Canon PowerShot SX40 HS - 10 Depth of Field Demo Photos

Depth of Field photos with Canon Ultra- Zoom Compact Camera

With Canon PowerShot SX40 HS 35x Zoom 12 Megapixel (non-DSLR) compact digital camera. Images by Vernon Chalmers in Durbanville, Franschhoek, Milnerton and Woodbridge Island Cape Town.

Objective: Demonstrating the Depth of Field / background blur potential with the Canon PowerShot SX40 HS in P and Av Mode with various ISO selections.

Sensor challenge: With a 12x smaller image sensor than the Canon 700D DSLR APS-C sensor its somewhat more challenging to create any significant background blur of note (compared to a DSLR camera). But thanks to the same Digic 5 image processor (as the Canon 700D) and it's 24-840mm focal length ultra-zoom lens it is more than capable.

Aperture / focal length: I have found the best Depth of Field / Bokeh opportunities with the Canon PowerShot SX40 HS to be at low ISO's in early morning sunlight - and the camera's aperture f/5.8 sweet spot. The biggest challenge with the SX40 HS (or any ultra-zoom compact) is the selected lens focal length / distance from subject - this selection will have a significant impact on the effective blur quality of each photo.

Locations:
Arnhem, Milnerton
Durbanville 
Franschhoek

Woodbridge Island

Equipment

• Canon PowerShot SX40 HS digital camera 
• Canon Speedlite 270EX II flash 
• Manfrotto Compact MMC3-01 monopod 
• Zero post-processing 

P / Av Mode - Aperture Priority Settings

• Aperture f/5.8 
• ISO 100 - 400 
• Shutter speed: 1/60 - 1/320 seconds 
• Image Stabilisation (IS) on 

Canon PowerShot SX40 HS Av Mode : Aperture f/5.8 ISO 100

Canon PowerShot SX40 HS Av Mode : Aperture f/5.8 ISO 100

Canon PowerShot SX40 HS Av Mode : Aperture f/5.8 ISO 100

Canon SX40 HS Aperture f/5.8 ISO 320 - Canon Speedlite 270EX II Flash

Canon PowerShot SX40 HS Av Mode Aperture f/5.8 ISO 100

Canon PowerShot SX40 HS P Mode : Aperture f/5.8 ISO 100

Canon PowerShot SX40 HS P Mode : Aperture f/5.8 ISO 100

Canon PowerShot SX40 HS P Mode : Aperture f/5.8 ISO 100

Table Bay Nature Reserve Quarterly Report: July – Sept 2017

Table Bay Nature Reserve   Image : Vernon Chalmers

URL link to the Table Bay Nature Reserve Quarterly Report July – September 2017

Contents 

• Executive Summary
• Highlights and Challenges
• Conservation Planning
• Flora
• Fauna
• Soil
• Water
• Fire
• People, Tourism and Education
• Staff
• Law Enformcement
• Infrastructure & Equipment
• Appendixes

PDF Download Link >>

Report Published by:

City of Cape Town

Transport for Cape Town

Environmental Management Department

For Milnerton Lagoon / Woodbridge Island photographers and others cornered with the estuary mouth at the Milnerton Lagoon currently closed / or at least just trickling water into the sea

From the Table Bay Nature Reserve Quarterly Report: July – September 2017...

"The estuary mouth at the Milnerton Lagoon closed due to the formation of a sand bar at the mouth. This could have been caused due to less water flowing through the water during the drought.

The sand bar resulted in water levels steadily rising in the lagoon until the water started spilling over Esplanade Road on the north-eastern bank of the lagoon.

An environmental authorisation was obtained to use an excavator to open the sand bar, but the use of a manual approach is preferred by Nature Reserve Management. Nature Reserve staff used spades to open the mouth by hand in order to drain water out of the Milnerton Lagoon.

Nature Reserve staff have also been monitoring the sand bar and water levels in the lagoon on a daily basis since the problem was observed." 

