About Me

It began with the Mourning Warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia). This shy, furtive skulker sparked my passion for birds. It's not particularly beautiful, though its dark, hooded-head and its lemony-yellow breast certainly pleases the eye. It's not particularly rare, though many birders struggle to get a satisfying look at one. What made it special was the excitement it elicited in my friend, Dan Ferry, who showed it to me. He said, "If we were back in Philly, birders would make a special trip to see one of these." I was hooked.

My love of birds blossomed, but my knowledge of birds was limited to mascots: Blue Jays, Cardinals, Orioles, Penguins, Eagles, Ravens, etc. I received a Canon DSLR from my parents as a graduation present and photography became the tool I used to identify the species I encountered. With each passing year, my skills, passion and familiarity with birds increased. I upgraded my equipment when finances allowed. I invested innumerable hours to find and photograph new species: researching birding hotspots, nearby and around the world; driving through pitch darkness, and in marginal weather, to arrive for the birds' pre-dawn chorus; traversing snowy forests, muddy fields, oppressive desert heat and fending off hordes of mosquitos and biting flies. Countless more hours have been spent reviewing hundreds of images.

Beyond helping to identify birds, photography became a kind of visual journal for my 30s. It helped document the things I'd seen, the places I'd been and the experiences I had. I expanded beyond snapshots at family gatherings into portrait photography. I began dabbling in landscapes and astrophotography. I tried to create images that told a story, or elicited an emotional reaction.  

Obviously, nothing increases your photo library like having kids. They are willing subjects. For the most part.

Services Provided

If you're looking for portraits, professional headshots, or high-quality images to promote your business, upcoming events or your artistic endeavors,  please feel free to contact me to discuss scheduling, rates and available services.

mark.e.syvertson@gmail.com or (617) 645-8199