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Northern Star
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Northern Star

Patrick Murphy

All content by Patrick Murphy
I remember taking a career cruising test in 8th grade that would show me potential career paths that might interest me. My top result was photographer which at the time I disregarded. Little did I know how important photography would change my life.

Capturing Campus: a photo editor’s farewell

April 28, 2021
For my initial career path, I wanted to go into radio broadcasting to be a radio announcer. I did not really get into photography until my sophomore year of college. When I transferred to NIU, my passion for photography skyrocketed.

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Photography started out as a hobby of mine in community college. I learned how to take photos through trial and error, but YouTube helped a lot.

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My time at the Northern Star has given me the skills and experience I need for my career path. Especially with going into multimedia production, working for the student newspaper has been an amazing learning experience.

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Overcast days are great for photography. The clouds act as a natural light diffuser and spreads light more evenly on subjects. Direct sunlight creates harsh shadows and uneven lighting on subjects.

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Springtime on campus one of the most beautiful times on campus. Blooming flowers are everywhere and are by far one of my favorite subjects to photograph at NIU.

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Being a commuter student, I felt disconnected to NIU in many ways, but NIU grew on me as I photographed more events on campus.

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Lastly I would like to say thank you to my family. They have been a phenomenal support network and have put up with me and my camera for the last three years. Thank you!

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The Lagoon is another staple of NIUs campus. It is a phenomenal spot for a walk, to do homework, and of course photograph nature and wildlife.

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I would like to say thank you to Wade Duerkes and Shelley Hendricks. Having instructors that are and want to see you succeed makes a world of a difference for students. Thank you!

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Altgeld Hall is another one of my favorite spots to photograph on campus. there is an amazing spot on the third floor for portraits, and the stone architecture is beautiful.

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The Northern Star has been a place that has allowed me to develop and hone in my skills as a photojournalist. Every time I photograph an assignment I learn something new.

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Buying a camera or camera gear is a lot like buying a car. They all do the same thing, you just have to find the right one that suits your needs.

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In the basement of Cole Hall, the class photos of the photojournalism classes line the walls, dating all the way back to the 1960s. I cant wait to see the Zoom class photo up on the wall.

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I would also like to say thank you to everyone I have worked with at the Northern Star. It has been so nice to make friends who all share similar passions.

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Every semester, the photojournalism class takes a class photo on these steps. When the pandemic hit, and the rest of the spring 2020 semester moved online, the class photo had to be taken over a Zoom call.

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One of my favorite compositional tools is the use of natural frames for your subject. Here, I am photographing the student center, but the buildings surrounding it create a natural frame that outlines and narrows the focus towards the subject.

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I never thought a universitys campus could be photogenic but the layout of campus and the unique architecture of buildings leaves so much creative freedom to capture beautiful pictures.

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I have learned as a photographer, you can photograph the same place over and over again and still find something new to capture.

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COVID-19 has been a blessing and a curse as a photojournalist. It has allowed me to capture and hone in my skills as a photojournalist, but it also turned NIU upside-down with no in-person events or student life to photograph.

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My two main camera bodies are the Panasonic Lumix G9 and G7. I invested in the micro 4/3 system for its great photo and video hybrid features and its portability and lens sizes.

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I have probably photographed the Holmes Student Center a thousand times over. Nothing quite stands out like it on campus.

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My time spent at the Northern Stars office has given me the college experience I was looking for. It gave me the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.

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NIU police officer Larry Williams checks his body camera Thursday before putting it on his uniform. All NIU officers are assigned their own body camera.

A day in the life of a NIU police officer

April 25, 2021
NIU police officer Larry Williams sits on a desk Thursday and talks to a fellow police officer at the NIU police department.

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NIU police officer Larry Williams logs information a computer Thursday. This station is where they scan an individuals finger prints.

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Officer Larry Williams walks to his squad car Thursday while talking to a fellow police officer.

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Officer Larry Williams checks a classroom Thursday in the Jack Arends Visual Arts Building. Building checks are a part of Williams daily duties.

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Officer Larry Williams works at a computer Thursday at the NIU police department. A majority of daily police work is desk work.

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Officer Larry Williams reviews body camera footage on a computer Thursday at the NIU police department.

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Officer Larry Williams asks for assistance from Main Desk Attendant Thomas Koron Thursday at the front desk of the Holmes Student Center.

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Officer Larry Williams walks down a hallway Thursday in the Holmes Student Center.

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Officer Larry Williams walks through the door of the Telephone and Security building. This is where the NIU Polices dispatch center is located.

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Officer Larry Williams logs his building check of the art building Thursday at the NIU police department.

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Officer Larry Williams demonstrates how to log evidence in a bag Thursday at the NIU police department.

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Officer Williams talks to junior elementary education major Taylor Owens Thursday while she works in the dining hall in Stevenson Towers.

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Officer Larry Williams talks to residence hall director Lindsey Komes. Officer Williams helps both students and staff in the residence halls on a regular basis.

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Officer Larry Williams walks down the main level of Stevenson Towers Thursday.

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Officer Larry Williams works at a computer Thursday in Stevenson Towers. Most buildings on campus have an office for NIU police officers to work from.

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NIU police officer Larry Williams puts his face mask on a desk Thursday in an office in Stevenson Hall.

