23 July 2021

Fabulous Friday at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

A morning of Small Birds and Flowers at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Bird Life Photography at Kirstenbosch

Swee Waxbill Bird in Bush Kirstenbosch Photographer Vernon Chalmers
Swee Waxbill Kirstenbosch Garden Cape Town

Friday Morning at Kirstenbosch: Small perched birds and a Garden full of Peace

I expected a lot from this morning. I did not get it in the form of many small birds, but a peaceful walkabout around Kirstenbosch on a fabulous Friday morning.

Again, after quite a few rainy days in Cape Town, I returned to Kirstenbosch with my Canon EOS 7D Mark II camera / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens to fine-tune this new genre of small perched birds.
 
What I am learning is the shutter speed relationship between the small perched birds and when some of them take flight during one continuous burst. Working with a non-IS lens, I shoot with a shutter speed of 1/1250s at Kirstenbosch which is fast enough for this purpose, but not fast enough for their incredible fast in-flight action. For this I will have to increase the shutter speed to a minimum of 1/2500s - 1/3200s - and find a balance between perched and in-flight action.

My photo of the morning was the swee waxbill touching down close to me - so small and I'm happy to get this semi in-flight image at a shutter speed of 1/1250.

Kirstenbosch birds photographed during the morning:
  • Swee waxbill
  • Southern Double-Collared Sunbird
  • Swee waxbill
  • Upside down Sunbird portrait
  • Dusky flycatcher
  • Cape bulbul

Canon Camera / Lens: Birds and Flowers Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
  • Canon EOS 7D Mark II
  • Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens
  • Manual Mode: 400mm @ f/5.6 / Auto- ISO (Various) / 1/1000s - 1/1250s shutter speeds
  • No Lens IS / Handheld

Post-Processing: Adobe Lightroom 

Kirstenbosch birding photography training also offered as Photography Training Gift Vouchers

Perched Small Birds at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Southern Double-Collared Sunbird Singing Kirstenbosch Photographer Vernon Chalmers
Southern Double-Collared Sunbird Singing Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Cape Town

Swee Waxbill Bird Landing Kirstenbosch Photographer Vernon Chalmers
Swee Waxbill Landing Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Cape Town

Upside Down Sunbird Kirstenbosch Photographer Vernon Chalmers
Upside Down Sunbird Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Cape Town

Dusky Flycatcher Bird on Rock Kirstenbosch Photographer Vernon Chalmers
African Dusky Flycatcher on Rock Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Cape Town

Perched Cape Bulbul Bird Kirstenbosch Photographer Vernon Chalmers
Perched Cape Bulbul Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Cape Town

Brave Boubou Shrike Kirstenbosch Cape Town Photographer Vernon Chalmers
Brave Boubou Shrike Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Cape Town

Plants / Flowers at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

King Protea Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Cape Town Photographer Vernon Chalmers
King Protea Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Cape Town

Strelitzia (Bird of Paradise) Flower Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden © Vernon Chalmers Photography
Strelitzia (Bird of Paradise) Flower Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Cape Town

Bird / Flower Photography Training Kirstenbosch  More

Glorious Morning at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden View

Vernon Chalmers 'Kirstenbosch Bird Species Index' View

From Darkness into Light... Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Butterflies and Sunbird at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Images © Vernon Chalmers Photography Copyright Policy

Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Map & Directions Kirstenbosch Google Map

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Website

Canon Photography Training Milnerton Woodbridge Island | Kirstenbosch Cape Town

15 July 2021

Tremendous Thursday at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Sunny Morning Photography at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Bird Life Photography at Kirstenbosch
 
Cape White Eye Bird Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Cape Town Vernon Chalmers Photography
Cape White-Eye : Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Follow-up morning visit to Kirstenbosch: Small perched birds, a butterfly and some wild flower photography at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

After a few days of rain in Cape Town I returned to Kirstenbosch with the objective to see how well my Canon EOS 7D Mark II camera / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens will perform with the relatively close small birds and flower photography. 
 
