Photographers Get Together
Photographic Trade Group Photo 2008. OH-08-0154-01-tn.jpg.
For probably the first time ever the Air Force’s full compliment of 16 trade photographers from all Bases - Auckland, Devonport, Ohakea and Woodbourne - met on 10 March 2008 at Base Ohakea’s Central Photographic Establishment (CPE). The meeting was an opportunity for members of the trade to put faces to names. Previously many of the trade’s personnel had never met face-to-face and may have only spoken over the phone. Indeed some of the UK recruit photographers had never been to Base Ohakea before.
Other personnel in attendance on the day were, SQNLDR Jim Jennings (Trade Sponsor), GPCAPT Shaun Clarke (COSG) and WGCDR Harry Nicholson (DDI).
During the morning arriving photographers were given a guided tour of the section and its facilities before being whisked outside for their first formal group photo.
F/S Carl Booty hands over the new Nikon D3 cameras to Sgt Tim Jordan . AK-08-0105-01-tn.jpg.
During the visit, F/S Carl Booty handed over the last of the newly purchased Nikon D3 Cameras. These cameras are state-of-the-art and were only released world wide in November 2007. 16 new D3 cameras have been purchased for use by the trade and they have been allocated to each section. The quality of the imagery produced by the new cameras is far superior to that of the Nikon D1 which is being retired from service. The D1s will continue to be used by CPE’s Photographic Trade School for training new photographers.
The meeting was not only an opportunity for photography trade personnel to meet but also a great chance for them to swap ideas and compare techniques. There were plenty of positive comments from personnel with morale on the up for the trade.
The meeting was so successful that the trade is looking at conducting an annual all-up meeting with SNCOs meeting more regularly between times.