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GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - May is National Photo Month in the United States, and it was officially recognized by Congress in 1987 as a monthlong event. Many associations and businesses support NPM annually, one of the largest being the American Photography Association. While the APA is a civilian organization, there are large military organizations that support photographers as well. The largest by far is the Visual Information Awards Program (also known as MILPHOG or Military Photography), designed to recognize, reward and promote excellence among military communicators.
Every year MILPHOG holds a contest for many genres of photography – but only open to qualifying military job holders.
If you don’t hold a qualified MOS, NEC or AFSC, like Combat Camera or Public Affairs Journalist, there are many other programs within a Google’s reach that may reward you for your work as an aspiring photographer.
The International Photography Awards and the National Geographic Photo Contest are two rather prestigious programs open to almost anyone. The competition may be strong, but even getting third place or lower in one of these competitions would have great rewards for professionals and hobbyists alike.
While in Guantanamo Bay, there are programs which support an ever increasing interest in photographing unique local monuments, landscapes and wildlife by talented residents and service members. The “Spotlight,” located on the Joint task Force Guantanamo SharePoint, and the “Parting Shot,” located on the back page of “The Wire,” the official publication of JTF GTMO, both encourage submissions from anyone on the installation who wish to show off their photography skills. Several service members submit photos regularly and have been featured in “The Wire.”
“Two of my photos have been selected and featured as the ‘Parting Shot’ in ‘The Wire,’” said Timothy Brown, a Soldier with the 670th Military Police Company at Joint Task Force Guantanamo and photo enthusiast. “I think the one thing that stands out the most is the unique wildlife on the island. The iguanas in their natural habitat are one of my favorite images to capture.”
Some of the most popular photos in Guantanamo tend to be those of the local wildlife, like our famous iguanas and Hutia (banana rats), and of our oceanic views like Girl Scout Beach or underwater diving.
“I have always enjoyed photography, but I really started getting more involved in 2007. I was stationed in South Korea for 12 months, and I saw many beautiful sites,” Brown said. “I wanted to be able to take my memories with me, and share them with my friends and family after returning home.”
Being in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is a rare and exciting opportunity, but when taking photos around Guantanamo Bay, remember to use Operational Security.
“There are some simple rules of thumb that you should apply when taking photos,” said Gabriel Caraveo, JTF Operational Security program manager. “First, pay attention to structures with fencing around them and signs that read ‘no photography,’ or ‘restricted area.’
Second, try to take close-up [photos] of your targets and avoid panoramic views. Finally, ask permission before taking a picture of someone. Remember, just because you can take a photo doesn’t mean you should. Security is a key ingredient to safety. Practice Operational Security.”
One last nifty resource for anyone who’s interested in military photography is the Defense Video and Imagery Distribution System. This hub for military photographers and journalists houses the most up-to-date military photography and media, including those taken during Memorial Day events over the weekend. To visit their website, go online to www.dvidshub.net.
| Date Taken: | 05.29.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.24.2015 10:21 |
| Story ID: | 167926 |
| Location: | GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 54 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Guantanamo Bay recognizes National Photo Month, by SSG Richard Hoppe, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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