19 September 2016

Birds in Flight Photography Workshop Cape Town - September 2016

Birds in Flight Photography Workshop Cape Town - September 2016

Birds in Flight Photography Workshop Intaka Island / Woodbridge Island Cape Town - September 2016
Vernon Chalmers facilitated the popular Birds in Flight Photography Workshop at Intaka Island Century City, Cape Town 22 / 23 September 2016 with two hands-on practical sessions at Woodbridge Island on 24 / 25 September 2016.
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2017 Birds in Flight Photography Workshops Cape Town - Go Here>>
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Session 1
: 22 Sept 17:00 - 22:00 (Intaka Island)
Session 2 : 23 Sept 17:00 - 22:00 (Intaka Island)
Session 3 : 24 Sept 08:00 - 12:00 (Woodbridge Island)
Session 4 : 25 Sept 08:00 - 12:00 (Woodbridge Island)


Note: All delegates are welcome to attend both practical sessions at Woodbridge Island, irrespective if you're attending the intermediate and / or advanced sessions.

This workshop will be the same format as my previous Birds in Flight Workshops - with choices from Intermediate (Canon / Nikon) and / or advanced (Canon Autofocus Systems).

Equipment / Settings / AF Systems - Intaka Island

  • Thurs  22 Sept 17:00 -22:00 - Intermediate (Canon / Nikon)
  • Friday 23 Sept 17:00 - 22:00 - Advanced (Canon AF Systems)

Application / Practice - Woodbridge Island

  • Sat  24 Sept 08:00 - 12:00 (Canon / Nikon)
  • Sun 25 Sept 08:00 - 12:00 (optional / alternative day Canon / Nikon)

Attend the Intro to Intermediate and / or Advanced Sessions
The first session (intro / intermediate) will be for owners of all DSLR's for getting a good hands-on understanding of the overall exposure / camera / lens settings for Birds in Flight / Action photography, with the second (more advanced) session's focus on Canon EOS DSLR owners keen to fine-tune their Canon EOS Autofocus (AF) system settings and various other more advanced camera / lens configurations.

Detailed notes and other relevant information resources will be provided.

All delegates are welcome to attend both sessions.

Session 1: Introduction to Intermediate BIF / Action Photography
Anybody interested in getting started with Birds in Flight / Action Photography (irrespective of camera brand) and / or who wants to learn more about the the various exposure / camera settings and techniques required for getting the best out of your current DSLR body / lens pairing for Birds in Flight Action photography. Any DSLR body capable of shooting in multi-shot / continuous shooting mode at 4 frames per second or higher. Please see the sessions contents / learning areas below.


Nikon Support
There will be a dedicated Nikon support photographer available during the workshop (Session 1: Thursday evening) and for both the Saturday and Sunday morning practical sessions.


25% discount for delegates who made any previous booking(s) via the Vernon Chalmers Website


Cost: R650-00 per person attending Session 1 and Session 3 / 4.

Booking>>     (25 Max)

Session 2: Intermediate to Advanced BIF / Action Photography
Anybody with a Canon EOS DSLR who wants to get a more in-depth understanding of the Canon EOS Exposure Modes, Autofocus (AF) system and its application / tuning for Birds in Flight / Action photography. Detailed discussion will be provided for all modern Canon EOS bodies up to the 65-point AF system. Please see the session's contents / learning areas below.

Continuous assistance/ support for fine-tuning specific Canon EOS body / lens combination.

25% discount for delegates who made any previous booking(s) via the Vernon Chalmers Website


Cost: R850-00 per person attending Session 1, Session 2 and Session 3 / 4

Booking>>    (25 Max)

Session 3 / 4: Practical at Woodbridge Island
Practical / walk-around shooting session for attendees of both Session 1 and Session 2. This is an opportunity to experiment with the various exposure settings, AF system configurations and capturing / composition techniques with the various birds species around Woodbridge Island. Guidance will be on hand for fine-tuning of exposure settings and AF system configurations.

What do you need to bring? A DSLR Camera, telephoto or zoom lens & your own memory card.

Recommended min lens focal length: 250 - 300mm ie: Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS (STM) or EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6(L) IS USM lens (or any 3rd party lens of similar FL).

