Birds are everywhere. Yet I’ve not taken time to observe them – till now that is. They wake me up in the morning whenever I’m camping outdoors. Most of them are small, camouflaged, and quick. Within the last week, I’ve paid more attention to the birds in my backyard – see the last three pictures below.
All pictures taken with Nikon D4S and these lenses:
Nikkor AF-S 200-400mm f/4G w/ TC-14E III (#16-#18, 06/18/2020)
1. Ring-billed Gull (NY)
2. Blue Jay (MI)
3. White-breasted Nuthatch (MI)4. Black-capped Chickadee (MI)5. Male Northern Cardinal (MI)6. Female Northern Cardinal (MI)7. Red-bellied Woodpecker (MI)8. Dark-eyed Junco (MI)9. Female Downy Woodpecker (MI)10. Male Downy Woodpecker (MI)11. American Rosefinch – Male House Finch (MI)12. House Sparrow (MI)13. American Rosefinch – Male House Finch (MI)14. Tufted Titmouse (MI)15. American Rosefinch – Female House Finch (MI)16. American Robin (IL)17. Northern Cardinal (IL)18. Cedar Waxwing (IL)Birds of New York, Michigan and Illinois
As part of a team event during the stay-at-home period, I scanned this family portrait that was made 46 years ago when my father received his masters degree.
Family portrait from 1974
Another photograph I scanned was this 5×7 picture. I made this picture from start to finish. Using the school darkroom, I developed the film and printed this picture 34 years ago.
The next photo was taken 20 years ago when 53% of my paternal extended family had the opportunity to come together from at least three states for a family gathering.
Extended Family Group Picture in 2000 (Nikon F3HP w/ Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 AI-s)
In the nearly 16 years I’ve lived in my house, birds have been building their nests under the deck in the back of the house. This is the first time a bird, an American robin, has built its nest on the tree in the front yard. All pictures taken with Nikon D4S w/ Nikkor AF-S 200mm-400mm f/4G and Nikkor TC-14E II 1.4x teleconverter.
On the freezing morning of January 13, Eugene spotted ice crystals on the glass screen door by the breakfast area. Using the extension tube I recently received, I took pictures of these natural works or art.
As part of my adventure in photojournalism, I did not get all my pictures published. The following is one of them. Security was tight – the secret service had me click the shutter and waste a couple of frames of film to prove that my SLR is actually a camera.
20 years since my picture was published in a newspaper, I had the opportunity to do it again this year. The differences this time are…
I received no payment – vs. $5 the last time.
I used a digital point-and-shoot camera (Coolpix A) – vs. a SLR (Nikon F3HP).
My picture is on section 5 of the newspaper – vs. the front page.
My picture has potential to reach of over 94,000 print readers in the Chicagoland area plus many more worldwide online readers – vs. over 20,000 in the Western Michigan University campuses.
Story Published on the Daily Herald Fox Valley Edition on September 11, 2015.
This media adventure did not end there. Eugene’s story was also featured by the Northern Illinois Food Bank, Boy Scouts of America, WBBM Newsradio, U-46 School District, and because I said I would. Here is a sample of the reach Eugene’s story had:
The Boy Scouts of America’s Facebook page has over 350,000 followers and its post of Eugene’s story from Scouting Newsroom gained 470 likes and 81 shares. In addition, the Scouting Newsroom itself registered 707 Facebook likes. The same story was further e-mail distributed by the Scouting Alumni Association to its members.
Because I said I would.‘s Facebook page has over 101,000 followers. In the first hour on September 22, the social movement’s post of Eugene’s story garnered over 250 likes and 16 shares. In the next 11 hours, the same post doubled the likes count to over 500 and added another 28 shares. The post finally reached 603 likes and 55 shares.
BSA’s Facebook Post on September 1, 2015.
Because I said I would.’s Facebook Post on September 22, 2015.
The media, both traditional and digital, are certainly reaching their subscribers. While WBBM Newsradio and Daily Herald serve the Chicagoland area, the Boy Scouts of America and because I said I would. have an audience that is nationwide, and to some extent, worldwide due to digital technology. Here is a sample of the feedback received thus far:
WBBM Newsradio 105.9FM and 780AM. Eugene’s third grade teacher e-mailed him as soon as she had learned from her husband that Eugene was featured on the radio on August 28. My family also heard the two radio segments in the car on the way to my company’s family picnic at Six Flag’s Great America at around 3:00 PM and on the return home at around 9:00 PM. WBBM had interviewed Eugene on the same day at around Noon, just before he boarded the school bus home.
Boy Scouts of America on social media. On September 1, Eugene’s former den leader and Cubmaster shared his story from the BSA’s Facebook post on his Cub Scout Pack’s Facebook page.
Daily Herald newspaper. Eugene’s story was published on September 11 to the Fox Valley area and on September 21 to the Northwest Suburbs. On September 15, a food bank volunteer recognized Eugene as the person featured on the September 11 issue of the Daily Herald newspaper and took a picture of his wife with Eugene as if he was a celebrity. On September 22, a neighbor had read Eugene’s story on the September 21 issue of the Daily Herald newspaper and gave it to him in the morning while waiting for the school bus.
The Streamwood Examiner newspaper. A woman resident of the Surrey Meadows neighborhood recognized Eugene from the newspaper article when Eugene delivered popcorn to her on November 15.
Although Eugene received the youth volunteer of the year recognition from the Northern Illinois Food Bank at its volunteer appreciation event on July 12, the communication of it started on August 10 when the food bank posted about it on its website. Since then, Eugene’s story has been told from many perspectives:
Northern Illinois Food Bank and Daily Herald: Making a difference.
WBBM Newsradio, U-46 School District, The Village of Bartlett and The Streamwood Examiner: Inspiring young people to volunteer.
Boy Scouts of America: Scouting’s slogan “do a good turn daily”.
Because I said I would. A promise made and kept.
This story has been relayed through following media:
Website: Northern Illinois Food Bank (August 10), Scouting Newsroom (August 21), U-46 School District (August 30), Daily Herald (September 9), Because I said I would (September 22).
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest
Radio: WBBM Newsradio (August 28)
Newspaper: Daily Herald (September 11 and September 21), The Streamwood Examiner (October 28)
E-mail Newsletter: Pathway to Adventure Council (September 4), Scouting Alumni Association (September 19), Because I said I would (September 30).
Printed Newsletter: Northern Illinois Food Bank’s The Full Plate (Fall 2015), The Village of Bartlett’s Bartletter (October/November 2015)
