City Sapsucker

Written By Ray Hennessy
 

Photographer: Ryan Mclaughlin

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1/2000 • f/4 • ISO 64 • Nikon D850 • 24mm • Nikon 24-120mm f/4

After stepping off the train in Manhattan, this Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker was the very first bird I noticed. I have seen Sapsuckers in urban environments before, but never so low just a few feet away from bustling pedestrians. This bird was a treat to watch and photograph, and I had fun trying varying focal lengths and compositions as it pecked away for insect lunch.

There were practically no foreground elements to work with, so I put on a polarizer filter and tried to lean into the sun flares for added depth in the short window that the sun peaked through the buildings. In post, converted to black and white which felt culturally appropriate for this scene outside of the iconic New York Public Library steps. Fun scene to shoot.

 
Ray Hennessy

Starting in 2007 my fascination with nature photography began.  In the years since, wildlife photography with a focus on birds has gone from a very passionate hobby of mine to become my career. I spend much of my free time in natural areas searching for birds and any other wildlife that comes along. I concentrate on using creative natural lighting and interesting compositions to capture unique images of common and rare wildlife. My favorite style is a more scenic photo that includes some of the habitat wildlife lives in. I also enjoy passing along the knowledge and experience that I have gathered over the years to other photographers who are eager to learn.

www.rayhennessy.com
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