A Road Less Traveled - iPhone Blog

Breakfast at Klongtoey

2011-11-22T11:38:00.001+07:00

I love having a meal and walking through the market.

- Posted using my iPhone - Lee

2011-11-21T19:17:00.001+07:00

This will be my first post from my iPhone. A test to see of this will work. A shot of Gammy Recharging her batteries.

- Posted using my iPhone - Lee

Those Who Serve - Are Now Citizens

2010-07-05T13:59:00.006+07:00

It was the summer of 1969. I was on a bus headed to Denver. The guy in front of me was downing a pint of whiskey. He hoped being too drunk would save him from the draft. The rest of the guys were quiet like myself. A few had questions. “Hey man I smoked a doobie a few days ago will it show up on the urine test, will I go to jail?” I looked out the window. I didn’t expect to be coming back to Colorado Springs any time soon. My number was 11, I was going to Viet Nam. Or so I thought. We took the I. Q. test, and proceeded to medical. A burley 1st Sergeant noticed my limp, so they held me over for x-rays. The Dr. looked at the x-ray and asked me questions. Yeah 3 times this year I had broken my ankle, football wrestling and soccer. The breaks had kept me out of some games, but I bounced back. I could play with heavy tape, and I loved sports so I did play. The Dr’s a year before had wanted to fuse my ankle bone, and the result would be a permanent limp. I refused. Now the Dr. looked at me. “You don’t really want to go to Viet Nam do you?” I didn’t know how to answer. I didn’t have to. He asked me to wait in the hall. The same burley 1st Sergeant (God he looked tough) came up and placed his hand on my shoulder. There was sadness in his eyes. “ I’m sorry son” he said “You can’t be in the Army”. I tried to look somber, but I was elated. Yeah it was 1969 and I wanted to party. This Viet Nam stuff was going to get in the way. It wasn't until years later I began to regret never serving my country. Decades later I finally got the chance. The voice on the phone said “wow your photos look like National Geographic stuff” ... “Can you go to Iraq?”
I have shot 3 naturalization ceremony's in Iraq. It never ceases to amaze me how badly these soldiers want to become citizens of the U.S. Badly enough to fight in a war, with a chance of dying before their dream comes true. I do value my blue passport with the seal of the United States of America, I am forever grateful for the opportunities that the United States has given me, but I think like most Americans, I will never value my citizenship as much as the soldiers I photographed today.

Lee Craker

Al Faw Palace Virtual Reality

2010-06-30T23:14:00.006+07:00

The Al Faw Palace (also known as the Water Palace) is located in Baghdad approximately 5 kilometers from the Baghdad International Airport, Iraq. Saddam Hussein commissioned its construction to commemorate the Iraqi forces' re-taking of the Al-Faw Peninsula during the Iran-Iraq conflict. For the last 2 years I have walked to Al Faw to work for various units of the U.S. Army. Today I spent a few extra moments on my walk and made some images which I turned into a Virtual Reality Movie. Click on the image below to view the movie.

Virtual Reality Tour

Woman in the Central Market in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

2010-05-15T19:27:00.005+07:00

The market in Ubud, Bali is one of my favorite places. The people show a myriad of human experience and emotion. I came upon this woman selling fruit in the late afternoon. Bored and tired, she exemplified the struggle a Balinese seller goes through to carve out an existence in a world where poverty abounds.
Lee Craker

A Gift of Stars and Bars

2010-05-13T22:17:00.003+07:00

A popular item for soldiers to ship home as gifts here on Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq is the American flag flown over Al Faw Palace. Often I am asked, and it is my pleasure, to photograph the event so the soldier can send home a photo to accompany the flag.

Here MAJ Latondra M. Kinley raises the flag for a loved one back home.
Lee Craker

T-Wall Art

2010-05-13T16:04:00.002+07:00

They are called T-walls, named after their unique, upside-down “T” shape. All over Iraq, wherever you see coalition forces bases, you see T-walls. T-walls are designed to protect against bomb and sniper attacks.

One soldier said "They stand everywhere the eye can see -- brave warriors, tall and proud. Never flinching, never surrendering, these protectors never take time off – the thought never even crosses their minds." They are also a medium for paintings and drawings, I'll show you some here on the blog as time goes on.

Lee Craker

C-RAM PAC Night Fire

2010-05-11T11:18:00.005+07:00

I was Invited by the C-RAM guys last night to photograph a test fire of the system.
The Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (C-RAM) is a system used to destroy incoming artillery, rockets and mortar rounds in the air before they hit their ground targets.
C-RAM is an initiative taken in response to an operational needs statement made by the Multinational Force Iraq (MNF-I). The directive arose in response to the increasing number of casualties caused by attacks using rockets, artillery, and mortars in Iraq. The land-based Phalanx B was subsequently deployed in Iraq in the summer of 2005. It protects the Green Zone and Camp Victory in Baghdad, Logistics Support Area Anacondain Balad, Iraq.
Lee Craker

Photographing President Obama in Iraq

2010-05-09T11:41:00.011+07:00

Notice how I avoided the word “shooting” in the title? That is the first and only tip of the day … (laugh).

