Focus on... Sgt Obi Igboebisiokwu
Sergeant Obi Igboebisiokwu - Gallery
- Graduation day parade and ceremony at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, on 5 August 2009. Foundation course inspection, marching display, the band of the Parachute Regiment and the awards ceremony. (28.00kb)
- The repatriation ceremony for Captain Mark Hale, 42 and Rifleman Daniel Wild, 19 of the 2nd Battalion, The Rifles and Lance Bombardier Matthew Hatton of the 40th Regiment, The Royal Artillery (attached to 2 Rifles). who were killed in Afghanistan on Thurs (69.22kb)
- Soldiers from 10 Signal Regt on the Royal Marine endurance course, during Exercise Winter Tears. (36.36kb)
- Minden Day Parade on Wednesday 5 August 2009. (36.81kb)
- The 2009 Inter-Services Athletics, held at Tidworth Oval on Wednesday 22 July 2009. (32.64kb)
- A Chinook prepares to land during Exercise Winter Tears; a 10 Signal Regiment training exercise. (22.81kb)
- Minden Day Parade on Wednesday 5 August 2009. 1st Batalion the Royal Anglian Regiment celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Minden with a parade and Families Day. (29.37kb)
- About 130 soldiers from C Company, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Welsh, return to Lucknow Barracks, Tidworth, after deployment to Afghanistan as part of 19 Light Brigade. (35.92kb)
- Minden Day Parade on Wednesday 5 August 2009. 1st Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Minden with a parade and Families Day. (47.69kb)
- The coffin of Private Jason George Williams at the repatriation ceremony on Thursday 13 August 2009. Private Williams, from the 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment, died following an explosion whilst on patrol, just east of Gereshk in Helmand Province, Afg (44.47kb)
Focus on... Sgt Obi Igbobisiokwu
My name is Sergeant Obi Igboebisiokwu. I am 32 years old and am about to transfer to the Royal Logistic Corps to become an Army photographer.
I am originally from Wimbledon, south London, and joined the Army aged 20 as a Systems Engineer with the Royal Signals.
Photography has been something that I've been interested in since childhood. However, it wasn't until I was in Bosnia on an operational tour that it blossomed into a passion. I met a military photographer who was attached to the commander of the EU peacekeeping force there and in my spare time I would discuss photography with him. He would tell me about the job and its mix between media and operational roles, so I bought my first digital SLR camera and began my journey into the world of photography.
For years it was just a hobby that I loved, but I yearned to do it as a job too. Three years later I got that opportunity, when I decided to attempt the Army Photographer selection. I was successful and am due to start my eight-month photography course shortly. I was briefed during the selection process that the trade is experience-driven, so although I am currently a Sergeant, I have to reduce my rank to Corporal as that is the starting rank, regardless of who you are. That might be enough to put some people off, but the job is so rewarding that, for me, it's worth the drop in rank.
After being selected, I was attached to the Media and Communications branch of HQ Land Forces, to get a feel for the job that I will be doing before I start my training course. I soon realised just how varied, challenging and immensely rewarding this career will be. I've done plenty of photography, but also videography, editing and working closely with writers, editors and web publishers. This has proved to be invaluable preparation for my transfer from enthusiastic amateur to professional photographer.