An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Photographer's passion proves adage true

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Elliott Sprehe
  • 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
The saying that a picture is worth a thousand words stands especially true when one espies an image that stops them in their tracks to contemplate every space in the picture and discern what made it stand out and speak to them.

Andrea Hubbard, wife of Tech. Sgt. Daniel Hubbard, 27th Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron, knows a good picture when she sees it and keeps her camera close by just in case.

Mrs. Hubbard, whose favorite subjects are people so she can capture their emotion, recently won the http://www.myairforcelife.com adult photography contest using a photo she caught as she was making breakfast and lunch for her husband.

"I happened to look down the hall and see the interaction taking place," said Mrs. Hubbard. "I was able to grab my camera and quietly take a few shots."

She captured the embrace between Sergeant Hubbard and their two children as he was getting ready for work.

"The kids are usually still sleeping when he leaves for work, but he was getting ready later than usual, since he was waiting on a ride to work that morning," she said.
"That morning that kids were up and as usual whenever Daniel is around the kids are attached to him."

Those few shots led her to the MyAirFforce Life photography contest after missing the most recent base photo contest. She entered the contest on a whim.

Mrs. Hubbard's love of photography goes back as far as she can remember. She became more serious about photography a number of years back when she grew tired of her point and shoot camera, feeling she was missing too many pictures of her children.

She got her first digital  camera as a gift from her husband in 2006.  Three cameras later she hasn't looked back.

She used a Nikon D700 with a 105 mm lens to capture her award-winning shot.

Mrs. Hubbard was awarded a new camera with a lens and tripod package, a consultation with a professional photographer and will have her photo displayed at the Pentagon. The camera package itself is worth $2,000.

Mrs. Hubbard discovered she had won when her husband took her to base, telling her that they would be doing a meet and greet with base leaders. She ended up being surprised after learning she had won the photography contest.

"I can't believe he pulled it (the surprise) off," said Mrs. Hubbard. "He hasn't been able to surprise me like this in the 15 years we've known each other."

Her creative outlets - she also has her own blogging website -  provide her the opportunity to pursue her passion and stay home with her children.

"So much of what normally would have passed me by has been capture by my camera," she said. "As deeply thankful as I am for these outlets, I'm even more thankful for my husband who supports me in a multitude of ways and makes what I do on a daily basis possible."

"I don't like to take photos. I must take photos. I see my world in snapshots, each moment capturing the essence of life. The looks in my child's eyes; delight, sadness, love. Ice cream dripping down an arm on a summer night, the way a tomato picked fresh from my garden looks."

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then for Mrs. Hubbard's love of photography the dictionary might want to get some extra space.