and the CF Combat Camera team is not big enough to cover them all. There are lots of people in Canada talking about Afghanistan but the question is do they have enough information to make an accurate assessment of the situation in that country. Here at Combat Camera we will continue our effort to collect as much imagery as possible of all the many components that make up the Canadian Government’s effort to assist the people of Afghanistan.

Thanks to LCdr Penney and his team at Combat Camera for sharing their time with me.