This story is not late breaking news, it happened just a little over a year ago, but a lot of people have asked questions about that evening so I thought I’d tell the inside story from my perspective. Although I have shot a lot of big events and several high profile personalities in my career April 7^th 2009 was my first time to be the official Public Affairs Office photographer for the President of the United States. It was not the first time I was assigned to do that job, but it was the first time it came to pass. I was assigned by the Multi-National Corps Iraq Public Affairs Office to be the official photographer for the visit a few months earlier by President Bush. However two hours before he arrived President Bush made the decision that no civilians were to be allowed anywhere in the vicinity of the President. And that meant photographers and news people as well. This was to be a visit for only soldiers and no civilians were to be anywhere they might be caught on film. I was disappointed of course, but life goes on. Probably because of the prior disappointment and because I was a Presidential photog rookie, this event is one of the most memorable shoots I have ever done.

April 4^th before our usual Saturday morning PAO huddle I was called aside and told we had a special VIP coming to visit. Sensing the importance I asked “how high up?” “The top” said the SGM. “POTUS?” I asked?” “Yes” was the reply. POTUS is a military acronym for President Of The United States. “Cool” I replied. There was no question in anyone’s mind why I was told. I was going to be our official Photog. Over the next 3 days we refined the game plan. Other photogs were assigned to cover the arrival, if he came in daylight, I was to stay in Al Faw Palace and get the shots we were going to use in the press release.

So, how did I feel? I mean I was going to be a few feet away from the most important person in the free world with a camera in my hand. The visit was a historic first. My team was expecting me to deliver. So OK no pressure right? Nerves of steel right? Well, in all honesty, I never had any doubts that I would get shots, years of experience made me know that I would deliver. My concern was how good would the shots be? As far as pressure I’m one of those people that go into a zone when I shoot. Nothing exists for me except my camera, my subject and how to position myself to get what I need to. I actually have difficulty writing cut lines for photos because I never hear a word the person I’m shooting said. Like I said I’m in a zone, you could say hi to me and I would not know you exist. I would feel bad that I ignored you, but I’m in the zone, shooting! My only concern as I said above was how good? I put incredible pressure on myself; I expect things of me that no one else would dare suggest. So with that as a goal, yeah I felt the pressure, for sure. A lot of pressure. But I’m also one of those guys who love pressure, so it was a totally cool feeling.

The Afternoon of April 7^th was final prep. The secret service team was here. The palace was under lock down, no one in without a special clearance, no one in or out after 4PM. I had prepped my cameras, had extra batteries and cards and had made final decisions on the settings. My two cameras were a Nikon D3 and a Nikon D700. On the D3 I put a 70-200mm zoom 2.8 and set the ISO locked in at 1200. I was going to shoot at shutter speed priority at 1/160^th to avoid camera shake and will switch to manual in certain situations. I also put on the D3 a SB900 flash. I don’t like flash. I don’t like shooting the D3 above 800 ISO either because of noise, but I know in the bad light of the palace I have not got a lot of choice there. I won’t turn on the flash unless necessary. My decision is based on a simple factor. No matter what, I will get the shot. On the second camera, my D700, I put a 24-70mm 2.8 and this time I set the ISO to Auto with a limit of 1200 and a minimum of 640. This camera I set to aperture priority at 5.6. On this camera I loaded an SB800 flash. It might seem strange to have two different settings on the cameras, but my thought process for doing so was this: I would shoot the D3 as my primary; it would be near wide open at 3.5. The D700 is a backup and for wide crowd shots, the flash on the D700 would be turned on, and I would use a function button to turn it off, and that way I can double shoot one flash one without. If the D3 went down in a critical situation the D700 had good depth of field and the flash would insure I would get the shot.
As a note: If I shot this today it would be with the D3s and I would choose different settings entirely and shoot on manual without a flash on the camera. This however was a year ago, ancient history in the digital world.

As the afternoon wore on we were advised of the location of POTUS, and what the schedule would be. We were informed the visit would be a couple of hours late. About an hour before the official party would arrive we went down from my office on the second floor to the rotunda. A Lieutenant Colonel had volunteered to be my official escort. Actually she was to be my blocker. We were well aware that as a civilian I did not carry the weight of an officer and just having her with me insured a quick resolution to any problems, if any arose, with the White House Staff. I love working around soldiers. Having to work in a crowd is actually pleasant if the crowd is a mass of green uniforms. A simple “make way please” is like parting the Red Sea as an isle opens up for me to walk through. At one point I needed up on a riser I could not make it with two cameras, so I turned to the crowd and said “I need up there” pointing to the platform. Without question 20 arms and hands grabbed me and hoisted me into place.