I knew I would have no problem with the Canon EOS 7D Mark II body - my only concern was the relatively long Minimum Focus Distance (MFD) of the 400mm prime lens. I generally have no issues with Birds in Flight photography (with EOS 7D Mark II / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens), but this combination could be challenging in the Kirstenbosch close-up / variable distanced perched small bird photography environment.

It took me a while to get used to the non-zoom 400mm Canon lens with its challenging MFD, but am overall quite satisfied with the body / lens performance for small bird, butterfly and flower photography - definitely my go-to kit for small bird, butterfly and flower photography at Kirstenbosch.

Last week at Kirstenbosch (in similar weather conditions) I tested my Canon EOS 70D paired with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens for small bird and flower photography. Although the lens had a shorter MFD than the 400mm prime lens I found the image quality improvement, noise management, continuous shooting speed and Autofocus responsiveness of the EOS 7D Mark II / EF 400mm f.5.6L lens of a higher standard for my Kirstenbosch photography requirements.

New Kirstenbosch Bird Species Index
During the morning I photographed four new bird species which I added to my own 'Kirstenbosch Bird Species Index' as I did over the last ten years with my personal 'Woodbridge Island Bird Species Index'.

Kirstenbosch birding photography training also offered as Photography Training Gift Vouchers

Kirstenbosch birds photographed during the morning:
  • Southern Double-Collared Sunbird 
  • Cape white-eye
  • Cape bulbul
  • Dusky flycatcher
  • Southern boubou shrike
  • Karoo prinia
  • Southern Double-Collared Sunbird 
  • Hadeda ibis
  • Egyptian goose

Canon Camera / Lens: Birds and Flowers Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
  • Canon EOS 7D Mark II
  • Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens
  • Manual Mode: 400mm @ f/5.6 / Auto- ISO (Various) / 1/1000s - 1/2500s shutter speeds
  • No Lens IS / Handheld

Post-Processing: Adobe Lightroom 

Perched Small Birds at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Southern Double-Collared Sunbird  Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Cape Town Vernon Chalmers Photography
Southern Double-Collared Sunbird  Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Cape Town

Cape Bulbul Bird Perched Kirstenbosch Garden Cape Town Vernon Chalmers Photography
Cape Bulbul on Guard Duty Kirstenbosch Garden Cape Town

Dusky Flycatcher Bird Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Cape Town Vernon Chalmers Photography
Dusky Flycatcher Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Cape Town

Southern Boubou Shrike Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Cape Town Vernon Chalmers Photography
Southern Boubou Shrike Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Cape Town

Karoo Prinia Bird Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Vernon Chalmers Photography
Karoo Prinia Bird Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Hadeda Ibis in Flight Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Cape Town Vernon Chalmers Photography
Hadeda Ibis in Flight Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Cape Town

Egyptian Goose Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Cape Town Vernon Chalmers Photography
Egyptian Goose Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Cape Town

Small Garden Acraea Butterfly at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Male Garden Acraea Butterfly Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Cape Town Vernon Chalmers Photography
Male Garden Acraea Butterfly Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Cape Town

Plants / Flowers at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Arum Lily Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Cape Town Vernon Chalmers Photography
Arum Lily Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Cape Town

Flower Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Cape Town Vernon Chalmers Photography
Flower Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Cape Town

Protea Flower Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Cape Town Vernon Chalmers Photography
Protea Flower Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Cape Town

Small Flower Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Cape Town Vernon Chalmers Photography
Small Flower Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Cape Town

Wild Plant Kirstenbosch National Botanic Garden Cape Town Vernon Chalmers Photography
Wild Plant Kirstenbosch National Botanic Garden Cape Town

Blooming Pincushion Protea Flower Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Cape Town Vernon Chalmers Photography
Blooming Pincushion Protea Flower Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Cape Town

Bird / Flower Photography Training Kirstenbosch  More

Glorious Morning at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden View

Fabulous Friday at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden View 

Vernon Chalmers 'Kirstenbosch Bird Species Index' View

From Darkness into Light... Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Butterflies and Sunbird at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Images © Vernon Chalmers Photography Copyright Policy

Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Map & Directions Kirstenbosch Google Map

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Website

Canon Photography Training Milnerton Woodbridge Island | Kirstenbosch Cape Town

06 July 2021

Glorious Morning at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Kirstenbosch Garden Morning Photography

Bird Life Photography at Kirstenbosch

Cape Spurfowl Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Cape Spurfowl on the run at Kirstenbosch

Visit to Kirstenbosch: Small birds and some wildflower photography at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

On a glorious and crisp sunny Tuesday morning (6 July 2021) I visited Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden for Canon EOS body / EF lens testing and some personal reflection.

