Specialty Summary. Accomplishes, digitally processes, or supervises still photography. Supports base-level, technical, contingency, reconnaissance, special mission production, or combat requirements. Captures, stores, enhances, crops, prints, or transmits images via satellite, computer networks, telephone, or secure transmission systems.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Prepares photographic assignments. Acquires imagery in controlled, uncontrolled, and combat environments. Applies principles of photographic composition. Conceives, visualizes, and produces images. Accomplishes combat documentation, investigative, record, informational, editorial and other photography. Obtains data and writes captions and cover stories. Selects and crops pictures for layouts and picture stories. Coordinates with pilots and aircrew on mission requirements for proper aircraft positioning. Sets up and operates stabilized camera mounts and ancillary lighting systems on aircraft.
Accomplishes photography. Coordinates with customers. Performs digital photographic acquisition processing and printing. Selects, inspects, and tests camera, and digital photographic processing systems. Determines and uses appropriate camera and complementary lens selection, filters, lighting, and accessory equipment.
Operates or supervises operation of image acquisition equipment. Obtains optimum exposures using various meters, electronic flash, and exposure control methods. Uses light intensifier tubes (night vision). Operates laptop computers, and communications equipment to transmit, receive, or store images.
Performs copy and duplication functions. Copies flat art, prints, and computer-generated products. Uses specialized lighting and filters to control color balance. Complies with copyright and reproduction restrictions.
Performs medical image recording functions. Coordinates with medical staff to perform clinical and surgical micro and macro photography using specialized photographic cameras and lighting equipment
Supervises or performs still photography. Provides still photographic image management. Supervises or performs preventive maintenance, and periodic photographic imagery calibration. Conducts progressive customer relations programs to make sure multimedia products meet mission needs. Manages or executes the multimedia safety program.
Specialty Qualifications:
Knowledge. Knowledge of photographic esthetics, theory, technology, camera operation, and imagery production systems characteristics of digital light sensors, ,color correction; exposure and processing effects; imagery evaluation; digital image noise, and resolution is mandatory.
Education. For entry into this specialty, completion of high school with courses in photography, computer science, physics, multimedia production and mathematics is desirable.
Training. For award of AFSC 3N034, completion of a basic photography course is mandatory.
Experience. The following experience is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated:
3N054. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 3N034. Also, experience in functions such as alert photography, combat documentation and accessioning.
3N074. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 3N054. Also, experience performing and supervising functions involved in coordinating and accomplishing still photography, image management, accessioning and still photographic printing.
Other. The following are mandatory as indicated: For entry into this specialty: Normal color vision as defined in AFI 48-123, Medical Examinations and Standards. Specialty requires routine access to Secret material or similar environment. For award and retention of AFSCs 3N0X4, completion of a current National Agency Check, Local Agency Checks and Credit (NACLC) according to AFI 31‑501, Personnel Security Program Management. NOTE: Award of the 3-skill level without a completed NACLC is authorized provided an interim Secret clearance has been granted according to AFI 31-501.
