Not much can seemingly happen in one-thousandth of a second, but when that brief instant is frozen in time by a photograph, it often contains a wealth of information and emotion. It can hold a personal memory or a historical moment.

Photojournalist Andrew Hancock has made it his mission to capture those fleeting moments. Renowned for his sports coverage, Hancock’s photos have appeared in major newspapers, magazines, and online publications. He is one of just a dozen photographers to have a photo on the cover of both Time and Sports Illustrated. He is highly sought by college and sports teams, news outlets and other publications for his innovative work that has earned him a top spot among the world’s photographers.

Hancock’s rise in photography was nearly as swift as a camera’s shutter click. Just a decade after picking up a real camera for the first time, he landed his initial assignment with Sports Illustrated, and a year later, he earned his first cover, achieving a dream milestone at 29 that only a select few photographers ever achieve.

Born in Midland, Texas, Hancock was always interested in sports, attending local college basketball games with his grandfather and playing multiple sports himself. His first camera was a Fisher-Price toy, but his interest in photography grew as he occasionally accompanied his mother to the local newspaper, where she worked in advertising. Hancock developed a connection with the paper’s photographers, and was captivated by the process of creating images.

Despite this early exposure, Hancock didn’t take photography seriously until college. His grandparents bought him his first real camera as a high school graduation present in 1997 on the condition that he take a photography class at Midland Junior College. He quickly fell in love with the creative process and decided to pursue a career in journalism. At Texas A&M, he worked for the student newspaper, honing his skills in both writing and photography.

After graduating in 2003, Hancock sought a place to start his career. Despite never having been north of the Mason-Dixon line or east of the Mississippi, he decided to venture out, applying for a position at the Herald-Press in far-off Huntington, Indiana, and was hired by editor Mike Perkins after a phone interview. The Herald-Press had a veteran staff and a strong reputation, including for its award-winning photography. Life as a daily newspaper photographer was grueling, and Hancock initially struggled with his work ethic, which hindered his growth.

Feeling homesick and contemplating a return to Texas, Hancock’s life took a turn when he met Maria Amick at a local YMCA. Their chance meeting, followed by a date at Coffee D’Vine, marked a turning point for him. Maria, who would later become his wife, inspired a new dedication in Hancock. He decided to stay in Huntington and fully commit to his photography career.

With renewed energy, Hancock began pushing the boundaries of his creativity. His growing confidence led him to reach out to Sports Illustrated photographer Bill Frakes, who was impressed with Hancock’s work and invited him to assist with covering the Kentucky Derby in 2005. This opportunity marked the beginning of Hancock’s rapid ascent in the photography world. He was accepted into the prestigious Eddie Adams Workshop, which connected him with top photographers and editors, leading to his first freelance assignment for Sports Illustrated in 2007. A year later, he landed his first cover for the magazine.

Hancock eventually left Huntington for a position at the Journal & Courier in Lafayette and later worked for Purdue University before going freelance. By then, he was traveling across the country and around the world, capturing images while continually pushing himself to innovate. His work involved placing cameras in unique locations and capturing views not typically seen. He hauled camera gear to remote ice caves, climbed sheer mountain faces, and traveled to far-flung places like Norway and Istanbul to challenge his creative abilities.

Throughout his career, Hancock has avoided relying on Photoshop or artificial intelligence to enhance his work. Instead, he has focused on attention to detail, planning, experience, and his creative intuition to capture images as they appear in his camera’s viewfinder.

One of his most famous photos was of Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel. Hancock suspended a large piece of plexiglass several feet in the air and shot from underneath, suspending Manziel in the same pose as the Heisman Trophy, the award the quarterback had recently won as the top college football player. The photo became one of the most famous sports images of the year, landing on the cover of Time magazine. A second photo from that session graced the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Hancock has covered many major sporting events, including Super Bowls and NCAA championship games. In 2016, he was embedded with the Chicago Cubs during their historic World Series win, their first in 108 years.

In 2013, Hancock was chosen as one of the first Nikon Ambassadors, a role in which he promotes the company’s products, tests new equipment, and lends his expertise to product development. He also leads workshops and seminars, passing along the lessons he has learned to the next generation of photographers.

Despite his extensive travels, Hancock prioritizes his family. He and Maria have two young daughters, and live in the Dallas area, having returned to his beloved homeland of Texas. He balances a hectic work schedule with time at home, family vacations and involvement in his daughters’ lives, which includes being there for the first day of school, helping with homework and coaching soccer teams.

Hancock continues to push himself creatively, driven by his curiosity about people, light, and the world around him. His goal remains to tell compelling stories within that brief, one-thousandth-of-a-second moment.