This was my first visit to Kirstenbosch on my own. It was a very enjoyable morning with many perched small birds across the garden, the running Cape spurfowl and a images taken of a couple of plants / wildflowers.    

I was fortunate enough to photograph at least eleven bird species between +- 10:00 and 12:00 on the morning. This is by far the most bird species I have identified and photographed around Kirstenbosch during one single shooting session. 

A Thursday morning's birds and flowers at Kirstenbosch View

New Kirstenbosch Bird Species Index
During the Kirstenbosch morning visit I also thought about the idea of creating and publishing my own 'Kirstenbosch Bird Species Index' as I did over the last ten years with my personal 'Woodbridge Island Bird Species Index'.

Kirstenbosch birds photographed  during the morning:
  • Cape spurfowl
  • Southern double-collared sunbird
  • Olive thrush
  • Cape robin-chat
  • Cape sugarbird
  • Forest canary
  • Swee waxbill
  • Cape white-eye
  • Speckled mousebird
  • Cape bulbul
  • Karoo prinia

Canon Camera / Lens: Birds and Flowers Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
  • Canon EOS 70D
  • Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens (Mark I)
  • Manual Mode: 400mm / f/5.6 / Auto- ISO (Various) / 1/1000s - 1/3200s shutter speeds
  • Lens IS Switched off / Handheld

Post-Processing
: Adobe Lightroom 

Kirstenbosch birding photography training also offered as Photography Training Gift Vouchers

Perched Small Birds at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Southern Double-Collared Sunbird perched on a Pincushion Protea Kirstenbosch Vernon Chalmers Photography
Southern Double-Collared Sunbird perched on a Pincushion Protea Kirstenbosch © Vernon Chalmers Photography

Olive Thrush Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Vernon Chalmers Photography
Olive Thrush Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden © Vernon Chalmers Photography

Cape Robin-Chat Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Vernon Chalmers Photography
Cape Robin-Chat Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden ©Vernon Chalmers Photography

Cape Sugarbird Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Vernon Chalmers Photography
Cape Sugarbird Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden © Vernon Chalmers Photography

Forest Canary Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Vernon Chalmers Photography
Forest Canary Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden © Vernon Chalmers Photography

Swee Waxbill Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Vernon Chalmers Photography
Swee Waxbill Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden © Vernon Chalmers Photography

Cape White-Eye Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Vernon Chalmers Photography
Cape-White Eye Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden © Vernon Chalmers Photography

Speckled Mousebird Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Vernon Chalmers Photography
Speckled Mousebird Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden © Vernon Chalmers Photography

Cape Bulbul Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Vernon Chalmers Photography
Cape Bulbul Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden © Vernon Chalmers Photography

Karoo Prinia Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Vernon Chalmers Photography
Karoo Prinia Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden © Vernon Chalmers Photography

Plants / Flowers at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Salmon Pelargonium Plant Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden © Vernon Chalmers Photography
Salmon Pelargonium Plant Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden © Vernon Chalmers Photography

Flowers Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden © Vernon Chalmers Photography
Flowers Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden © Vernon Chalmers Photography

King Protea Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden © Vernon Chalmers Photography
King Protea Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden © Vernon Chalmers Photography

"Fireworks at Kirstenbosch" Flowers Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden © Vernon Chalmers Photography
"Fireworks at Kirstenbosch" Flowers Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden © Vernon Chalmers Photography

Strelitzia (Bird of Paradise) Flower Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Vernon Chalmers Photography
Strelitzia (Bird of Paradise) Flower Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden © Vernon Chalmers Photography

Pincushion Protea Flower Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Vernon Chalmers Photography
Pincushion Protea Flower Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden © Vernon Chalmers Photography

