21 February 2023

Update: ‘Through the frosted glass…'

Peregrine Falcon at Night

By a large margin, the worst quality photograph I have ever produced, but with absolutely the best feeling – with a heart pounding in my chest I trusted the Peregrine to stay and my Canon EOS 6D / EF 85mm f/1.8 USM lens to deliver (at f/1.8 and ISO 12800 - single AF-Point).

This was indeed the closest I’ve ever been, albeit at night.

I moved at less than a snail's space in close to absolute darkness to get a bit more than just the normal nightly glimpse of my neighbour's silhouette outside the bathroom window high above the Milnerton night sky.

He controls my nights: no lights - loadshedding or no loadshedding. I'm getting used to living in darkness.

There is nothing I want to do to disturb his majestic presence...

23:00 Arnhem | Milnerton

‘Through the frosted glass…' >>

Peregrine Falcon at Arnhem, Milnerton (At Night)

20 February 2023

‘Through the frosted glass…’

Peregrine Falcon in the Morning

With a busy day ahead and my mind all over the place I jumped in the shower this morning... and there he was, perched on the other side of me, less than half a meter away. Through the frosted glass I observed his presence outside the window. I was at peace – my neighbour was back (after not seeing him for the last 3 weeks).
My racy thoughts trickled away as I went into slow motion trying not to disturb him… and after a few minutes he was gone.

Can’t blame him for leaving – with his excellent eyesight he may have had this expression of what he observed in front of him… 😀 as he did quite some time ago as well.

Peregrine Falcon at Arnhem Milnerton : Copyright Vernon Chalmers
Peregrine Falcon at Arnhem Milnerton : Copyright Vernon Chalmers

Archived image: Peregrine falcon at Arnhem | Milnerton View >>

With Canon EOS 70D / EF 400mm f/5.6L ISM Lens

The Peregrine Falcon: Fastest Bird in the World >>

Vernon Chalmers Photography Training Intaka Island | Kirstenbosch Garden | Woodbridge Island

14 February 2023

Nostalgic Value of some of my first Bird Images

Much more than just pressing a shutter button at sunrise…

African oystercatchers Blougbergstrand Cape Town Vernon Chalmers Photography
African Oystercatchers at Sunrise : Blougbergstrand, Cape Town

In crisp morning light (about 10 years ago) I was privileged to be in the esteemed company of two of my photography seniors – my late friend Joseph Inns and Robert Johnson – at the time the chairman of the Tygerberg Photographic Society (TPS).

The African oystercatchers and Little egret were also some of the first bird images that I have ever photographed with an entry-level Canon DSLR camera at Bloubergstrand. Arriving before sunrise on this beautiful sunny Friday morning we were greeted by the majestic presence of Table Mountain across the bay, the oystercatchers, egrets and a few other distant sea birds.

I marvelled in these gentlemen’s discussions about light, location and opportunity. There was no real mention of camera gear or how to extract the best value out of camera and lens, just to focus on and enjoy 'what’s in front of you'.

This memorable morning concluded with more enlightened discussions over a sumptuous breakfast at the Ons Huisie Restaurant in Bloubergstrand.

Indeed a highlight in my own development as a photographer.

Canon Equipment / Settings
  • Canon 700D APS-C DSLR Body
  • Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/3-5.6 IS Lens
  • Av Mode: f/5/6 @ 250mm

Original Post-Processing
Adobe Lightroom 5.7

Little Egret Blougbergstrand Cape Town Vernon Chalmers Photography
Little Egret at Sunrise : Bloubergstrand, Cape Town

Vernon Chalmers Photography Training Intaka Island | Kirstenbosch Garden | Woodbridge Island

01 February 2023

Private Vernon Chalmers Photography Workshop March 2023

Update: Vernon Chalmers Photography Private Training Workshop and Beyond

Private Vernon Chalmers Photography Training Workshop March 2023
Red-Knobbed Coot : Diep River / Woodbridge Island 

It has been confirmed today that I will be facilitating a private Birds / Bird in Flight group workshop for a historically well-established Photographic Society in the Cape Peninsula during March 2023.

