Low Light Bird Photography | Table Bay Nature Reserve

Canon Birds / Birds in Flight Photography in Low Light Conditions

Grey Heron in Flight Table Bay Nature Reserve

I was greeted this morning with wet and foggy conditions...

What a miserable morning! I almost turned around due to the depressing low light. But, decided to give my kit a low light workout – working with lower shutter speeds on the birds in flight – with the objective in bringing the Auto-ISO one to two stops down for compensating for the probable high noise conditions.

I was very surprised with the abundance of birds and could manage a few bird images worth sharing.

Cape Town Location
Table Bay Nature Reserve Woodbridge Island,  Milnerton – walking distance from my Photography Training Studio

A few birds in flight from this morning

• Grey heron
• Cape spurfowl
• Red-eyed dove
• Little egret
• Black-headed heron
• Portrait of a Grey heron
• Southern masked weaver
• Levaillant's Cisticola

Canon Camera / Lens Settings

• Canon EOS 7D Mark II Body
• EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens
• Manual Mode
• Auto-ISO: 500 - 640
• Aperture:  f/5.6 - f/6.3
• Shutter Speed: 1/1000 - 1/2000
• AI Servo: Case 1: Wide Zone
• 10 fps High Speed Continuous Mode
• Handheld

Post-Processing
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic CC 9.4: Cropping. Colour correction / noise reduction / lens profile correction.

Cape Spurfowl in flight Table Bay Nature Reserve Woodbridge Island, Milnerton

Red-Eyed Dove in flight Table Bay Nature Reserve Woodbridge Island, Milnerton

Little Egret in Flight Table Bay Nature Reserve Woodbridge Island, Milnerton

Black-Headed Heron taking flight Table Bay Nature Reserve Woodbridge Island, Milnerton

Portrait of a Grey Heron Table Bay Nature Reserve Woodbridge Island, Milnerton

Southern Masked Weaver Table Bay Nature Reserve Woodbridge Island, Milnerton

Levaillant's Cisticola Table Bay Nature Reserve Woodbridge Island, Milnerton

Birds in Flight Photography Cape Town View

Bird Species Woodbridge Island, Cape Town View

Enjoying early morning Birds in Flight Photography

Little Egret - Diep River / Woodbridge Island

The light clearly not as good as last week. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the tranquility and solitude…

I was greeted this morning with an overcast sky along the Diep River / Woodbridge Island, but with plenty bird movement.

A few birds in flight from this morning

• Little egret
• Cape teal duck
• Egyptian goose
• Grey heron
• Pied kingfisher

Canon Camera / Lens Settings

• Canon EOS 7D Mark II
• EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens
• Manual Mode
• Auto-ISO: 400 - 800
• Aperture:  f/5.6
• Shutter Speed: 1/3200s
• AI Servo: Case 1: Wide Zone
• 10 fps High Speed Continuous Mode
• Handheld

Post-Processing
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic CC 9.4: Cropping. Colour correction / noise reduction / lens profile correction.

Cape Teal Duck in Flight Table Bay Nature Reserve Milnerton. Woodbridge Island

  Egyptian Goose in Flight over the Diep River Woodbridge Island

Grey Heron in Flight over the Diep River Woodbridge Island

Pied Kingfisher with Fish in Flight over the Diep River Woodbridge Island

Birds in Flight Photography Cape Town View

Bird Species Woodbridge Island, Cape Town View

Birds in Flight on a Beautiful Blue Monday

Birds in Flight : Diep River, Woodbridge Island

White-Breasted Cormorant Woodbridge Island, Cape Town

I went down the river for a birds in flight session along the Diep River, Woodbridge Island earlier this morning and I was greeting with glorious weather. Crisp windless early morning light, with clear an exquisite clear blue sky and water. The only clouds around was those floating off the top of Table Mountain.

Woodbridge Island Bird Species View

Over and the river was easily more than 15 to 20 birds species; from kings gulls, kelp gulls, swift terns, sandwich terns, red-knobbed coots, little egrets, greater egrets, grey herons, Egyptian geese, Cape teal ducks, yellow-billed ducks, pied kingfishers, African black oystercatchers, white-throated cormorants, Cape cormorants and a low flying African spoonbill.

