Body Armor – Images by David Honl
As I get my travel documents in order for a trip to Afghanistan, I wanted to start an open discussion on body armor for the very small group of photographers that are looking for advice. If you comment here or e-mail me personally, I promise to help to the best of my own ability, pass your questions on to someone more qualified, and get other pros involved with the discussion. I’ve seen too many first-timers think they can walk into a warzone with a cheap piece of soft armor from an Army surplus, and I hope this post can be a valuable record that all can rely on, and really instill that although entering a war theater as a photographer seems glamorous on the surface, once you hear a bomb or artillery fire, you’ll wish you were surrounded in 8 feet of solid steel.
You’re also likely to hear how heavy and hot body armor is to work in. It is both, however far less worse than it could be.
When I first when to Iraq, I knew nothing about protection and only thought about getting a great picture. And of course like many photographers, always thought about cutting corners once I saw the price of it. Do not cut corners. If you can’t afford the gear, don’t go.
Let’s start off with what I use:
Blackhawk Body Armor Carrier
Level IV+ Rifle Plates
Level IIIA Trauma Plates
ACH-1 Helmet, Level IIIA, from OM Tactical
I highly encourage you to check out BulletProofMe.com for knowledge- I have purchased alot from them and they are very helpful. See their Quick Answers here. It is an excellent resource.
While I’m traveling, I’ll also post about new technologies I see on the road, and also interview other journalists and professionals about their experiences with armor. Looking forward to expanding upon this!
The shots above were shot in my studio this morning (I felt creative), the 2 pictures below were shot on 2 different trips to Iraq in 2006, and simply reminded me of body armor.
Please do not stop reading, watch the comments section regularly if you have a true interest in protecting your vital organs as the comments section will be far more valuable than the post itself.
American soldiers at the Swords of Victory, Baghdad
A reinforced Humvee I tagged along in, in Baghdad. I watched the TV show Rat Patrol when I was a kid, which is why I took this picture in the first place.
I had always thought of even war photography as just cameras and lenses- thanks for enlightening me. I hate to be petty, but how did you light your helmet photo?
Another great place to get gear is Brigade Quartermasters (http://www.brigadeqm.com ). You can get all kinds of MOLLE gear to help attach your gear.
Definitely get an Black Rapids R-Strap though. You’ll thank yourself many times over for having one to carry your camera.
Thanks Creighton- Brigade Quartermasters is a great resource- I’ll certainly be writing alot more about camera gear and carrying recommendations once we get a solid base for the armor part of the post. So, expect Ziploc ideas for keeping the dust off cameras real soon…
David,
It’s not just body armor. Don’t forget to protect your eyes, and not just from the sun.
ESS make a great new eyeshield I tested over the last weeks, the Crossbow. But other manufacturers make equaly good stuff. Just make sure it’s high velocity impact resistant.
Good luck over there and keep safe.
Gerard
DDP
Hey David,
Looks like we have the same blood type.
Patrick’s talking about the “A+” marked in Sharpie on the upper left of the carrier.
Forgive me if I insult your intelligence — that is not my intent — this is just a quick brain dump.
I wore bodyarmor for 11 months in Baghdad Iraq – and in a nut shell — it doesn’t matter what you wear becuase it’s an unnatural act for one to be preyed upon – it’s not normal to be shot at.
Ok – maybe I’m a bit crass here with my comments. Let me re-phrase. What ever body armor you choose will be good body armor becuase odds are it will provide some sort of protection and if you are catching bullets — well — you have a lot more to worry about then how good your body armor is.
Our armor was required — and I tell you what — I always wore my Sapi plates, the extra plates for better catching the bullets — and if I had the chance I would never not wear the armor. Along with the neck piece etc..
Here is what you also need — you are subjecting your self to be a part of a group which may rely upon you, and you of it — therefore you need to be some sort of contributor at some point, like it or not. Meaning, you may have to save the lives of those around you.
Here is a list —
Learn how to identify where you are at on ground – go buy a Garmin GPS Fortrex 401 wrist mounted GPS
Tourniquets for upper and lower torso
Your blood type will need to be more visible then the thin scribbled magic marker on your vest. I’ve seen tattoos of A- in the bend of the elbow area
I’m not kidding here –
Learn how to use HemoCon or the newer versions of quick klot — or at least read up on them
Go buy about a dozen name tapes — and sew them on everything — http://www.rangerjoes.com or somewhere else. Hell — go buy some blood tapes also
Bring your own sheets and pillow cases for traveling from tent to tent — else you will always be sleeping on someone elses funk
Bring an eye patch for sleeping during the day
Hearing protection — everyone forgets about this — I can’t stress this enough — get a pair of Sordin Supreme Pro’s — they are active amplified ear pro — I started wearing them in 2005 and everyone thought I was over reacting — and what is everyone what wearing now — Sordin’s…
My ears even ring now — not from the 8 ieds we took — but from the hi-stress – op tempo of it all.
Oh — bring some gloves — what ever your flavor — but the Nomex are the standard — and cheap and they breath fairly well.
http://www.militarymorons.com (great resource)
http://www.tadgear.com
I can go on — let know if I can send you anything when you are there.
JSturr – http://www.jsturr.com
(801) 876-0812
2/75 BCo 2/75 Ranger ’99-02
Rough Riders – Baghdad ’05-06
I stumbled across this blog post: http://lilysussman.wordpress.com/2009/11/30/im-sorry-but-we-blew-up-your-laptop-welcome-to-israel/
And it made me think about your travels, and what kind of extra precautions your data backup practices entail while traveling in a war zone?
I know it isn’t entirely on-topic, but as the digital info you are recording during your journey are the entire reason for your being there, I thought you might have some practical advice that would be applicable in less stressful environments as well.
Stay safe,
Cousin Tim
Thanks John,
I’m grateful for your input- this is why I started this post- to garner information from others for all to share. My point of view comes froma guy with a camera around his neck, and I do have the experience of knowing it is somewhat of a different story for a soldier.
Tim- for picture backup, lots of memory cards, and 2 500GB G-Drive Minis.
David! I don’t know if you remember me or not but I’m the Soldier in ACUs in the photo above.. I stumbled on this post and was stoked!
p.s. I never got my KISS autograph for that Zarqawi hook up… Any chance of me getting a highrez copy of that photo? Be safe in the Stan..
Rick
Hey Rick- of course I remember you- glad I have your email address- I’ll email you now. -Dave