Ray Hennessy
POV Wildlife Photography - Puffins with the Nikon Z8 and 100-400mm Lens in Newfoundland
updated
Lastly a huge thanks to my one and only Emilie Reid who is my travel, photography, and life partner and my best supporter and who is so talented in many ways including playing the music included in this video!
Happy shooting in 2024 everyone!
Lastly a huge thanks to my one and only Emilie Reid who is my travel, photography, and life partner and my best supporter and who is so talented in many ways including playing the music included in this video!
Happy shooting in 2024 everyone!
Lastly a huge thanks to my one and only Emilie Reid who is my travel, photography, and life partner and my best supporter and who is so talented in many ways including playing the music included in this video!
Happy shooting in 2024 everyone!
Lastly a huge thanks to my one and only Emilie Reid who is my travel, photography, and life partner and my best supporter and who is so talented in many ways including playing the music included in this video!
Happy shooting in 2024 everyone!
View more details and full sized photos at
http://rayhennessy.com/lessons/waterfowl-in-new-mexico
Shoot video:
youtu.be/syJG-RF08ko
Photo edits video:
youtu.be/syJG-RF08ko
We arrived at this small lake as a place to park for a few days during our visit to White Sands National Park in New Mexico. As soon as we arrived we saw the lake was filled with waterfowl and I knew I wanted to try to photograph them. It was windy most days which made things tough but on this evening the light looked like it had potential so I went out. It started off mostly overcast and started to break up as the sun set and the colors and sky were beautiful. The locations and slightly windy conditions still provided quite the challenge to capture beautiful photos but in the end I captured a few I was happy with. I hope you enjoy this evening with waterfowl.
View more details and full sized photos at
http://rayhennessy.com/lessons/waterfowl-in-new-mexico
Shoot video:
youtu.be/syJG-RF08ko
Photo edits video:
youtu.be/syJG-RF08ko
We arrived at this small lake as a place to park for a few days during our visit to White Sands National Park in New Mexico. As soon as we arrived we saw the lake was filled with waterfowl and I knew I wanted to try to photograph them. It was windy most days which made things tough but on this evening the light looked like it had potential so I went out. It started off mostly overcast and started to break up as the sun set and the colors and sky were beautiful. The locations and slightly windy conditions still provided quite the challenge to capture beautiful photos but in the end I captured a few I was happy with. I hope you enjoy this evening with waterfowl.
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:05- Photo 1
2:24 - Photo 2
6:30 - Photo 3
9:07 - Photo 4
11:06 - Photo 5
View more details and full sized photos at
http://rayhennessy.com/lessons/waterfowl-in-new-mexico
Shoot video:
youtu.be/syJG-RF08ko
Photo edits video:
youtu.be/syJG-RF08ko
We arrived at this small lake as a place to park for a few days during our visit to White Sands National Park in New Mexico. As soon as we arrived we saw the lake was filled with waterfowl and I knew I wanted to try to photograph them. It was windy most days which made things tough but on this evening the light looked like it had potential so I went out. It started off mostly overcast and started to break up as the sun set and the colors and sky were beautiful. The locations and slightly windy conditions still provided quite the challenge to capture beautiful photos but in the end I captured a few I was happy with. I hope you enjoy this evening with waterfowl.
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:45 - the Setup
14:10 - Photo 1
15:56 - Photo 2
18:39 - Photo 3
19:30 - Photo 4
21:45 - Photo 5
View more details and full sized photos at
http://rayhennessy.com/lessons/western-bluebirds-in-california
Shoot video:
youtu.be/Ox9Sj5C2kPU
Photo edits video:
youtu.be/O1Gc20_bXfk
We stayed at a small animal farm for a few nights and I quickly noticed a nice variety of birds on the property. One of the mornings I had some free time I walked around for an hour to see what I could shoot. I really wanted to photograph an Acorn Woodpecker but that didn’t work out. After starting with some Wild Turkeys, I eventually came across a small group of Western Bluebirds and had some great opportunity with them. The sun was strong at that point and I moved into position to work with the dramatic light against the darker backgrounds.
