Vernon Chalmers Photography

Vernon Chalmers, Tourist Photography Philadelphia, Cape Town Canon EOS 6D Mark II and Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM Lens Philadelphia, Cape Town, Philadelphia Town Entrance Visiting Philadelphia An impromptu drive on a crisp December Monday morning took us to the small, rustic and tourist-friendly town of Philadelphia, (approximately 37 km's via the N7 towards Malmesbury), from Cape Town, for some tourist / street photography. The Philadelphia village was established in 1836 from a parish of the Dutch Reformed Church. Various signages on notice boards and old buildings are daily reminders of the proud heritage of this quaint original settlement. Today the town is still relatively small with impeccably tidiness across the residential and trading areas. Philadelphia provided us with another opportunity to use the nimble Canon EOS 6D Mark II paired with the Canon EF 24-70mm f/4 IS USM lens and the ever-green Canon EOS 6D paired with the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens. Both bodies ...

Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Sculpture Photography, Cape Town With Canon EOS 6D Mark II / Canon EF Lenses Sculpture Photography : Anton Smit Sculptures Kirstenbosch Garden Earlier today I facilitated an extensive one-on-one photography training session at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden. We were greeted early-morning with slight rainy conditions during the undercover exposure theory session. The morning light improved as we ventured outside into the the garden under slight diffused light, but perfectly dry conditions for the practical application session. During the practical session I only managed to capture a few images as my attention was firmly on the new photographer's application of exposure in different modes, exposure settings and focal lengths while capturing small flowers and quite a few Anton Smit sculptures (of various shapes and sizes). I managed to 'click and go' these very bold and impressive sculptures. Ultimately compromised by the availability of time for...

Glorious Bird Photography Morning Woodbridge Island and Table Bay Nature Reserve African Spoonbill Table Bay Nature Reserve, Woodbridge Island Vernon Chalmers Bird Photography - Table Bay Nature Reserve / Woodridge Island Another glorious morning along the Diep River, Table Bay Nature Reserve, Woodbridge Island. This morning I was greeted by the black-headed heron, the Cape spurfowls, quite a few grey herons, yellow-billed ducks, Egyptian geese and an African spoonbill or two. A Cape bulbul poked his head out from the reeds and I had an opportunity to see the Cape teal ducks and a few yellow-billed ducks frolicking in the early morning sun. Bird images of the morning : African spoonbill Little egret in flight Cape teal duck in flight African sacred ibis Pied crow Perched Cape bulbul Cape Town Location Table Bay Nature Reserve, Woodbridge Island, Milnerton Canon Camera / Lens Settings Canon EOS 7D Mark II Body EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens Manual Mode: Auto-ISO: 160 - 1000 Aperture: f/5.6 Sh...

Private Canon Photography - Spier Wine Farm, Stellenbosch, Cape Town Landscape Photography : Spier Wine Farm, Stellenbosch While everyone was frantically driving opposite me on the N2 to get to work on Monday morning I had the opportunity to facilitate an one-on-one private photography training session at Spier Wine Estate, Stellenbosch. I've been there on a few occasions over the years as a student and with friends, but never from an exclusive photographic perspective. View Spier Wine Farm Google Map / Directions below. The objective of the individual private photography session was not landscape photography , but general (Canon EOS R mirrorless theory) and wildlife photography exposure and autofocus skills development with the Canon EOS R6 paired with a variety of Canon EF lenses (And the EF to RF Adapter). It was a beautiful blue and crisp morning at Spier Wine Farm within it's tranquil and laid-back 'out-of season' environment - perfect for someone to get to grips ...

Able Seaman (RN) Just Nuisance Statue : Jubilee Square, Simon's Town Able Seaman Just Nuisance : Only Dog Officially Enlisted in the Royal Navy " He was a very remarkable dog, his tactics in any pub were those of a born scrounger, he would lie peacefully on his side under a table until customers arrived. I saw him on several occasions when some matelots walked in. He would casually role onto his front, nonchalantly wriggle from under the table, straighten his front legs, then his hind ones, stretch all of them before padding slowly up to the bar. There he would insinuate himself between the two lads and look expectantly at first one and then the other, finally concentrating on whichever one put his hand in his pocket! If the men were regulars an extra pint would be forthcoming and placed on the edge of the bar, Nuisance would put his forepaws on the bar counter and, usually down the pint without stopping for breath. After a polite thank you lick at the hand of the donor, he ...

False Bay, Cape Town Tourist and Street Photography   Kalk Bay Harbour with Fishing Boats (in False Bay) Family Celebration around False Bay  An eventful family celebration took us through the picturesque Kalk Bay and Simon’s Town along the False Bay coastline. The crisp morning light and blue sky presented a few vivid opportunities for remembering a special day in splendour and grace. Photographed by tourists at large, we (many of us as locals), have these vibrant towns with its rich local and international histories quite close to our doorstep. Street Art and Craft Images at Kalk Bay and Simon's Town with Personal Permission from Each. Vernon Chalmers Kalk Bay and Simon's Town, Cape Town Photography "Vernon Chalmers has captured some stunning photographs in both Kalk Bay and Simon’s Town, showcasing the unique charm and beauty of these coastal areas. His work often includes street photography, landscapes, and local wildlife, highlighting the vibrant culture and scenic vi...

Canon EOS R Camera Auto ISO Options Canon EOS R 6 Camera : Image Canon USA Using Auto ISO on Modern EOS R Cameras "Using Auto ISO on modern Canon EOS R cameras can significantly enhance your shooting experience, especially in dynamic lighting conditions. Here are some tips and features to help you make the most of Auto ISO on these cameras: Setting Up Auto ISO 1. Accessing Auto ISO : On most EOS R cameras, you can set Auto ISO by pressing the ISO button and rotating the main dial until you see “Auto” displayed 1 . Alternatively, you can use the Quick Control screen or the M.Fn button to access ISO settings 1 . 2. Customizing ISO Range : You can set the minimum and maximum ISO values to control the range within which the camera can adjust the ISO. This helps manage noise levels in your images 2 . For example, on the EOS R5, the default range is ISO 100 to ISO 12,800, but you can adjust this based on your preferences 2 . 3. Minimum Shutter Speed : In Aperture Priority (Av) or Progr...

Birding and Wildflower Photography Kirstenbosch Garden with Vernon Chalmers Female Malachite Sunbird : Kirstenbosch Garden, Cape Town " No past, no future: just this vivid early-morning moment of orange bloom and the elegance of sunbird presence ." - Vernon Chalmers Birding and Wildflower Photography Kirstenbosch Garden, Cape Town A few quick personal images while facilitating my American clients at Kirstenbosch Garden on Friday morning, 26 January 2024. It was indeed an early-morning privilege to further introduce and share our local fauna and flora with my photography clients from Pennsylvania, United States. This is not my first students / tourists visit from the US, but it's the 1st-time spending time with any at Kirstenbosch. I trust to welcome these esteemed tourists back in Cape Town sooner than later. Canon Equipment Canon EOS 7D Mark II Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens AF / Exposure / Lens Settings AF Modes: Expansion / Zone AF Autofocus (370 - 400mm) Ap...