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Combat Camera Team (CCT)

Op HERRICK 12 Combat Camera Team in Helmand province

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Captain Joanna Timmermann and Sergeant Tom Robinson photographed by Corporal Barry Lloyd.The Combat Camera Team (CCT) is a trio of defence correspondents for the MOD. It's their job to collect multimedia stories about British forces on operations in Afghanistan.

The three are all trained soldiers who have served in other parts of the Army, and can revert to this role if needs be. As a result, they are able to go forward and interact with troops in ways that other forms of media can’t.

As a news team, the CCT produce:

  • video rushes and interviews for broadcasters;
  • packaged videos for the web;
  • written copy;
  • stills photography ;
  • podcasts and radio interviews; and 
  • live and pre-recorded interviews from the field.

The team’s stories and material are then distributed directly to the British and worldwide media.

TEAM PROFILES

Captain Joanna TimmermannOfficer Commanding the Combat Camera Team

My name is Captain Joanna Timmermann. I’m a Territorial Army Royal Engineer Officer, currently serving as the Officer Commanding the Combat Camera Team in Afghanistan.

In the UK I’m part of the Media Operations Group (Volunteers).

The role of the OC CCT is to run the team. Part of my job is to act as a journalist - finding, directing and recording stories, part is acting as a planning and liaison officer - working with the units we embed with and part is working with the media - providing them with the material they need.

It is the best of the both worlds. What is great about the role is the variety of it. One day you can be covering a celebrity visit to theatre, and the next you’re out on the front line with the troops.

Corporal Barry LloydStills photographer

I’m Corporal Barry Lloyd and I’m the stills photographer for the Combat Camera Team deployed on Op Herrick 12.

As the stills photographer my role is to take still photographs to document the life of British forces out in Afghanistan.

These images are then used for news purposes, and can end up in newspapers, magazines and online publications. My pictures are also kept and archived at the imperial war museum as an historical record of the work our forces do on deployment.

As a photographer I have to work alongside members of all three services, from front line infantry soldiers to helicopter crews to ensure I record the complete spectrum of the work our troops are involved in out in theatre.

It’s an amazing job working as an army photographer out in Afghanistan as I have the access to take pictures that civilian photographers dream of.

Sergeant Tom RobinsonVideographer

I am Sergeant Tom Robinson and I’m employed as an ENG (electronic news gathering) cameraman within the Op Herrick 12 Combat Camera Team.

We travel around Afghanistan putting news packages together for all of the major news agencies.

A lot of the time I am embedded with the front line infantry troops, recording anything from foot patrols to meetings with local village elders.

Other jobs I have filmed include the visits of David Beckham and David Bailey to Camp Bastion and I have also filmed a Lynx pilot for a BBC documentary.

I think I’ve got the best job in the Army, every day is different, I am challenged constantly and having your work go out to the news is hugely rewarding.