Chapters:
0:00 - Photo 1
4:43 - Photo 2
7:01 - Photo 3
9:24 - Photo 4
12:52 - Photo 5
15:33 - Photo 6
18:01 - Photo 7
View more details and full sized photos at
http://rayhennessy.com/lessons/western-bluebirds-in-california
Shoot video:
youtu.be/Ox9Sj5C2kPU
Photo edits video:
youtu.be/O1Gc20_bXfk
We stayed at a small animal farm for a few nights and I quickly noticed a nice variety of birds on the property. One of the mornings I had some free time I walked around for an hour to see what I could shoot. I really wanted to photograph an Acorn Woodpecker but that didn’t work out. After starting with some Wild Turkeys, I eventually came across a small group of Western Bluebirds and had some great opportunity with them. The sun was strong at that point and I moved into position to work with the dramatic light against the darker backgrounds.
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:29 - Setup
3:38 - Shoot
9:34 - Photo 1
16:31 - Photo 2
17:25 - Photo 3
21:36 - Photo 4
23:22 - Photo 5
24:05 - Photo 6
25:36 - Photo 7
View more details and full sized photos at
http://rayhennessy.com/lessons/western-bluebirds-in-california
Shoot video:
youtu.be/Ox9Sj5C2kPU
Photo edits video:
youtu.be/O1Gc20_bXfk
We stayed at a small animal farm for a few nights and I quickly noticed a nice variety of birds on the property. One of the mornings I had some free time I walked around for an hour to see what I could shoot. I really wanted to photograph an Acorn Woodpecker but that didn’t work out. After starting with some Wild Turkeys, I eventually came across a small group of Western Bluebirds and had some great opportunity with them. The sun was strong at that point and I moved into position to work with the dramatic light against the darker backgrounds.
View more details and full sized photos at View more details and full sized photos at rayhennessy.com/lessons/2023/01/14/waterfowl-on-a-small-lake-in-texas
Shoot video:
youtu.be/7ADdwkz0KbQ
Photo edits video:
youtu.be/ARZx7aQZLOQ
This was my first time in Texas and I had chose this location based on some eBird research and a desire to stay in warm temperatures during a month long road-trip. Based on that research I knew there were ducks in the area but that doesn’t always mean it will be a good location for photography. Emilie & I had scouted this location the day before and had chosen this location to setup our hide and lay down for the waterfowl. It worked out great and we had some nice variety. The morning started with some soft pastel colors and soft light with just a hint of mist on the surface of the water. Next I was able to shoot some ducks silhouetted into the rising sun and then later with some front light. The morning provided a nice variety of options for us both. This lesson is a great example of how a bit of online research and then on-location scouting can give some solid results. If I had more time in the area I’d have been able to dial things in more but for my first time at a location I was happy with the results. Stay tuned for the next lesson which is more waterfowl in the same area but on a much larger body of water and on a completely foggy morning.
View more details and full sized photos at rayhennessy.com/lessons/2023/01/14/waterfowl-on-a-small-lake-in-texas
Shoot video:
youtu.be/7ADdwkz0KbQ
Photo edits video:
youtu.be/ARZx7aQZLOQ
This was my first time in Texas and I had chose this location based on some eBird research and a desire to stay in warm temperatures during a month long road-trip. Based on that research I knew there were ducks in the area but that doesn’t always mean it will be a good location for photography. Emilie & I had scouted this location the day before and had chosen this location to setup our hide and lay down for the waterfowl. It worked out great and we had some nice variety. The morning started with some soft pastel colors and soft light with just a hint of mist on the surface of the water. Next I was able to shoot some ducks silhouetted into the rising sun and then later with some front light. The morning provided a nice variety of options for us both. This lesson is a great example of how a bit of online research and then on-location scouting can give some solid results. If I had more time in the area I’d have been able to dial things in more but for my first time at a location I was happy with the results. Stay tuned for the next lesson which is more waterfowl in the same area but on a much larger body of water and on a completely foggy morning.
