Merry Christmas from Washington D.C.

The National Christmas Tree in front of The White House (in background) in Washington, D.C. on Christmas Eve, 2009. Photo Garrett Hubard © 2009

Stories for Christmas

Every Christmas season seems to bring a rush of album & product orders. Hey, I would want to show off my wedding story to my friends and family too! And that's what I love about photography--no, that's what I love about photojournalism--it gives me this platform to share a story because the photo itself is a story, layered with a beginning, middle, and an end. Chalked full of emotion and details that immerses the person encountering the photograph in a narrative. Sometimes the photo is just the starting point of the story my clients want to share with their families. Other times, the photo says more than words alone could speak. I pray that my clients were able to celebrate their weddings on a whole new level because of these albums, these photographs, and their stories.

A tall stack of Nick & Lily's Companion Albums (a miniature version of their large album) completed just in time to be given as Christmas gifts for friends and family. Photo by Garrett Hubbard © 2009

Food fight in the white

My bird feeders have been quite busy with all the snow on the ground. This post is for my mom who loves the birds. This photo also made it on our record-breaking East Coast snowstorm photo gallery on USA TODAY. A male Red-Bellied Woodpecker and a Blue Jay try to claim the remaining suet cake (food) in the middle of a large snowstorm that dropped around 20-inches of snow in the Washington, D.C. area. Photo by Garrett Hubbard © 2009.

A decde remembered

Screen-shot from the video of me sharing about the
stories I've worked on that have impacted me the most.

As part of USA TODAY's decade in review all of us staff photojournalists were given the opportunity to share some of our work and thoughts on the biggest news stories of the decade. I also got to share a little bit more about myself and my purpose in storytelling. Click on the picture above or follow this link to view our decade in review.

Dispatch from Choma, Zambia

Three boys share a mango after school on Tuesday in Choma, Zambia © Garrett Hubbard 2009.

Would love to share more about the importance of school uniforms, and parent's difficult choices between food and their child's education. However, I've got to get to bed. Our first full day out in the community orphan trusts where we will be bringing the equivalent of a Thanksgiving feast for 200 people. I pray that celebrate the love and hope of we have in Christ with them tomorrow!

Destination Africa

The gear--well most of it--I need to make a mini documentary in Zambia. Volunteerring my time with some orphans and vulnerable children along with seven great people from my church. See you all mid-December.

a Sunday: Creation on a macro level

a Sunday from Garett Hubbard on Vimeo.

You never know what beauty you might find until you stop and listen.

Passing fall

Colors change, leaves fall, and the rains come.

Saturday morning greeted me with some moisture. Defiantly, I searched for beauty and found beauty.

Winter, I'm not ready just yet :)

Kiss me

The sun sprinkled itself upon all of us that day, but I think she wanted it the most. This is one of my favorite photos I've taken this year. I'll be silent as to let your heart articulate.

"Kiss me"
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
© Garrett Hubbard 2009

Chicago's 2020 Olympic bid begins with street photography

The International Olympic Committee recently gave the 2016 Olympic bid to Rio de Janeiro. Even an in-person appeal by the Obama's couldn't sway the IOC to give the nod to Chicago. Well Chicago, here I am in your loving arms once again. I think this is the fourth or fifth time for 2009 but I cannot remember, I'm losing track. I do know, however, that I was here one year ago to the day for election night. In light of all the time I've spent in Chicago recently, I thought I'd start my own fight for the 2020 summer games. Here's my ever so humble and ever so sardonic beginnings of my ad campaign (all photos taken Nov 5, 2009).

Photographers note: I don't know if any of the below captions are funny and/or worth reading. It's late and my what wits I have went to sleep hours ago.

In Chicago, everyone sees the best in themselves. Particularly so when we put them in front of the "skinny" squeeze mirror.

Yep, no caption for this one. I just really wanted to put it up. I like the quality & direction of light with the graphic elements. I'll ask the ad team to make it work : )

In Chicago, we have created a proving ground for every soccer-mom in their SUV with our rough terrain. Also ideal for cycling criteriums. Guaranteed to get some crashes worthy of YouTube.

In Chicago, our urban development is green-centric. Condominium's and weeds happily co-exist.

In Chicago, we build very tall emerald green brick walls. Why? Because we can.

In Chicago, our buildings are already golden, err amber, yes, that's it. One caveat, only at night.