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Officer Larry Williams talks to student at the front desk of Stevenson Towers.

[Photo] Editorial: Students lack involvement in police chief search

September 15, 2021
Officer Larry Williams walks to the entrance of Stevenson Towers Thursday.

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Officer Larry Williams walks down a hallway Thursday in the art building.

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NIU police officer Larry Williams talks with his fellow officers Thursday in the NIU police department briefing room.

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NIU police officer Larry Williams checks his temperature Thursday at the NIU Police Department.

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NIU police officer Larry Williams stands out front of the NIU police department Thursday.

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Officer Larry Williams drives his squad car down Augusta Avenue Thursday in DeKalb.

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Vigil attendee holds a Black Lives Matter poster above her head Friday at Memorial Park.

DeKalb activists hold vigil at Memorial Park

April 24, 2021
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Jane Pappas answers questions during an interview with a reporter Friday at a vigil in Memorial Park.

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DeKalb community member Jessica Webb holds a poster of Daunte Wright while writing a message with chalk Friday.

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A megaphone sits on a stone wall Friday during a vigil at Memorial Park.

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Vigil participants write messages of support for Black Lives Matter Friday on the ground of Memorial Park in DeKalb

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A battery-powered candle sits on the ground Friday as vigil participants write messages of support with chalk.

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Vigil attendees write messages of support Friday on the ground of Memorial Park.

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Jane Pappas holds a sign of Adam Toledo Friday at Memorial Park in DeKalb while listening to Jocelyn Santana speak.

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DeKalb community members gather Friday at Memorial Park for a Black Lives Matter vigil.

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Community members listen to Jocelyn Santana speak Friday during a vigil at Memorial Park in DeKalb.

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Vigil attendees pass around a box of battery-powered candles Friday at Memorial Park in DeKalb.

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Assistant director of social justice education, Jane Pappas holds a poster of Adam Toledo Friday at a vigil in Memorial Park.

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DeKalb community member wears a Black Lives Matter face mask Friday while attending a vigil in Memorial Park.

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DeKalb community member Maurice McDavid speaks to everyone attending the vigil for Daunte Wright, Adam Toledo and George Floyd Friday.

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Maurice McDavid speaks to the crowd Friday with a megaphone. The vigil was held in memory of Daunte Wright, Adam Toledo, George Floyd, and all the people who lost their lives to state-sanctioned violence.

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DeKalb resident Jessica Webb holds a photo of Daunte Wright Friday at Memorial Park in DeKalb.

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DeKalb community member Jocelyn Santana speaks to a group of BLM supporters Friday with a megaphone.

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DeKalb community members hold up signs Friday to passing traffic at Memorial Park in DeKalb.

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White flowers bloom on trees Thursday outside of Neptune East Hall.

Earth Day: nature on campus

April 22, 2021
Two ducks and a squirrel walk through the grass Thursday by the East Lagoon.

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Water flows under the foot bridge Thursday at the East Lagoon.

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A goose stands on one leg Thursday in the grass next to the East Lagoon.

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Flowers blossom Thursday at the base of the sculpture outside of the Holmes Student Center.

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Water flows through the pond outside of Cole Hall Thursday.

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Flowers bloom on trees in April outside of Adams and Williston Hall at NIU.

[Photo] Heat expected to break Monday, National Weather Service says

August 26, 2021
White flowers blossom on a tree outside of Altgeld Hall Thursday on NIUs campus.

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Pink flowers bloom on trees Thursday outside Still Hall.

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Trees cast shadows on the sidewalk Thursday outside of Lowden Hall.

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Blue flowers grow next to a tree Thursday near the East Lagoon.

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Red flowers blossom Thursday in front of the Universitys entrance.

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Red flowers bloom in front of Northern Illinois University sign Thursday along Lincoln Highway.

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Four ducklings swim Thursday in the East Lagoon.

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A DeKalb resident fishes in the stream Thursday next to the East Lagoon.

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A goose sits in the grass Thursday by the East Lagoon.

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A goose flaps its wings Thursday in the East Lagoon.

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Geese sit and walk around the East Lagoon Thursday.

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Water flows through the stream Thursday next to the East Lagoon.

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Water flows down a stream Thursday next to the NIU art building.

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Sam Beightol, Angel Alba, Morgan Mallory and Hannah Schaumberg all decorate their own personalized tea cups.

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Junior, education major and vice president of Chinese Club, Hannah Schaumberg helps set up the tea ceremony.

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Homemade moon pies defrost in individual packages during Chinese Clubs tea ceremony. Due to COVID-19 restrictions all food and drink must be taken to go.

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Junior, education major Hannah Schaumberg takes a photo of her tea cup design.

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Northern Star

The Northern Star is the student-produced, independent media at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill. and is a limited public forum whose content is determined exclusively by its student editors. Information presented on this website and in its print products is not controlled by NIU administration, faculty or staff. The Star publishes online at northernstar.info and sends out its TLDR newsletter Monday through Friday.

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The Northern Star is the student-produced, independent media at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill. The Northern Star covers NIU campus news, DeKalb news, NIU Huskie sports and northern Illinois entertainment.

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Northern Star

The Northern Star is the student-produced, independent media at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill. The Northern Star covers NIU campus news, DeKalb news, NIU Huskie sports and northern Illinois entertainment.

Our Coverage

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