View more details and full sized photos at rayhennessy.com/lessons/2023/01/14/waterfowl-on-a-small-lake-in-texas
Shoot video:
youtu.be/7ADdwkz0KbQ
Photo edits video:
youtu.be/ARZx7aQZLOQ
This was my first time in Texas and I had chose this location based on some eBird research and a desire to stay in warm temperatures during a month long road-trip. Based on that research I knew there were ducks in the area but that doesn’t always mean it will be a good location for photography. Emilie & I had scouted this location the day before and had chosen this location to setup our hide and lay down for the waterfowl. It worked out great and we had some nice variety. The morning started with some soft pastel colors and soft light with just a hint of mist on the surface of the water. Next I was able to shoot some ducks silhouetted into the rising sun and then later with some front light. The morning provided a nice variety of options for us both. This lesson is a great example of how a bit of online research and then on-location scouting can give some solid results. If I had more time in the area I’d have been able to dial things in more but for my first time at a location I was happy with the results. Stay tuned for the next lesson which is more waterfowl in the same area but on a much larger body of water and on a completely foggy morning.
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
1:05 - Setup
18:51 - Shoot
23:17 - Photo 1
24:07 - Photo 2
30:41 - Photo 3
36:11 - Photo 4
36:29 - Photo 5
37:20 - Photo 6
38:48 - Photo 7
View more details and full sized photos at rayhennessy.com/lessons/2022/11/22/shorebirds-on-the-beach-south-carolina
Shoot video:
youtu.be/J3s0AQdn2RY
Photo edits video:
youtu.be/z4tQgkCtqx8
View more details and full sized photos at rayhennessy.com/lessons/2022/11/22/shorebirds-on-the-beach-south-carolina
Shoot video:
youtu.be/J3s0AQdn2RY
Photo edits video:
youtu.be/z4tQgkCtqx8
Sunrise at the beach is always such a blast! It wasn’t as fun when it’s incredibly cold and windy for the area but I managed. I arrived just before sunrise so I could catch the sun coming up over the ocean. Another important thing was to choose a day with a lower tide since the mud flats at this beach aren’t exposed at higher tides and there can be far fewer or no birds then. Low tide always provides hundreds of birds to work with. I shot for a little over an hour and did my best to mix up lighting and species, although I tend to always spend more time with the Marbled Godwits. This is a great example of how I approach shorebirds on the beach no matter where I am. A good mix of laying around in one spot as well as moving a bit to get specific scenes. I hope you enjoy this classic outing at a beach for shorebirds.
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:42 - Setup
5:08 - Shoot
10:05 - Photo 1
11:08 - Photo 2
14:55 - Photo 3
16:46 - Photo 4
25:46 - Photo 5
28:03 - Photo 6
29:22 - Photo 7
34:16 - Photo 8
39:57 - Photo 9
42:01 - Photo 10
44:18 - Photo 11
47:19 - Photo 12
50:44 - Photo 13
Shoot video:
youtu.be/J3s0AQdn2RY
Photo edits video:
youtu.be/z4tQgkCtqx8
Sunrise at the beach is always such a blast! It wasn’t as fun when it’s incredibly cold and windy for the area but I managed. I arrived just before sunrise so I could catch the sun coming up over the ocean. Another important thing was to choose a day with a lower tide since the mud flats at this beach aren’t exposed at higher tides and there can be far fewer or no birds then. Low tide always provides hundreds of birds to work with. I shot for a little over an hour and did my best to mix up lighting and species, although I tend to always spend more time with the Marbled Godwits. This is a great example of how I approach shorebirds on the beach no matter where I am. A good mix of laying around in one spot as well as moving a bit to get specific scenes. I hope you enjoy this classic outing at a beach for shorebirds.
View more details and full sized photos at rayhennessy.com/lessons/snail-kites-in-flight-and-portraits-florida
Shoot video:
youtu.be/GLgN3v25wXI
Photo edits video:
youtu.be/GLgN3v25wXI
While on a road trip with Emilie we stopped in an area of Florida called Gainesville for some mountain biking trails. While in the area we decided to see what was around and I found some Snail Kites reported nearby on eBird. We decided to head out one morning and while we only saw one fly over in that area, we stopped to speak to a local photographer while walking. He shared another spot in the same large park that was great for Snail Kites. Later that morning we visited that location and it was incredible! The next day I went out and photographed this lesson in the same exact spot. Out of the three days I photographed this spot it was the worst conditions. The wind was coming at a bad direction which made the birds fly away from me anytime they dove down for a snail and the fog that had previously made the sunrise amazing went away very quickly on this morning, revealing rather harsh light. I still managed some shots I’m happy with but on the previous two days it was far more incredible! Sometimes that’s how it goes, the conditions can make a big difference in how a shoot goes, even in an amazing location with great birds! Hope you enjoy this one and something a little different with raptors in flight.
