British Gurkha Series Featured in FujiFilm Connect Magazine
British Gurkhas featured in FujiFilm Connect Spring 2007(From FujiFilm Connect Spring 2007) When we spoke to Nick Fleming he was waiting to fly out to Afghanistan to complete the final stage of a fascinating project detailing the selection and training of Nepalese Gurkhas into the British Army. 

The commission came from the Gurkha museum in Winchester who wanted to run a photographic exhibition and also add to their historical archive.  Nick then spent four months in Nepal to document the gruelling recruitment process: "For a young Nepalese man there is no greater honour than to be accepted by the British Army.  Selection can also guarantee financial security for the recruit and their family, this means there are over 24,000 applications for just 230 places", says Nick.  The whole thing is a rite of passage for the local youth sand has huge historical importance to the region with some families providing three or four generations of soldiers for the British."

Once the decisions were made and the chosen few had signed up Nick joined the raw recruits at the British Infantry Training Centre in Catterick and other training sites around the UK.  It was during a break from this training that Nick captured this brilliant shot, Nick takes up the story.  "They were on outward bound training in Lancashire and were given a day off to explore the delights of Blackpool.  Like most kids of their age they headed straight for the amusements and I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time to take this picture.  The Nepalese have such a lovely smiley nature and they win friends wherever they go, the trip to Blackpool was no exception and they caused quite a stir walking along the prom.  It's hard to belive that these charming young lads are being trained to join one of the most effective fighting forces in the world." 

All Nick's work is taken using Fuji Professional film and he processes and prints all his own images using Fuji Crystal Archive paper.  The Gurkha images were taken using Fujicolor PRO 400H. 

Nick travels the world photographing people in their own environment and there are plans to hold an exhibition of his images depicting life in India at The Nehru Centre at the Indian High Commission in London next May.  Further details will be available from Nick's website.

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