Focus on... Corporal James Williams

My name is James Williams and I am a Corporal with the Royal Logistic Corps.

I was born in Catterick, North Yorkshire, and currently I live with my girlfriend in Torquay, Devon.

As an Army photographer I am attached to 20th Armoured Brigade in Sennelager, Paderborn,  Germany.

I have been an Army photographer since the end of September 2008. I'm still a newbie, on a learning curve that is steep and rapid but very enjoyable.

I decided to become an Army photographer after I met one on Op TELIC 8 in Basra and they recommended the trade to me. I popped into their office to see what they were doing and gain a bit of advice and they pointed me in the right direction. 

My job in Media Operations involves all photographic work required by the brigade and supporting units.  I'm mostly involved in externally promoting the 20th Armoured Brigade and also the media side of the Brigade.

The best things about my job are the variety of locations I visit and the people I get to meet.

 It's also very satisfying when you taken an image and you know it's a good one; and getting it ready for post production.

I have captured subjects from Royal family members who might visit a particular unit, to home town stories on particular individuals, and operational aspects such as Op Tours - following the guys on the ground, photographing for the MOD and for UK national newspapers.

Some of my most memorable assignments include:

Being on operations at Christmas when 5 Rifles were visited by their Commanding Officer, and in tow was an Squadron Sergeant Major dressed up in a Santa's outfit complete with weapon, body armour and full rig.

Second event was the Memorial Service, a quiet and dignified event that marked the end of the Operational involvement by the UK in Iraq. For me it was quite personal. I had a friend on the Memorial wall, which was a sobering point. And, after spending three Operational tours in Iraq, it was and the end of a chapter in my life.

On a positive note for me, after six months, it was good to end on a high as the images from the event were distributed far and wide, and had quite a high hit rate.