The spot I had chosen to start photographing was going to be to the Presidents right in an area cordoned off for the band. I purposely chose not to be in the pit. I was as close as the guys in the pit, about 20 feet from the President, but I had the option of moving. As I met the Secret Service guys who were the advance party for the evening visit I explained my plan to move from my present location to the rear and shoot some shots with the crowd in the foreground, then make my way full circle to the left of POTUS for the end of the speech and him leaving. The Secret Service guys totally won my admiration. They are simply the best. Upon explaining my plan to the lead agent he asked me to step beside him and got on his radio. He pointed at me and told the others what I would be doing and told them I was cleared to go anywhere I wanted. I could see the others holding their earpieces looking at me and nodding. Talk about a rush. Wow that gave me a feeling like none other. I shook his hand and thanked him. Then something happened I’ll never forget. As I said “thank you sir” he said “no, thank you, thank you for all you do we really appreciate you being here” As I looked in his eyes I could tell he meant it, and that almost brought a tear to my eye. Here was a guy whose job it is to protect the President of the United States, probably one of the most important jobs in America, thanking me for coming to Baghdad to work. I just don’t have the words to tell you how I felt at that moment.

Five minutes later the president arrived. The next 45 minutes are a blur in my memory. I was totally in the zone. I shot like my life depended on it. My brain working at light speed. Different angles, different locations, using the advice I give my students, “just keep shooting”. I can only remember one point I acted like a POTUS rookie. As the president left the stage I did not know how close I could get, I needed to get closer but hesitated. A White house Staff Lady looked at me and said “get in there” and gave me a push. I did get in there and what happened next were my best shots of the evening. The President was enjoying himself, even stopping to give soldiers a hug and posing for photos. He was dynamic that evening. Everyone there loved him, and he was having a great time.

When he left the rotunda I made my way up and started editing. I ended up with over 700 shots in 45 minutes. That is about what the Sports Illustrated photog’s average. As always the edit is the hardest. Great shot, no out of focus – shit. I picked 5 or 7 (I forget) and sent them up to the wire. We were pretty pleased, in an hour we had the shots up and the press release done. In the news world you have to get there first, and we did.

About 2 hours later I was still unwinding. At my desk editing the huge amount of photos, dead tired. The SGM called to me and said “Lee have you checked DVIDS?” DVIDS hub is the place we upload photos and stories so the world news media can come to a central point and grab them. They also track the downloads and show where they went. “No” I said “is there a problem?” fearing there was a corrupt file or something. “You better come here and look at this” he said. He had his screen open to the image of a soldier hugging the President and posing for a photo. The list of where the photo went and who used it was below the photo. Most of the time if you are lucky there are two or three downloads, sometimes none at all. This list however, went to the bottom of the screen. He scrolled down to the next screen. The list went on screen after screen after screen. “OMG” I said.

Technically the shot itself could have been done better. I should have double shot it, one with and one without flash, it is a little bright. But hey -- I was nervous after all and a POTUS rookie. The shot does have a couple of things though that good news shots should have. It shows emotion, it is spontaneous, it is real. And in the end, I’ll take it!
Lee Craker

More Images can be seen here.

Challenging Situations Can Bring Rewards.

2010-05-07T18:06:00.003+07:00

A friend asked me to make some photos before he departed Iraq.
We scheduled an afternoon to shoot the typical take home shots of the areas around Camp victory.
Victory over America Palace was one of the stops. Inside the partially constructed building, is the construction rubble, scaffoldings and all the rest that was left as the work abruptly stopped with invasion of Iraq. The light would probably be good in the early morning or late afternoon, and some interesting shots would be possible if I were to plan on spending some time looking for images with the right equipment. However on that day as is usual, we were on a tight schedule and could only schedule a trip during the worst time of the day, around lunchtime.
We did a walk around inside making typical tourist photos looking out of the huge windows and balconies. On the way back I spotted a stairway. It reminded me that I had promised another friend a “good” photo, a black and white photo. The stairway had possibilities. The light was interesting. The scene however was dark. Really dark. With a tripod I could have chosen a shutter speed of a couple of seconds with a low ISO and small aperture for depth of field and could have made a shot with relative ease. However a tripod is something I did not have, being on the run as it were. I determined that if I shot at ISO 4000 I could shoot at f8 and 1/40 sec. Far from ideal. Camera shake a real possibility and an enlargement at ISO 4000? Iffy to say the least. I took 5 or six shots at the same settings to try and get one without camera shake. The shot below for my friend Lisa, is the result. I guess you could say the plan worked out well.
Lee Craker.

