I’ve taken over a thousand photographs in hostile enviroments since 2001, many of which have inspired characters and scenes in my books. Here is a small selection.
-Bob Shepherd
On Sale Now
Photos that inspired
THE INFIDEL
Air gunner over Nuristan
155 mm artillery gun in the direct fire role, Nuristan
Attack helicopters flying over mountains, Kabul
Afghan Security Forces training, KMTC, 2009
Children's war art, Kapisa Province, Afghanistan
Hearts and minds at work, Khost 2007
Kutchi Caravan, Afghanistan
Kutchi children, Afghanistan
Layers of mountains surrounding Kabul City
Mountain storm, Kapisa Province
Mujahideen on parade
Donkeys follow the Kunar river south, Nuristan
Nuristani family near Kunar river at Kam Desh
Nuristan's impregnable landscape
Robert Gates thanking troops in Khost Province, 2007
Russian made Afghan attack helicopter
Graveyard of Russian tanks surrounded by snowy mountains, Afghanistan
The Infidel?
Tribal elders gather near Pakistan border, Eastern Afghanistan, 2007
US Apache helicopter, Afghanistan.
US troops look out over Nuristan, 2007
Village, Northern Kunar Province, Afghanistan, 2007
Winding mountain pass to Jalalabad, Afghanistan
Young Kutchi woman
Young Nuristani militia man in Kam Desh district, Nuristan
On Sale August 2011
Photos that inspired
THE GOOD JIHADIST
Member of Frontier Corps overlooking Peshawar, Pakistan
A view through the gates of the Red Mosque, Islamabad, 2007
Self-described Afghan "Talib", Quetta, Baluchistan Province, Pakistan
Antique tapestry depicting battle between Baluch and British Forces, Governor's mansion, Quetta, Pakistan
Commemorative plaque, formal gardens, Governor's Residence, Quetta, Pakistan
Baluch man in traditional headdress, Quetta, Baluchistan Province, Pakistan
Western cameraman operating under watchful eye of the authorities, Quetta
Riot police, Islamabad, Pakistan
Well-heeled opposition leader addresses well-heeled protestors, Islamabad, Pakistan
Hi Bob,
Just enjoying The Infidel ,where i found your blog address! I have just reurned from Arbroath from a weekend where my I heard from my cousins daughter whose husband is with a security company in Kurdistan that there is 12,000 Iranian troops on the border and no word in the press..that I have seen. Do you think the current Arab spring is serving a purpose for the Iranians who see oportunities in all the Muslim countries that are curently ‘fighting ‘for their freedom? That Cameron along with other governments have been sucked into a situation that is going to carry on and on?
Incidently photo gallery very interesting along with your blogsite!
Rgds
Pete Gould
Hi Peter,
Thanks for your comment.
Yes, I’m sure that Iran is in a position to take full advantage of the Arab Spring. Also remember that the US and Britain not only took away Iraqi stability but also lifted the lid off of Iran by removing Sadam Hussein, thereby adding to regional instability.
Very best regards.
B.S.
Bob,
Thanks for your reply,just to add further regarding current defence policies which appear to show a lot of naivity regarding our standing in the world and particularly how easy it is for the infiltration of our society by the trojan horse method which how ever good Mi6 may be ,there is every right for all of us to be concerned how much more dangerous our world is!
By the way I served in the RAF in the good old days and served on a transport squadron flying out the guys to Kuching and Labuan
Hi Bob
Come across you surfing the net for good books by Ex-SAS guys like yourself.
I am reading them faster than you guys can write them….
Can you recommend any other good authors from the same back ground as yourself. I have done all The Mcnab and Ryan ones so looking for inspiration.
Kind Regards
Hi Jeff,
Thanks for getting in touch. Yes, Duncan Falconer an ex SBS laddie writes very good novels. Unlike a lot of the others in the special forces genre, he doesn’t have a ghost writer writing in his name, he writes himself. Also he has been on the security circuit like myself for some years, therefore he has good knowledge and first hand experience to write about his subjects.
Hope this helps,
Very best regards.
B.S.
very cool images… thanks