Hunter wins amateur photo contest

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Joshua Smoot
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Staff Sgt. Travis Birkenbuel, 341st Civil Engineer Squadron NCO in charge of heavy requirements and optimization, was recently named the 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs Quarterly Amateur Photo Contest winner for his submission, "Montana Veterans Day Hunt."

The photo expressed the theme, "close-ups," as it shows an intimate view of frost embracing a barbed-wire fence on a ranch near Wolf Creek, Mont.

Birkenbuel, an amateur photographer, was hunting on Veterans Day when he noticed the frost and decided to take a photo with his cellphone.

"I took the photo because I liked the visual effect the frost added to the barbed-wire fence," Birkenbuel said.

"I think it is pretty cool that I won," Birkenbuel said. "I took the photo to show my wife and kids then I posted it on my Facebook page. I received a lot of comments on how cool the image was. Then I happened to see the photo contest and decided to submit the picture."

Birkenbuel plans on taking more photos in the future of his days spent hunting.

The photo can be viewed on the official Malmstrom Air Force Base Facebook page.