The mourning warbler, a small songbird boasting a yellow belly, sparked Mark Syvertson’s fervor for photography in 2011. Fourteen years later, Syvertson remains an avid birder, but also channels his passion into capturing Ithaca’s characters, protests and natural views for the Ithaca Times.
Photography is an addictive pleasure for Syvertson.
“You get a longer lens, you get a better camera, you get an even longer lens, you get an even better camera,” Syvertson said with a chuckle. “You just get pulled into it.”
Having worked for the Ithaca Times for over a year, Syvertson is a seasoned local photographer. He said his favorite assignments are those where he can capture Ithaca’s charm.
“You'd have a hard time finding a more beautiful landscape in which to shoot,” Syvertson said. “Between the natural beauty of the waterfalls, the forests, the lake and even the murals around town, [Ithaca] is a place that cares about aesthetics.”
There’s a certain “challenge” to taking a photo in Ithaca, where views like the Taughannock Falls get photographed every day, Syvertson said. Discovering one-of-a-kind ways to shoot local landmarks excites him.
Through the lens of his Sony A74 — Syvertson’s go-to camera nowadays — he also enjoys viewing the diversity in Ithaca’s community. From older folks to families to college students, he described Ithaca as an “eclectic mix of people” to photograph.
Embedded in the Ithaca community himself, Syvertson substitutes for the local school district and practically lives at Stewart Park, he said. There, he enjoys the sights with his wife, plays sports with his sons and even dabbles in some local birding.
Birding is a central part of Syvertson’s life. He said he has driven an “unconscionable number of miles” chasing birds. He has photographed approximately 500 unique birds already — and he aims to photograph more.
When asked what he would do with a spontaneous day off of work, Syvertson said, “My answer is always [that] I'd like to go birding somewhere.”
On the job at the Times, Syvertson shifts from chasing birds to chasing local news and hard-hitting photojournalism. Some of his favorite assignments include parades and protests, where there is a lot to see and he can capture crowds all in one place.
Ultimately, Syvertson appreciates seeing and being a part of what he described as the “really important work” being done by the Times team to serve the community.
“I feel great being a part of this community asset,” Syvertson said. “I like working at a place that I feel proud of.”
Varsha Bhargava is a reporter at the Ithaca Times and a news editor at The Cornell Daily Sun working on The Sun’s summer fellowship. This article was originally published in the Ithaca Times.
Varsha Bhargava is a news editor for the 143rd Editorial Board and a member of the Class of 2027 in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She can be reached at vbhargava@cornellsun.com.
