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Military photographer captures soldiers' memories
Faces and places
FPsharonbasstakesphotoFILE
Sharon Bass, Official Command Photographer for Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield, snaps a photo during a recent assignment. - photo by Photo by Frenchi Jones
Name: Sharon Bass

Position: Official Command Photographer for Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield
What are the responsibilities of your position? “Taking official photographs for documentation and historical purposes as it pertains to Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield.”

What do you enjoy most about your job? “I get to work in my trade. So many people hate their jobs. I get to do something I love to do, everyday.”

What is most rewarding about your position? “All the people I get to meet, from all walks of life, especially meeting with all the soldiers and their families.”

What does your professional background consist of? “I served as a photographer for the U.S. Navy for 16 years, I worked for the U.S. Air Force for four years taking photographs, and I was a contract photographer for the U.S. state and justice departments. Before that, I was a production manager for the Times-Journal in Oklahoma City.”

Where did you attend college? “I went to the U.S. Navy School of Photography and I attended Oklahoma State University, where I received an associate’s degree in graphic design.”

What has been some of your major achievements? “I was named the first-place all-Army photographer in 2004. I was also among the Who’s Who of Photographers list in 2006.”

Did you always know you wanted to be a photographer? “No, when I first signed up for school my major was business administration. My dad was the one who actually decided that was not going to be my major. He said, ‘I’ve been watching you since you were 11 years old, and this is what you are going to do.’ I still have those photos I took when I was 11, and they look professional. So it turned out he was right.”

What would others say about you? “That’s a good question. I have often asked myself the same thing.”

What is something most people probably don’t know about you?
“I am a recluse. I enjoy being behind the camera, but I am not the type to be in front of it.”

When you are not taking photos, what are you doing? “I love to cook and sew.”

What would you like to be doing five years from now? “I would like to see myself working with the Army Corp of Engineers and leading a team of media staff.”

 

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