Bob has taken over a thousand photographs in hostile environments since 2001, many of which have inspired characters and scenes in his books. Here is a small selection.
On Sale Now
Photos that inspired
THE INFIDEL
Air gunner over Nuristan 2007
Wood sellers on the outskirts of Kandahar. Wood is an extremely scarce commodity, daily truck loads are brought over the border from Pakistan. 2004.
155 mm artillery gun in the direct fire role, Nuristan 2007
Afghan soldier manning a checkpoint outside of Gardez. 2004.
Afghan attack helicopters flying over mountains, Kabul 2004
Afghan security on the roof of a Kabul mosque. 2004.
Afghan National Army training, KMTC, Kabul, 2009. 200x recruits to 1x NATO instructor plus interpreter. No wonder it looks a mess. I watched this training on and off for 6 years. An unrealistic political time frame, with unrealistic political numbers to train.
Cave like living on the hills overlooking Kabul City. 2004.
Children’s war art, Kapisa Province, Afghanistan 2004
Crossing a narrow makeshift bridge over the Kabul river. 2004.
Hearts and minds at work, Khost 2007
Young Kutchi girl from Khost Province. 2007.
Kutchi Caravan, Afghanistan 2004
Old man walking through his village between Gardez and Kandahar. 2004.
Kutchi children, Afghanistan 2005Layers of mountains surrounding Kabul City 2005Mountain storm, Kapisa Province 2005Mujahideen on parade 2004Donkeys follow the Kunar river south, Nuristan 2007Nuristani family near Kunar river at Kam Desh 2007Nuristan’s impregnable landscape 2007Robert Gates thanking troops in Khost Province, 2007Russian made Afghan attack helicopter 2004Graveyard of Russian tanks surrounded by snowy mountains, Afghanistan 2004The Infidel? 2004
Tribal elders gather near Pakistan border, Eastern Afghanistan, 2007US Apache helicopter, Afghanistan. 2006US troops look out over Nuristan, 2007
Village, Northern Kunar Province, Afghanistan, 2007Winding mountain pass to Jalalabad, Afghanistan 2009Young Kutchi woman 2004Young Nuristani militia man in Kam Desh district, Nuristan 2007
On Sale August 2011
Photos that inspired
THE GOOD JIHADIST
Member of Frontier Corps overlooking Peshawar, Pakistan 2007A view through the gates of the Red Mosque, Islamabad, 2007Self-described Afghan “Talib”, Quetta, Baluchistan Province, Pakistan 2007Antique tapestry depicting battle between Baluch and British Forces, Governor’s mansion, Quetta, Pakistan 2007Commemorative plaque, formal gardens, Governor’s Residence, Quetta, Pakistan 2007Baluch man in traditional headdress, Quetta, Baluchistan Province, Pakistan 2007Western cameraman operating under watchful eye of the authorities, Quetta 2007Riot police, Islamabad, Pakistan 2007
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!
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.
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.
Hello Bob, I was given a copy of the “Circuit” recently in Hong Kong from a sailing buddy. It opened my eyes to a profession and darkside greed and political devience..I must admit to enjoying it very much. Been a long time since I’d seen you! Last time you wre training me!! Best Regards Rhys “Taff” Davies…I can be contacted via my email….Take care Bob.
I’m really pleased that someone from Pakistan got something from reading The Good Jihadist, thank you very much.
The novel was based on both Afghan and Pakistani conspiracy theories told to me from all parts of both countries, therefore a great mix of local ethnicities.
It’s up to the readers themselves to decide which is fact and which is fiction.
Thank you again Ali for your comments.
I wish you and your family all the very best.
B.S.
thank you for putting photos of the people and beautiful landscapes of the countries you’ve worked in and not images of death and destruction.
the photos you have put up show the countries beauty and not the beasts
Hey Bob, hope all’s going well…Read comments, looked up your photo’s and read the books. Enjoyed all…Hope to see you again later this year for a cold one..
Best Regards in Adventure
Rhys “Taff” Davies….Ex-RAF REGT 74-84
Hi Claire,
Thank you.
Aye, there’s a book out by an author called Rusty Firmin, probably up there as one of the better reads on the subject.
Thanks again and take good care.
B.S.
Thanks for recommendation. Finished The Infidel, could not put it down. Good Jihadist is next on the list. One question – what was the presumed fate or future of Dusty? Awaiting the next book ! Thanks
Claire
Thanks Claire,
Dusty will be back, that’s all I can say, ha.
You’ll find The Good Jihadist has more key characters and more twists than The Infidel.
Take good care, and thank you once again.
B.S.
Bob,
Events today are are becoming a nightmare for western democracies…The plot and scenes that were once fiction are turning to fact…With IS getting its own airforce..how long before their own drones?? Hope any forthcoming books provide an answer!!!!
Rgds
Bob Shepherd 
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
Hello Bob, I was given a copy of the “Circuit” recently in Hong Kong from a sailing buddy. It opened my eyes to a profession and darkside greed and political devience..I must admit to enjoying it very much. Been a long time since I’d seen you! Last time you wre training me!! Best Regards Rhys “Taff” Davies…I can be contacted via my email….Take care Bob.
Hi Bob
I am from Pakistan and reading The Good Jihadist has opened mind and answered many answers? How close may I consider it to reality?
Ali S
Hi Ali,
I’m really pleased that someone from Pakistan got something from reading The Good Jihadist, thank you very much.
The novel was based on both Afghan and Pakistani conspiracy theories told to me from all parts of both countries, therefore a great mix of local ethnicities.
It’s up to the readers themselves to decide which is fact and which is fiction.
Thank you again Ali for your comments.
I wish you and your family all the very best.
B.S.
thank you for putting photos of the people and beautiful landscapes of the countries you’ve worked in and not images of death and destruction.
the photos you have put up show the countries beauty and not the beasts
Great photos Bob, don’t suppose you have any from the South Atlantic, cheers ..Per Ardua. Served with BN.
Beautiful pictures. Thanks.
Hey Bob, hope all’s going well…Read comments, looked up your photo’s and read the books. Enjoyed all…Hope to see you again later this year for a cold one..
Best Regards in Adventure
Rhys “Taff” Davies….Ex-RAF REGT 74-84
Hi – currently reading The Infidel, love it. Can you recommend any good books on the Iranian Embassy siege? thanks
Hi Claire,
Thank you.
Aye, there’s a book out by an author called Rusty Firmin, probably up there as one of the better reads on the subject.
Thanks again and take good care.
B.S.
Thanks for recommendation. Finished The Infidel, could not put it down. Good Jihadist is next on the list. One question – what was the presumed fate or future of Dusty? Awaiting the next book ! Thanks
Claire
Thanks Claire,
Dusty will be back, that’s all I can say, ha.
You’ll find The Good Jihadist has more key characters and more twists than The Infidel.
Take good care, and thank you once again.
B.S.
Too impatient now!!
Bob,
Events today are are becoming a nightmare for western democracies…The plot and scenes that were once fiction are turning to fact…With IS getting its own airforce..how long before their own drones?? Hope any forthcoming books provide an answer!!!!
Rgds
Pete
Hi Bob – is the follow on from Infidel coming out soon? Any chance of that or Good Jihadist being made into a film? Thanks