Bird / Flower Photography Training Kirstenbosch View

Vernon Chalmers 'Kirstenbosch Bird Species Index' View

Tremendous Thursday at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden View

From Darkness into Light... Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Butterflies and Sunbird at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Images © Vernon Chalmers Photography Copyright Policy

Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Map & Directions Kirstenbosch Google Map

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Website

Canon Photography Training Milnerton Woodbridge Island | Kirstenbosch Cape Town

01 July 2021

Photography Day at the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

Clock Tower V&A Waterfront Cape Town Photo Copyright Vernon Chalmers
Clock Tower V&A Waterfront Cape Town  © Vernon Chalmers

This was part of the magnificent photography morning (3 June 2021) with Karen Donaldson at the V&A Waterfront and Signal Hill.

We had a lovely time strolling through the V&A Waterfront, past the Clock Tower and Zeits Mocaa Museum and back via the Wellness Warehouse to end the morning with lunch at Tashas Restaurant. 

Table Mountain | Cape Town Views from Signal Hill View

V&A Waterfront Images:
  • Clock Tower V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
  • Table Mountain – omni-present, majestic presence
  • Ferris wheel – an (almost too) prominent landmark
  • View towards the Clock Tower / Zeitz Moccaa Museum
  • Quay Four Tavern & Restaurant and Surrounds
  • Architectural perspective - one of many around
  • Proteas - colourful African craftsmanship on display
  • Coffee Mugs - colourful African craftsmanship on display
  • View from inside the Wetness Warehouse
  • Interesting light covers inside Tashas Restaurant

Canon Equipment / Settings:

  • Canon EOS 6D
  • Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens
  • Av Mode: f/11 / ISO 100 / 1/60s
  • Handheld
Vernon Chalmers Copyright Policy

Table Mountain from the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town Image Copyright Vernon Chalmers Photography
Table Mountain from the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town  © Vernon Chalmers

Ferris Wheel V&A Waterfront, Cape Town Image Copyright Vernon Chalmers Photography
Ferris Wheel V&A Waterfront, Cape Town © Vernon Chalmers

View toward the Clocktower and Zeits Mocaa Museum V&A Waterfront, Cape Town Image Copyright Vernon Chalmers Photography
View toward the Clocktower V&A Waterfront, Cape Town Image  © Vernon Chalmers

View towards Quay Four Tavern & Restaurant V&A Waterfront, Cape Town Image Copyright Vernon Chalmers Photography
View towards Quay Four V&A Waterfront, Cape Town  © Vernon Chalmers

An Architectural  Perspective V&A Waterfront, Cape Town Image Copyright Vernon Chalmers Photography
An Architectural  Perspective V&A Waterfront, Cape Town  © Vernon Chalmers

Wellness Warehouse V&A Waterfront, Cape Town Image Copyright Vernon Chalmers Photography
Wellness Warehouse V&A Waterfront, Cape Town  © Vernon Chalmers

Proteas - Colourfull African Craftsmanship V&A Waterfront, Cape Town Image Copyright Vernon Chalmers Photography
Proteas - African Craftsmanship V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

Coffee Mugs African Craftsmanship V&A Waterfront Cape Town Photo Copyright Vernon Chalmers
African Craftsmanship V&A Waterfront Cape Town © Vernon Chalmers

Proteas - CoLight Covers Tashas Restaurant V&A Waterfront, Cape Town Image Copyright Vernon Chalmers Photography
Light Covers Tashas Restaurant V&A Waterfront, Cape Town © Vernon Chalmers 

Previous Visit to the V&A Waterfront Cape Town

Butterflies and Sunbird at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Butterflies and Sunbird at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Vernon Chalmers Birds and Butterfly Photography Kirstenbosch

African Monarch Butterfly at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
African Monarch Butterfly at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

On a glorious and fresh sunny Friday morning (09 April) with Karen Donaldson during a visit to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.