What is the impact on current VCP Canon EOS R / EOS one-on-one camera / photography training clients?

There should not be too much impact during February bookings, but it could affect overflow / practical sessions in March 2023 due to research, preparation and the actual workshop schedule.

This will be a multi-brand camera workshop, (not just Canon) and therefore I will be required to research all other available camera brands (ito of contemporary camera bodies, autofocus systems, lenses and optional accessories for meeting the confirmed workshop objectives) and also Canon / other brands product roadmap(s) ito technology; bodies, lenses, appropriate accessories etc.

I am looking forward to this group facilitation and it may just pave the way to kick-start the VCP group workshops (up to 25 delegates) again in Birds / Birds in Flight / Landscape / Macro & Close-Up / Speedlight Flash Photography for predominantly Canon photographers (EOS / EOS R APS-C / Full Frame bodies).

The last three VCP workshops (theory modules: Birds in Flight / Landscape / Macro & Close-Up Photography) at the Environmental Centre Intaka Island were unfortunatly cancelled due to the Covid pandemic. I’m giving this some serious thought again and will be in discussion with various stakeholders over the next few months.

My friend and most valued workshop co-presenter, Joseph Inns, is not with us anymore and these public workshop initiates will have to be managed, for the first time, without his pragmatic sense of photography education and training.

Camera and Photography theory modules 2023 / 2024 may not necessarily be facilitated at Intaka Island.

Interested in attending a Vernon Chalmers Photography Public Workshops?

Anyone interested in attending a public VCP workshop (Canon or other brands) please contact me through the Contact Me / WhatsApp / Messenger options on the website.

Media Release: Vernon Chalmers Photography Training (31/1/2023)

Image Above: As cool as a red-knobbed coot (Diep River / Woodbridge Island). With Canon EOS 7D Mark II / EF 400mm f/5/6L USM lens

Image Below: African sacred ibis in flight (Intaka Island Cape Town). With Canon EOS 7D Mark II / EF 400mm f/5/6L USM lens

Vernon Chalmers Photography Training Intaka Island | Kirstenbosch Garden | Woodbridge Island

African Sacred Ibis  Intaka Island Cape Town Vernon Chalmers
African Sacred Ibis in Flight : Intaka Island Cape Town

Woodbridge Island Bird Species Index

Birds Around Woodbridge Island / Table Bay Nature Reserve

Woodbridge Island / Table Bay Nature Reserve Bird Species Index - Image Copyright Vernon Chalmers Photography
Grey Heron : Image Copyright Vernon Chalmers

Woodbridge Island / Table Bay Nature Reserve Cape Town Bird Species Index

Woodbridge Island Map for Bird Photography, Cape Town >>

Photographer: Vernon Chalmers

"A total of 201 species has been recorded at Rietvlei Wetland / Table Bay Nature Reserve during SABAP2, of which 102 species are waterbirds and 76 are regularly present." Source: Birdlife SA

I've updated my 'Woodbridge Island Bird Species Index' to 70 species personally photographed around Woodbridge Island / Table Bay Nature Reserve (In-flight, perched and swimming): 

Cape Teal Ducks in Flight Woodbridge Island Bird Species Index Copyright Vernon Chalmers
Cape Teal Ducks in Flight : Woodbridge Island Bird Species Index - Milnerton | Cape Town

About Woodbridge Island Photography

About Woodbridge Island Photography

Canon EOS Cameras used for the Woodbridge Island Bird Species Index
  • Canon EOS 700D
  • Canon EOS 70D
  • Canon EOS 7D Mark II
  • Canon EOS 6D
  • Canon EOS R
  • Canon EOS R6

Canon EF Telephoto Lenses used for the Woodbridge Island Bird Species Index
  • Canon RF 800mm f/11 IS STM lens
  • Canon RF 600mm f/11 IS STM lens
  • Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens
  • Canon EF 100-400mm f/4-5.6L IS USM II lens
  • Canon EF 100-400mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens
  • Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens
  • Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens
  • Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens

