Legendary photographer and director David Bailey said, “In photography, everything is so ordinary; it takes a lot of looking before you learn to see the extraordinary.” 

It’s a lesson that Mike Becker, a former guest of Catholic Charities Tuesday Evening Suppers, learned quite well. He, too, is quite extraordinary. 

The Suppers provide free meals to guests in the River North area who are struggling in many ways, often bearing the burdens of homelessness, food insecurity, mental illness, and substance abuse. Thanks to the initial generosity of professional photographers and a community of dedicated volunteers who started the program more than 20 years ago, guests of the Suppers are invited to join After Supper Visions, a training program designed to build their skills as photographers. 

Before joining the program, Mike had never taken a photo in his life. A swimming accident when he was 23 left him a quadriplegic, but with assistance through rehabilitation medicine was able to regain use of his arms. After coming to the community Suppers, he began to show interest in the program. Remarkably, Mike’s talent was evident from the moment he took his first picture.  

“We gave him a camera and his eye for photography was incredible,” said Fr. Wayne Watts, Catholic Charities Associate Administrator and a co-founder of the program. 

Ellen Gorney, another co-founder of the program, recalls that the program began as a way to offer Supper guests a positive, creative experience.  

“An initial donation of disposable cameras provided a unique opportunity to flex creative muscle,” said Ellen. “More than 20 years later, After Supper Visions continues to flourish with better cameras and a growing community of support.” 

An annual After Supper Visions Photo Exhibition highlights the work of the program participants and provides an opportunity for them to sell their work.  Among those sellers is Mike. 

‘I love coming to the shows,” said Mike. “The pictures let me be creative. I like talking to the people that come … and see the pictures of the other artists.” 

A featured artist in one of the first shows, Mike was able to re-invest his earnings to upgrade his camera and lenses. His continued dedication to the craft caught the attention of leadership of the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab (formerly known as the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago) where Mike was a patient after his swimming accident. They commissioned him to take the inaugural photos of their new state-of-the-art facility, which currently hang in the facility’s public spaces. 

Mike always has his camera with him in the event a visual moment suddenly transpires. 

He said, smiling, “I take the camera with me everywhere I go. I always have my eyes open for different pictures that might jump out at me.” 

The After Supper Visions program continues to be a wonderful respite for its participants.  

“It’s an opportunity to be part of a large, supportive community of people who enjoy photography and want to affirm each other as they strive for new levels of originality and expertise,” added Jody O’Connor, a professional photographer who has been with the program since its start. “Their creativity has no barriers. Through photography, they are finding happiness.” 

Fr. Wayne finds it remarkable how successful the program has been for both the participants and those who donate their time to teach. “It’s amazing to see how the logistics of the program have changed, from cardboard cameras to computer storage. Even through these changes, there’s a great amount of joy to behold.” 

Joy is a feeling that’s not lost on Mike, an extraordinary man with extraordinary talent, discovered when someone provided him an ordinary camera.