Contact Me if you need more information about your DSLR body and lens pairing.

Each delegate will receive a folder with all workshop information and other useful resources.

Refreshments will be provided.

Session 1: Workshop Contents / Learning Areas

  • Introduction to BIF Photography 
  • BIF Fundamentals / Considerations 
  • Camera / Lens Settings 
  • Lenses for Birds in Flight 
  • Teleconverters / Extenders 
  • Exposure Settings / Techniques 
  • Memory Cards / Card Readers 

Session 2: Workshop Contents / Learning Areas

  • BIF Fundamentals / Considerations 
  • Canon EOS Bodies / Lenses for BIF 
  • Camera / Lens Settings 
  • Exposure Settings 
  • Continuous shooting / AI Servo Modes 
  • Canon AF Systems (9-point to 65-point) 
  • Advanced AF System tuning (AF Configuration / Area Selection Modes) 
  • Advanced body / lens focus tuning / techniques / recommendations

All EOS body owners (or future EOS owners) are welcome to attend. Please note that the in-depth discussion / tuning around AF systems will primarily be focused around the following AF systems with specific emphasis from the 19-point AF system EOS bodies which offers more advanced case and zone configurations:

  • 9-point AF System (EOS 500D / 550D / 600D / 650D / 700D / 60D / 5D / 5D Mark II) 
  • 11-point AF System (EOS 6D) 
  • 19-point AF System (EOS 750D / 760D / 70D / 7D)
  • 45-point AF System (EOS 80D) New
  • 45-point AF System (EOS 1D / 1D Mark II / 1D Mark III / 1D Mark IV / Older 1D's) 
  • 61-point AF System (EOS 5D Mark III / EOS 5Ds / EOS 5Ds R / EOS-1D X / EOS-1D X II) 
  • 65-point AF System (EOS 7D Mark II)

Canon EOS 7D Mark II - Birds in Flight Photography Gallery
Canon EOS 7D Mark II - Birds in Flight Photography Gallery

(Click to Enlarge)
Birds in Flight Photography Workshop Cape Town
Starling : Canon EOS 7D Mark II Woodbridge Island

Swift Tern: Canon EOS 7D Mark II / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens

Cormorant: Canon EOS 70D / Woodbridge Island Cape Town


Birds in Flight Photography Workshop Cape Town - September 2016
Swift Tern: Canon EOS 6D / EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens


Pied Kingfisher: Canon EOS 7D Mark II / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens


Birds in Flight Photography Workshop Cape Town - September 2016
Small Bird in Flight: Canon EOS 7D Mark II

01 September 2016

Elusive Malachite Kingfisher at Woodbridge Island, Cape Town

Record shots of Woodbridge Island's only / elusive Malachite Kingfisher
Very happy to know we have at least one Malachite Kingfisher at Woodbridge Island. Very far out perched on the side of the old wooden bridge and lately in the Woodbridge Island / Milnerton Lagoon section of the Table Bay Nature Reserve


Added a second image of the Malachite Kingfisher after spotting him during my latest Birds in Flight Photography Workshop practical at Woodbridge Island.

Update: Elusive Malachite Kingfisher in Flight (Table Bay Nature Reserve) 

Malachite Kingfisher in the Table Bay Nature Reserve - Woodbridge Island
I was hiking with a few delegates from my Birds in Flight Photography workshop when we spotted the Malachite perched in a dead tree across the Diep River. Image by Vernon Chalmers with Canon EOS 7D Mark II / Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens. (Av Mode: f6.3 / ISO 125 / 1/500s (Handheld).


Malachite Kingfisher in the Table Bay Nature Reserve - Woodbridge Island
Malachite Kingfisher - Table Bay Nature Reserve / Woodbridge Island

Malachite Kingfisher on the wooden bridge - Woodbridge Island

Only spotted him three times before over the last couple of months before this stalked opportunity. Image by Vernon Chalmers with Canon EOS 7D Mark II / Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens. (Manual Mode: f6.3 / ISO 800 / 1/5000s (Handheld).

Malachite Kingfisher on the wooden bridge - Woodbridge Island
Malachite Kingfisher - Wooden Bridge / Woodbridge Island