Source: From Page 2: Highlights & Challenges Table Bay Nature Reserve Quarterly Report: July – September 2017

BEFORE: Estuary Mouth at the Milnerton Lagoon

Source: Google Satellite Map Milnerton Lagoon / Woodbridge Island

Table Bay Nature Reserve Quarterly Report: January – March 2018
Table Bay Nature Reserve Quarterly Report: January – March 2018

Most Visited Vernon Chalmers Photography Website Content 2017

Top 10 most visited Vernon Chalmers Photography articles / posts during 2017 for the Period 01/01/2017 - 15/12/2017

1. Canon EOS 7D Mark III Wish List for Birds in Flight
    Canon EOS 7D Mark III Wish List for Birds in Flight

2. Birds In Flight Photography: Canon EOS 7D Mark II Gallery
    Birds In Flight Photography: Canon EOS 7D Mark II Gallery

3. Canon Long Exposure / Night Photography Setup & Tips
    Canon Long Exposure / Night Photography Setup & Tips

4. Photography Competitions / Contests South Africa
    Photography Competitions / Contests South Africa

5. Canon EOS Advanced Autofocus Training Cape Town
    Canon EOS Advanced Autofocus Training Cape Town

6. Canon Online Shooting Practice: Free Exposure Learning Software Application
    Canon Online Shooting Practice: Free Exposure Learning Software Application

7. Canon Birds in Flight Photography Training / Workshop Cape Town
    Canon Birds in Flight Photography Training / Workshop Cape Town

8. Show Focus Points - Adobe Lightroom Plugin
    Show Focus Points - Adobe Lightroom Plugin

9. Two Cost-Effective Canon Lenses for Birds in Flight Photography
    Two Cost-Effective Canon Lenses for Birds in Flight Photography

10. Photography Private Training / Workshops Cape Town
      Photography Private Training / Workshops Cape Town


Top 25 South Africa Cities Visiting Vernon Chalmers Photography - 2017

1. Cape Town
2. Sandton
3. Pretoria
4. Johannesburg
5. Centurion
6. Randburg
7. Durban
8. Roodepoort
9. Port Elizabeth
10. Stellenbosch
11. Bloemfontein
12. Langebaan
13. Paarl
14. Boksburg
15. Kempton Park
16. Nelspruit
17. Durban North
18. East Lonon
19. Germiston
20. Vanderbijlpark
21. Pietermaritzburg
22. Polokwane
23. Benoni
24. Midrand
25. Mahikeng

Source: Google Analytics

After Sunset - Milnerton Beach Cape Town (Canon EOS 6D / EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM Lens) 

Plover over the river - Woodbridge Island, Cape Town

Photographing Birds in Flight Cape Town
Blacksmith Plover / Kiewiet enjoying the early morning sun flying over the Diep River - Woodbridge Island, Cape Town. I did some Birds in Flight photography this morning and captured the plover and a few Cape Wagtails. 

Images with Canon EOS 7D Mark II / Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens. Manual Mode: f6.3 / ISO 1250 / 1/5000s / 10 fps / AI Servo / Extended Zone AF / AF Case 1 / Handheld. 4 consecutive frames in mult-shot mode. Sunny conditions.

Shooting Location
Diep River / Woodbridge Island, Cape Town

(Click to Enlarge)

Woodbridge Island Cape Town : Canon EOS 7D Mark II / 400mm Lens

Woodbridge Island Cape Town : Canon EOS 7D Mark II / 400mm Lens

Woodbridge Island Cape Town : Canon EOS 7D Mark II / 400mm Lens

Woodbridge Island Cape Town : Canon EOS 7D Mark II / 400mm Lens

Photographing Birds in Flight Cape Town
Photographing Birds in Flight Cape Town

Extraordinary Hair! With Canon EOS 70D / EF 70-200mm f/4L USM lens

Extraordinary Hair! Partners Hair Design Training Academy Graduation 2017 Cape Town Fashion Show.

I now have full understanding why most women could get up at 05:00 to start their hair styling routine

Captured during the recent Partners Hair Design Training Academy Graduation 2017 Fashion Show.

With Canon EOS 70D / EF 70-200mm f/4L USM lens (with bounched Canon 430EX II Speedlite Flash).

© Vernon Chalmers For Partners Hair Design

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Lens For Hair Fashion Cape Town
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Lens For Hair Fashion Cape Town