A few birds in flight from this morning:

• White-breasted cormorant
• Cape teal ducks
• Egyptian goose
• Rock pigeon
• Cape cormorant

Canon Camera / Lens Settings

• Canon EOS 7D Mark II
• EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens
• Manual Mode
• Auto-ISO: 320 - 640
• Aperture:  f/5.6
• Shutter Speed: 1/3200s
• AI Servo: Case 1: Wide Zone
• 10 fps High Speed Continuous Mode
• Handheld

Post-Processing
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic CC 9.4: Cropping. Colour correction / noise reduction / lens profile correction.

Cape Teal Ducks Diep River Milnerton Woodbridge Island

Egyptian Goose Diep River Milnerton Woodbridge Island

Rock Pigeon Diep River Milnerton Woodbridge Island

White-Breasted Cormorant Diep River Milnerton Woodbridge Island 

Birds in Flight Photography Cape Town View

Bird Species Woodbridge Island, Cape Town View

Table Mountain view from my Birds in Flight 'office’

View over the Diep River, Milnerton Golf Course, Milnerton Golf Course towards Table Mountain

Here next to the Diep River, Woodbridge Island, I spend many hours waiting for the birds in flight to fly mainly from the left to the right into the morning sun. Although the mountain view stretches' from my side of the Diep River over the Milnerton Golf Course buildings, the Milnerton Lighthouse and Woodbridge Island to provide some exquisite viewing - my 'frame of opportunity' is actually very small. A few seconds at best.

The majority of the birds I photograph in flight are out of this frame view towards the right – with no background distractions – only the water, reeds and the golf course green. The stretch of land in front is a small island in the Diep River with up to 20 to 30 bird species on or above the island on most days.

These are some of the bird species I had the privilege to see and photograph during yesterday morning's photography session: kings gulls, kelp gulls, swift terns, sandwich terns, red-knobbed coots, little egrets, greater egrets, grey herons, Egyptian geese, Cape teal ducks, yellow-billed ducks, pied kingfishers, African black oystercatchers, white-throated cormorants, Cape cormorants and a low flying African spoonbill.

Attached Birds in Flight images: Yellow-billed duck / Cape cormorant in the small 'frame of opportunity' field of view.

Table Mountain image: With Canon EOS 6D / EF 24-70mm f/4l IS USM lens

Bird images: With Canon EOS 7D Mark II / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens

Yellow-Billed Duck Diep River Woodbridge Island 

Cape Cormorant Diep River Woodbridge Island 

Table Mountain Photography View

Woodbridge Island Photography View

Birds in Flight along the Diep River, Woodbridge Island

Birds in Flight Photography Woodbridge Island

Egyptian Goose in Flight at Woodbridge Island

Quick walkabout this morning for a few birds in flight along the Diep River / Woodbridge Island with a fairly crisp and semi-cloudy sky. 

• Egyptian Goose
• Grey Heron
• Yellow-billed duck
• Cape cormorant
• Peregrine falcon

Peregrine Falcon in Flight

 First capture of his sighting this season high above Woodbridge Island (from Arnhem, Milnerton) at extreme long range - just happy to see them / hear them....

More about the peregrine falcon.

Canon Camera / Lens Settings

• Canon EOS 7D Mark II
• EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens
• Manual Mode
• Auto-ISO: 320 - 640
• Aperture:  f/5.6
• Shutter Speed: 1/3200s
• AI Servo: Case 1: Wide Zone
• 10 fps High Speed Continuous Mode
• Handheld

Post-Processing
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic CC 9.4: Cropping. Colour correction / noise reduction / lens profile correction.

Grey Heron in Flight at Woodbridge Island

Yellow-Billed Duck in Flight at Woodbridge Island

Cape Cormorant in Flight at Woodbridge Island

Peregrine Falcon in Flight at Woodbridge Island (From Arnhem / Milnerton)

Birds in Flight Photography Cape Town

Birds in Flight Photography Cape Town

Bird Species Woodbridge Island, Cape Town
Bird Species Woodbridge Island, Cape Town

Night Photography ISO Test: V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

Night Photography with Canon Ultra Wide Lens - V&A Waterfront

Ferris Wheel V&A Waterfront Cape Town

Objective: Demonstrating the application of higher ISO settings at ISO 800 and ISO 1600 with the Canon EOS 700D / Rebel T5i DSLR camera and EF-S 10-18mm IS STM Ultra-wide lens.