Reference for Woodbridge Island | Table Bay Nature Reserve Bird Species

Bird Identification / Recording Woodbridge Island | Table Bay Nature Reserve


Birds of South Africa (Sappi) Saartjie Kidson & Herman Van Niekerk
Birds of South Africa (Sappi)
Saartjie Kidson & Herman van Niekerk

Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris)
Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris) 

Vernon Chalmers 'Kirstenbosch Bird Species Index' View

The Paddocks Milnerton Bird Species Index View

Birding Photography at Woodbridge Island / Table Bay Nature Reserve

Canon Photography Training Milnerton Woodbridge Island | Kirstenbosch Cape Town

Getting to know your Canon Autofocus System

Learning the Canon Autofocus System (for Birds in Flight Photography)
 
Getting to know your camera's Autofocus (AF) System for Action Photography
With Canon EOS 7D Mark II  :   AI Servo Mode: Large Zone AF / Case 1

Canon Autofocus System
Inside the modern Canon EOS / EOS R camera (and all other brands for that matter) is an Autofocus (AF) System for assisting the photographer for tracking and capturing any type of shot (not just action).

Some of these systems use a basic 9-Point deployment and it can go up to an advanced and user-configurable 65-Points (and more) with various AF Cases and AF Mode (different options for tracking a variety of static / moving subjects).

The new Canon EOS R System bodies (Canon EOS R3 / EOS R5 / EOS R6) features Canon's Dual Pixel CMOS II on-sensor Autofocus with over 5500 AF-Points).

Canon Dual Pixel CMOS AF II in the EOS R5 and EOS R6 Explained >>

I personally don't mind if I'm shooting with any of the current Canon AF Systems. More important is to get familiar with the various configurations of the AF system, its responsiveness and tracking ability vs the photographer's skill set and physical responsiveness.

I've seen many new photographers improving their action photography over time and its basically two main areas:

Getting to know the Camera and AF System
This is something that can take months to learn and to develop an intuitive understanding of the camera / AF system's ability with different action genres and in different light conditions.

Anticipation and tracking fast moving subjects
New action photographers are quickly discouraged when they fail to even see the subject (i.e. bird in flight) in the camera's viewfinder. It can take three to six months of regular weekend shooting for mastering the anticipation and tracking of fast flying birds (in relation to physical responsiveness and getting to know the camera's various support systems).

Article: Tracking Variables for Improved Birds in Flight Photography View>>

In my Birds in flight photography skills development training (and other training) I'm more than aware of the different challenges that new photographers may have, different cameras and different levels of physical reflexes for learning and mastering fast action photography.

During training I use the Lightroom Show Focus Points Plugin for identifying and demonstrating to new photographers exactly where they / their camera placed the AF points relative to the moving subject.

The first of the two images (top image) is the post-processed image of a common starling captured last week at Woodbridge Island with the Canon EOS 7D Mark II / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens.

The second image (below this paragraph) is a cut and paste from Lightroom showing the AF points array of the Canon EOS 7D Mark II 's 65-Point AF points superimposed on the common starling image. The two boxes with dark red and black borders are the two AF points with which focus was achieved. The red and white boxes is the specific zone I selected (for moving subjects in this case).

On the right of the image is the Focus Information and Legend section informing the photographer exactly what exposure settings / AF settings was used to capture the subject.

Adobe Lightroom Show Focus Point Plugin for AF Tracking and Exposure Assistance

Lightroom AF-Point Plugin
The Lightroom AF-Point Plugin is an essential part of the developing photographers learning and is freely available for most current and older versions of Lightroom. For more information on the Lightroom Show Autofocus Points Plugin Go Here>>

Digital Photo Professional (DPP)
Canon's own Digital Photo Professional (DPP) editing and post-processing suite will have a similar function albeit with much less data. More information on downloading and using Digital Photo Professional (DPP) 4.16 for PC and Mac Go here>>