Update: Glorious Morning at Kirstenbosch View 

With the oldest Canon kit in my camera bag>> 

Kirstenbosch birding photography training also offered as Photography Training Gift Vouchers

African Monarch butterflies: Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
  • Canon EOS 70D
  • Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens (Mark I)
  • Manual Mode: 400mm / f/5.6 / ISO 500 / 1/2000s shutter speed
  • Handheld

Southern double-collared sunbird: Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
  • Canon EOS 70D
  • Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens (Mark I)
  • Aperture Priority (Av) Mode: 370mm / f/5.6 / ISO 160 / 1/540s shutter speed
  • Handheld

From Darkness into Light... Kirstenbosch National Botanic Garden

All Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden images Copyright Vernon Chalmers Photography Copyright Policy

African Monarch Butterfly at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
African Monarch Butterfly at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

African Monarch Butterfly at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
African Monarch Butterfly at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Southern double-collared sunbird - Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Southern double-collared sunbird - Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Bird Photography Training Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden More

Tremendous Thursday at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden View

Vernon Chalmers 'Kirstenbosch Bird Species Index' View

Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Map & Directions Kirstenbosch Google Map

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Website

Small butterfly photography with Birds In Flight Setup

Canon Photography Training Milnerton Woodbridge Island | Kirstenbosch Cape Town

Bird Life and Butterflies at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden

Birds around Woodbridge Island / Table Bay Nature Reserve

Returning to Woodbridge Island with the Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Grey heron spreading wings - Table Bay Nature Reserve
Grey heron spreading wings - Table Bay Nature Reserve, Woodbridge Island

The week after my field testing of the Canon EOS R6 I went out a couple of times with the Canon EOS 7D Mark II for some reference testing. I went for a view short hikes along the Diep river, Woodbridge Island and the adjacent Table Bay Nature Reserve(opposite the Milnerton Golf Course).

It felt really good to be back with the Canon EOS 7D Mark II. My personal thought of changing from DSLR to Mirrorless

My Canon EOS 7D Mark II Long Term Experience and Use >>

Also captured my first sighting of an African black duck in fight 

Woodbridge Island Bird Index

Birds photographed
  • Grey herons
  • speckled pigeons
  • Blacksmith lapwing
  • African darter
  • African black duck
  • Egyptian goose
  • Grey heron
  • Pied kingfisher
  • Levaillant's cisticola

Conditions and Location
Late morning winter sun with no wind at Woodbridge Island, Cape Town. Woodbridge Island Map

Canon Camera / Lens Settings 
  • Canon EOS 7D Mark II
  • EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens
  • Manual Mode
  • Auto-ISO: 400 - 1000
  • Aperture:  f/5.6 / f/6.3
  • Shutter Speed: 1/3200s
  • AI Servo: Case 1: Wide Zone
  • 10 fps High Speed Continuous Mode
  • Handheld

Post-Processing
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic CC 9.0: Colour correction / noise reduction / lens profile correction.

Speckled pigeon - Woodbridge Island @ f/5.6
Speckled pigeon - Wooden bridge, Woodbridge Island

Speckled pigeon Woodbridge Island Vernon Chalmers Photography
Speckled pigeon in flight - Diep River, Woodbridge Island

Blacksmith lapwing Woodbridge Island
Blacksmith lapwing  - Diep River, Woodbridge Island

African darter in flight - Table Bay Nature Reserve
African Darter in Flight - Table Bay Nature Reserve, Woodbridge Island

African black duck in flight - Table Bay Nature Reserve
African black duck in flight - Table Bay Nature Reserve, Woodbridge Island

Egyptian goose in flight - Table Bay Nature Reserve
Egyptian goose in flight - Diep River, Woodbridge Island

Low flying grey heron - Table Bay Nature Reserve
Low flying grey heron - Table Bay Nature Reserve, Woodbridge Island

Pied kingfisher in flight - Table Bay Nature Reserve
Pied kingfisher in flight - Table Bay Nature Reserve, Woodbridge Island

Perched Levaillant's cisticola - Table Bay Nature Reserve
Perched Levaillant's cisticola - Table Bay Nature Reserve, Woodbridge Island

New Bird Species - Diep River, Table Bay Nature Reserve, Woodbridge Island View

Vernon Chalmers Photography Popular Posts