Note: All images handheld in Av Mode. Images captured in RAW (conversion via Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.4). With no other editing / correction except for Canon EF-S lens profile correction.

Canon Camera Equipment

• Canon EOS 700D SLR camera body 
• Canon EF-S 10-18mm IS STM lens 
• Handheld 

Av Mode - Camera Settings

• Aperture f/4.5 - 5.6 
• ISO 800 - 1600 
• Image Stabilization / Auto Focus 
• Between 10 - 18mm focal length 
• Shutter speed: Various

Canon EF-S 10-18mm IS STM lens

"The Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM is a fantastic ultra-wide-angle lens, especially designed for APS-C format Canon DSLRs.

Here are some of its key features:

Key Features:

• Ultra-Wide Angle: With a focal length range of 10-18mm, this lens is perfect for capturing expansive landscapes, architecture, and interiors 1.
• Image Stabilization: Equipped with Optical Image Stabilization (IS) to reduce camera shake, allowing for sharper images in low-light conditions 1.
• Stepping Motor (STM): Provides smooth and quiet autofocus, which is particularly beneficial for video recording 2.
• Compact and Lightweight: Weighing only about 240 grams, it’s easy to carry around, making it ideal for travel 3.
• Affordable: Offers great value for its price, making it accessible for photographers looking to expand their lens collection without breaking the bank 3.

This lens is a great addition to any photographer’s kit, especially if you’re looking to explore wide-angle photography.

Vernon Chalmers Copyright Policy

Canon EOS 700D / EF-S 10-18mm IS STM Lens ISO 800 f/4.5

Canon EOS 700D / EF-S 10-18mm IS STM Lens ISO 1600 f/5.6

Canon EOS 700D / EF-S 10-18mm IS STM Lens ISO 1600 f/5.6

Birds in Flight with Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens

Birds in Flight with the Original Canon EOS 100-400mm Lens : Woodbridge Island

Little Egret in Flight with Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens

I recently had the opportunity for testing the older Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens paired with a Canon EOS 7D Mark II.  My preferred lens for  Birds in Flight photography is the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6LUSM lens and have also tested the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens on numerous occasions.

I've never used this lens before, but was pleasantly surprised with the Autofocus application and the overall image quality (when compared to my reference in using the other 400mm lenses). There is still some life in the old glass....

Equipment (Birds In Flight Photography)

• Canon EOS 7D Mark II DSLR camera body
• Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens
• Sandisk Extreme Plus SDHC™ UHS-I Card 95MB/s 32 GB

Exposure / Focus Settings

• Manual Mode Settings / Lens AF On
• Shutter speed: 1/3200s
• Aperture: f/5.6
• Focal length 400mm
• Auto ISO (ISO 400)
• Continuous shooting mode (10 fps) / AI Servo
• AI Servo / AF Mode Option (Wide Zone AF / Case 1)
• Lens AF On / No IS / Handheld

Post-Processing

Adobe Lightroom 9: Cropping. Colour correction / Lens profile correction. RAW to JPEG conversion.

Birds in Flight Location
Woodbridge Island Milnerton, Cape Town

 

Juvenile Black-Crowned Night Heron in Flight - Woodbridge Island Cape Town

Little Egret in Flight - W.oodbridge Island Cape T.own

Yellow-Billed Duck in Flight - Woodbridge Island Cape Town

Blacksmith Plover in Flight- Woodbridge Island Cape Town

Swift Tern in Flight - Woodbridge Island

Two Cost-Effective Canon Lenses for Bird Photography View

Visit to Zeitz MOCAA - V&A Waterfront Cape Town

Zeitz MOCAA - Museum of Contemporary Art Africa : Silo District, V&A Waterfront

Focus on the Architecture: Up the silos...

