A former Blackpool press photographer has captured the war in Afghanistan with a video diary and a series of pictures.

Sergeant Will Craig's images, which can be seen on The Gazette's website, hope to evoke the heat, dirt, grit and danger of conflict.

The portfolio includes dramatic shots of an exploding wall to more tranquil scenes of soldiers at rest.

Will has also recorded a video diary detailing the training and fighting he and his colleagues have undergone.

He started out as a freelance photographer for The Gazette, in Blackpool, during the 1990s and signed up aged 21 with the Parachute Regiment.

He has completed two tours of Northern Ireland and taken part in exercises including Purple Star – the biggest airborne drop since World War II. However, he has always remained firmly focused on his ambition to become a military photographer.

Will said: "I think my civilian press experience has really helped me work with the media.

"This is where I want to be but it's taken me a long time to get here, 12 years.

"There are 40 military photographers spread out all over the place. We're there to record what the guys are doing on the ground, to tell their story."

Will's work in media relations for the British Army has taken him to Northern Ireland, Cyprus, three operational tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan.

He is now in Northern Ireland, a quick flight away from his family in Blackpool and the Isle of Man.

Will says he tries to retain a sense of detachment in order to capture images as they happen and now believes he is twice as fit as other soldiers.

He added: "You're carrying the same kit they do but the camera as well – and have to be photographically aware, as well as operationally switched on.

"You get slightly tunnel vision taking pictures but you have to stay aware - I normally have someone watching my back.

"It's a privilege to work in an operational environment but images are there for the taking and you know the limits to which you can go forward and push on to shoot them.

"I've had my moments. We patrolled the green zone in Afghanistan which is where the enemy is and knew the Taliban had set up an ambush.

"We couldn't be sure of their location and felt vulnerable out in the open but we got through."

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