View more details and full sized photos at rayhennessy.com/lessons/snail-kites-in-flight-and-portraits-florida
Shoot video:
youtu.be/GLgN3v25wXI
Photo edits video:
youtu.be/lgSDLvvpQX0
View more details and full sized photos at rayhennessy.com/lessons/snail-kites-in-flight-and-portraits-florida
Shoot video:
youtu.be/GLgN3v25wXI
Photo edits video:
youtu.be/GLgN3v25wXI
While on a road trip with Emilie we stopped in an area of Florida called Gainesville for some mountain biking trails. While in the area we decided to see what was around and I found some Snail Kites reported nearby on eBird. We decided to head out one morning and while we only saw one fly over in that area, we stopped to speak to a local photographer while walking. He shared another spot in the same large park that was great for Snail Kites. Later that morning we visited that location and it was incredible! The next day I went out and photographed this lesson in the same exact spot. Out of the three days I photographed this spot it was the worst conditions. The wind was coming at a bad direction which made the birds fly away from me anytime they dove down for a snail and the fog that had previously made the sunrise amazing went away very quickly on this morning, revealing rather harsh light. I still managed some shots I’m happy with but on the previous two days it was far more incredible! Sometimes that’s how it goes, the conditions can make a big difference in how a shoot goes, even in an amazing location with great birds! Hope you enjoy this one and something a little different with raptors in flight.
View more details and the full sized photos at:
rayhennessy.com/lessons/spoonbills-and-wood-storks-in-the-marsh
Shoot Video:
youtu.be/E22Iw21_DVE
Edit Video:
youtu.be/A-T-Ugv07zQ
View more details and the full sized photos at:
rayhennessy.com/lessons/spoonbills-and-wood-storks-in-the-marsh
Shoot Video:
youtu.be/E22Iw21_DVE
Edit Video:
youtu.be/A-T-Ugv07zQ
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:37 - Setup
5:02 - Shoot
I did a short outing into a private marsh that Emilie Reid has access to. We went out for the morning and got lucky with two Roseate Spoonbills that were very cooperative. The morning started off with a small flock of Wood Storks that are often in this marsh, they slowly leave for the day, which is their normal behavior. They left before the sun broke through the clouds and over the nearby tree line. Eventually the sun started shining through and we got some great light with these very cooperative Spoonbills. We would have loved to stay longer but had time constraints that morning and so had to leave. We went back again the next morning which is a separate video. The main goal on this morning was to get nice back-lit portraits of the Spoonbills. I took advantage of the zoom lens to try some wider more scenic shots as well as the close portrait type images for some nice variety.
Shoot Video:
youtu.be/E22Iw21_DVE
Edit Video:
youtu.be/A-T-Ugv07zQ
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:08 - Overall Lightroom Basic Edits
26:20 - Photo 1
31:18 - Photo 2
36:42 - Photo 3
42:34 - Photo 4
51:52 - Photo 5
56:27 - Photo 6
1:04:07 - Photo 7
1:18:48 - Photo 8
#shorts
More details and larger photos:
www.rayhennessy.com/lessons/photographing-a-pacific-wren-in-redwood-forest-the-shoot
Shoot Video:
youtu.be/LEUcywF3s04
Photo Edits Video:
youtu.be/DNFf72fKccY
More details and larger photos:
www.rayhennessy.com/lessons/photographing-a-pacific-wren-in-redwood-forest-the-shoot
Shoot Video:
youtu.be/LEUcywF3s04
Photo Edits Video:
youtu.be/DNFf72fKccY
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:27 - Setup
5:59 - Shoot