Testimony of the Modern Autofocus System View

Birds in Flight Photography Training Cape Town View

Vernon Chalmers Photography Training Intaka Island | Kirstenbosch Garden | Woodbridge Island

Intaka Island Bird Species Index

Bird Species / Bird Photography at Intaka Island, Cape Town

Vernon Chalmers Birdlife Photography Intaka Island

White-Throated Swallow at Intaka Island
White-Throated Swallow at Intaka Island

Intaka Island Bird Species Index

Bird Photographer: Vernon Chalmers

Official Intaka Island Bird Species Checklist >>
 
The 'Intaka Island Bird Species Index' is a new personal (Vernon Chalmers Photography) Intaka Island Bird Species Index, Century City photography project around Intaka Island, Century City: 

Bird Photography at Intaka Island
Intaka Island is a safe and natural environment for photographers enjoying a variety of perched and / or  flying water birds during al four of the Western Cape's weather seasons. Intaka Island is an approximate 10 kilometre drive from Cape Town and is accessible via different routes (from anywhere in the Cape Peninsula) for entering the Intaka Island, Century City location. With its large diversity of bird, plants and bird species the wetlands ecosystem is professionally maintained with the birds having a relative large area to roam absolutely free in a natural environment. 

Various footpaths are landscaped to provide well-directed access to different areas around this natural urban wetlands environment. With various hides for morning and afternoon photography, photographers can gain relative close access to a variety of every-day bird species. For any additional information contact Intaka island directly on  Tel: 021 553 6889 or visit the Intaka Island website.  All staff at the Intaka Island Reception are very helpful and will assist a variety of Intaka Island nature enquiries. 

According to the Intaka Island website there are approximately 120 bird species (Source: Intaka Island)


Intaka Island Environmental Education System

Intaka Island Environmental Education : Century Century City, Cape Town
Intaka Island Environmental Education : Century Century City, Cape Town

Birds and Plants of Intaka Island Signboard
Large Outside Birds and Plants Signboard at  Intaka Island, Cape Town Entrance

Water Canal at Intaka Island, Century City, Cape Town
Water Canal to the left of Intaka Island, Environmental Education Centre, Cape Town

Intaka Island Address
1 Century City Drive
Century City
Cape Town

Website: Intaka Island

Heronry Intaka Island Vernon Chalmers Photography
Heronry Intaka Island, Cape Town : Viewable from the Afternoon Hide

Heronries at Intaka Island
Above is one of a few heronries at Intaka Island. This particular heronry is predominantly occupied by African sacred ibises and White-breasted cormorants. These two species fly frequently (late afternoons) between two fairly large heronries visible from the afternoon birdwatching / photograph hide.  

Some of the Birds at / over Intaka Island, Cape Town

Spur-Winged Geese Flying Over Intaka Island Copyright Vernon Chalmers
Spur-Winged Geese Flying High Above Intaka Island, Cape Town

Hartlaub's Gull Intaka Island Cape Town Vernon Chalmers Photography
Hartlaub's Gull / King Gull Intaka Island, Cape Town

Red-Knobbed Coot Intaka Island Copyright Vernon Chalmers
Red-Knobbed Coot Intaka Island, Cape Town

Juvenile Cape / Kelp Gull Intaka Island Copyright Vernon Chalmers
Juvenile Cape / Kelp Gull Intaka Island, Cape Town

Juvenile Cape Cormorant Intaka Island
Juvenile Cape Cormorant Intaka Island, Cape Town

Helmeted Guineafowl Intaka Island Vernon Chalmers Photography
Helmeted Guineafowl Intaka Island, Cape Town

Black-Crowned Night heron Intaka  Island Vernon Chalmers Photography
Black-Crowned Night Heron Intaka Island, Cape Town

Yellow-Billed Duckling Intaka Island Copyright Vernon Chalmers Photography
Yellow-Billed Duckling Intaka Island, Cape Town

Common Moorhen Close-Up Intaka Island Cape Town
Common Moorhen Close-Up : Intaka Island. Cape Town

Vernon Chalmers Photography Popular Posts