Staircase / Victory Over America Palace
Baghdad Iraq

Back in Black -- & White

2010-05-06T21:14:00.002+07:00

I have spent the last few weeks going back to my first love. Black and white photography. My roots in the medium go back to 1982 and a seminar with John Sexton, the late Ansel Adams assistant. The workshop changed the way I looked at the world. The days of the Wista 4x5 are gone for me, but recently I did purchase a Leica M6 and a bunch of B&W film.
The abstract beauty of black and white is timeless. I see so many iPhone (and other) apps today that try to give today’s young photographer a “different” cool look. I would humbly suggest one might try going back to the roots. Black and white is way different and just too cool. Notice the difference from the color version of a previous post.
Lee Craker

Al Faw Palace / Baghdad Iraq

Murphy's Law: "Anything that can ... will."

2009-12-20T13:52:00.012+07:00

Yes, "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong." It's no wonder Murphy also created a whisky and opened thousands of taverns. I'm sure in heaven he asked God to let photographers "prove" how true his law is. How often do I see this law in photography? If not daily then at least a couple of times a week.
So here I am. The mission: Get photos of The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff arriving in Baghdad. Time: 400 PM. Lighting: not a cloud in the sky, sun to my back and a little to the left, in other words "perfect" lighting. But then along comes Murphy. 4:00 becomes 5:00 then 5:45, we are now at an hour after sunset. I can see my hand in front of my face but just barely. OK, so even though I hate to use flash, I have no choice right? So I take out the SB900 from my Newswear belt pouch. A Navy PAO guy who sees me doing this comes up and says "Sir, No flash photography is allowed on the flight line." So I check with the officer in charge. "That's correct sir, no flash is allowed, better open up your aperture ...laugh." Well OK then, suddenly I have an impossible job to do. I check my settings OMG I have to shoot at ISO 8000 1/60 at f2.8. In all honestly I have never pushed this camera that far before, but then ... I have never failed on a mission either. -- So OK man lets just go for it ...

Terrible backlighting, subject moving towards me ... I set the focus to continuous and fired. ISO 6400 1/60 f2.8

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrives in Baghdad December 18. ISO 8000 1/60 f2.8.

The camera: Nikon D3s. ISO 8000 1/60 f2.8. I loaded these full size so you can see the images. Are they prefect? Ha ha, No way man, but "I got the shots."
Now a plug: Thanks Brad at Berger Bros. Camera -- hey man I always give credit where it is do -- these are great people!
Lee Craker

Eye of the Golden Buddha

2009-12-10T00:29:00.003+07:00

OK, the title is a bit much, but there is a Buddha in the photo, he has an eye and it is gold. So I did accomplish the headline speaking pretty much the truth, however off point.
One of my favorite types of photography is the "catch photo". I hate staging reality. I do admire those that can stage it well, but for the most part I leave that to movie makers. Here I walked around a corner and what caught my eye was the worker on the floor looking over plans, for what I assume is the building of the Buddha statues. Luckily for me there were allot of people passing by and the worker did not notice me at all, which is another key for catch photographs of people. This was made in a large temple, in Bangkok, Thailand.
Lee Craker

By the Dawn's Early Light

2009-12-09T14:17:00.013+07:00

In his book "Buddha mind Buddha body" Thich Nhat Hanh describes how to walk as the Buddha did. Walking becomes a form of active meditation, in which the walker becomes mindful of the process of walking, and clears the mind. This process can also be used in other activities. Athletes can experience a form of total concentration while engaged in their sport that much resembles Zen. Photography for me can become almost "Zen" at times. I become so involved with the process and the subject(s) I am photographing I loose touch with everything else. This can be very relaxing. One such moment was before sunrise the other morning. The early morning light on Al Faw Palace was enchanting.

Kid Rock Live in Baghdad

2009-12-08T11:12:00.006+07:00

Tour for the troops 2009 came to Baghdad December 4th. As usual Kid Rock was amazing. Here is my report, done for my good friends at Road Crew Magazine. (full screen = arrows on the far right)
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"As the sun set and the laughs died down, roars of excitement echoed off the T-walls surrounding the field as troops prepared themselves for Kid Rock. As he walked on stage, service members jumped to their feet — screaming, throwing their arms up and chanting “Kid! Kid!” “This is the most sober crowd I’ve ever played for,” he joked before opening his set with trademark song, “Bawitdaba.” Kid Rock’s no stranger to performing in Iraq. This tour marked his 6th visit to the country to provide troops with a way to relax from a typical day."
SOURCE: Troop Scoop of Canada Free Press