Dust

The soldiers are practicing dust landings. I am practicing dust photojournalism. Before I get on the Blackhawk I am warned to keep the caps on my camera lenses. Apparently dust can get anywhere. Inside the aircraft the dust flutters about settling on various objects like my seat, hands, hair and equipment. This is nothing compared to the dust I experience when I am allowed to get out of the Blackhawk. I clumsily exit onto the desert and squint my eyes as a soldier escorts me away from the noise of the aircraft. Once I look up the helicopter's rotor blades begin to spin and soon the sound is replaced by silence. It is an interesting feeling, getting dropped off in the middle of nowhere by a Blackhawk. "How long do you think we could last here," I joke to the soldier.

He tell me that he doesn't think we have to worry considering that we just saw a truck drive by and that he can see a building in the distance. I guess I have romanticized this situation, I've always wanted to survive in the desert.

When the helicopter lands dust pours out in the air. I begin shooting pictures until my camera makes an awful beeping noise. The screen holds something like this message: error clean dust from lens. This is not a good sign. Luckily I have another camera, which works just fine even under this stress.

 When I get home there is dust embedded in my scalp. It is easy to shower and wash the grit away, but cleaning my camera won't be that easy. I carefully take the lens off the camera body, give it a quick dust off and lock it back into place. I snap a few pictures, no beeping. My conclusion, problem solved.