Spent some quality time in July 2018 with my friend / photographer Joseph Inns exploring the museum earlier today. We visited most of the art exhibitions inside the Zeitz museum, but will return at a later date for more detailed exhibition photography.

All Vernon Chalmers Zeitz MOCAA - V&A Waterfront Cape Town images with Canon EOS 6D / Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM Lens (Handheld / Natural Light). Post-processing in Lightroom Classic CC.

Architecture Images © Vernon Chalmers Photography Copyright Policy

Representing Cape Town / SA Tourism with Zeitz MOCAA Image via National Geographic

Another MOCAA Image published by National Geographic 

(Click to Enlarge)

Zeitz MOCAA - Museum of Contemporary Art Africa - Silo District V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

Zeitz MOCAA - Museum of Contemporary Art Africa - Silo District V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

Zeitz MOCAA - Museum of Contemporary Art Africa - Silo District V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

Zeitz MOCAA - Museum of Contemporary Art Africa - Silo District V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

About Zeitz MOCAA - Museum of Contemporary Art Africa
The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa is a contemporary art museum located at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa. It is the largest museum of contemporary African art in the world. The museum opened on September 22, 2017 Wikipedia

Zeitz MOCAA - Museum of Contemporary Art Africa Website

Free Access to Zeits MOCAA. Please visit Free Access Zeits MOCAA

Zeitz MOCAA V&A Waterfront, Cape Town - Free Access Ticket (Wednesdays between 10:00 - 13:00 for SA Citizens)
Image: Vernon Chalmers

V&A Waterfront Cape Town Walkabout View

V&A Waterfront, Cape Town Walkabout

V&A Waterfront Cape Town with Canon EOS 700D DSLR and EF-S 10-18mm IS STM Ultra-Wide Lens

Objective: Demonstrating application of the new (at the time) Canon EF-S 10-18mm f4.5-5.6 IS STM Ultra-Wide zoom lens paired with the Canon EOS 700D / Rebel T5i DSLR camera body.

Note: Photos taken mid-afternoon / after dark at different ISO's, apertures and focal lengths. Handheld. No post-processing - just crops where applicable.

Location:
V&A Waterfront Cape Town

Original Article Posting: 2015

Equipment (Landscape / Seascape Photography)

• Canon EOS 700D SLR camera body
• Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM lens

Av Mode - Aperture Priority Settings

• Aperture: f/5.6 - f/11
• ISO 100 - 800
• Shutter speed: various
• Image Stabilization
• Auto focus (lens)
• Zero post-processing (just crops) JPG / RAW conversion
• Lens Profile correction (Lightroom 5.4) 

Vernon Chalmers Copyright: V&A Waterfront Photography, Cape Town
Please do not use / re-publish any Vernon Chalmers Woodbridge Island, Milnerton Cape Town Photography images without permission. View the Vernon Chalmers Photography Copyright Policy for more more information.

Canon EF-S 10-18mm IS STM Ultra-Wide Lens V&A Waterfront Cape Town - Table Mountain View

Canon EF-S 10-18mm IS STM Ultra-Wide Lens V&A Waterfront Cape Town - Wide-Angle View

Canon EF-S 10-18mm IS STM Ultra-Wide Lens V&A Waterfront Cape Town - Yacht /  Victoria and Alfred Hotel 

Canon EF-S 10-18mm IS STM Ultra-Wide Lens V&A Waterfront Cape Town - Three small boats

Canon EF-S 10-18mm IS STM Ultra-Wide Lens V&A Waterfront Cape Town - Entrance with Flags

Canon EF-S 10-18mm IS STM Ultra-Wide Lens V&A Waterfront Cape Town - Entrance

Canon EF-S 10-18mm IS STM Ultra-Wide Lens V&A Waterfront Cape Town - At Sunrise

Canon EF-S 10-18mm IS STM Ultra-Wide Lens V&A Waterfront Cape Town - Before Sunrise

Canon EF-S 10-18mm IS STM Ultra-Wide Lens V&A Waterfront Cape Town - Ferris Wheel at Night

Visit to Zeitz MOCAA - V&A Waterfront Cape Town View