Philadelphia, Cape Town 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 / lens pairings performed exceptionally well, So much optical creativity and Canon technology embedded inside...

The majority of shops in Philadelphia are closed on a Monday and the town was therefore mostly deserted of locals and / or tourists. Only a few shops here and there were open for browsing. The Pepper Tree Art Stable and Coffee shop served us fresh roasted coffee and a few slices of a decadent lemon meringue pie. Compliments to the baker...!

Philadelphia is definitely worth another visit. It is also possible from here, through the countryside to drive to Wellington, Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. (see Philadelphia Map below)

All Images Copyright Vernon Chalmers Photography : Vernon Chalmers Copyright Policy

'Tour our Town' Philadelphia, Cape Town : Town Map

NG Kerk / Dutch Reformed Church Philadelphia, Cape Town

NG Kerk / Dutch Reformed Church Philadelphia, Cape Town

Philadelphia, Cape Town NG Kerk / Dutch Reformed Church Signage (Since 1863)

Philadelphia, Cape Town Vintage Farmer Tractor

Philadelphia, Cape Town Garden Goblins

Philadelphia, Cape Town Magic Minerals Shop Signage

Inside Magic Minerals Shop, Philadelphia, Cape Town

Magic Minerals Dragon Head, Philadelphia, Cape Town

Pink Daisy Flowers, Philadelphia, Cape Town (Auto-ISO 5000)

Pepper Tree Art Stable and Coffee Shop, Philadelphia, Cape Town

Photo of Painting Philadelphia Cape Town, Pepper Tree Art Stable and Coffee Shop

Pepper Tree Art Stable and Coffee Shop Books, Philadelphia, Cape Town

More About Philadelphia, Cape Town

"Philadelphia is a charming rural village located about 38 km north of Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It's known for its historic buildings, scenic countryside, and friendly community.

It's wonderful how such a quaint village can offer so many activities and attractions. From savouring delicious home-cooked meals at Peppertree Art Stable & Coffee Shop to experiencing the thrill of microlight flights, there's something for everyone.

Here are some highlights of what you can do and see in Philadelphia:

• Peppertree Art Stable & Coffee Shop: Enjoy fine home-cooked cuisine under a large pepper tree in a country-style setting.
• Capaia Wines: Visit for wine tasting and enjoy the scenic vineyards.
• Mountain View Horse Trails: Go on horseback rides through the Cape Town farmlands.
• De Malle Meul: A great spot for Sunday lunch with a large buffet spread.
• Self-Drive Cape Town to Wellington: Take a scenic drive through beautiful countryside.
• Microlight Introduction Flights: Experience the thrill of soaring over land and sea in a microlight.

Philadelphia is a perfect destination for those looking to experience the tranquility of rural life while still being close to the amenities of Cape Town." (Source: Microsoft Copilot)

Philadelphia, Cape Town, Google Map / Directions

N7 Towards Malmesbury From Cape Town (+- 38 Km's from Cape Town)

Camera / Lens for Philadelphia, Cape Town Photography (Vernon Chalmers Images)

• Canon EOS 6D Mark II (Full-Frame)
• Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens
• Lexar Professional 64GB UHS-I 160MB/S /1066x Speed

Exposure / Focus Settings for Philadelphia, Cape Town Photography

• Autofocus On
• Aperture Priority (Av) Mode
• Apertures (f/4 - f/11)
• Auto ISO (100 - 5000)
• Shutter Speeds (Various)
• Image Stabilisation On
• Handheld
• Philadelphia, Cape Town Photography, Image Post-Processing
• Lightroom Classic (Ver 13.5) - Minor Adjustments / RAW to JPEG Conversion

African Art & Craft Market - Boulders Beach, Simon's Town

Bird Photography with Canon EOS 6D Mark II Woodbridge Island, Cape Town

Canon Photography Quick Walkabout Hout Bay Harbour, Cape Town

Kirstenbosch Garden Sculpture Photography Canon EOS 6D Mark II

Landscape Photography Spier Wine Farm, Stellenbosch, Cape Town

Canon Photography Training Milnerton Woodbridge Island | Kirstenbosch

Kirstenbosch Garden Sculpture Photography

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 more effective background angles I decided to adjust both image backgrounds for eliminating people, plants and other unwanted natural obstacles.

For projecting the prominence and quality of the sculptures I digitally enhanced the backgrounds with 'superimposing' image backgrounds in applying Windows 11 Photo App functionality and some non-AI corrections in Adobe Lightroom.

According to my own (Vernon Chalmers Photography) AI disclaimer I am aware that due to the applied background changes I am obliged to communicate these image property changes.

My objective was to stay as authentic as possible in creating an average generative natural background colour scheme (in terms of a generative depth of field application - based on the original tones). All sculpture images are the natural exposure depiction as captured with my Canon EOS 6D Mark II.

Kirstenbosch Sculpture Photography with Canon EOS 6D Mark II

Anton Smit, Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Sculpture : Canon EOS 6D Mark II

Anton Smit, Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Sculpture : Canon EOS 6D Mark II

Anton Smit, Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Sculpture : Canon EOS 6D Mark II

Anton Smit, Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden : Canon EOS 6D Mark II

Vernon Chalmers Canon EOS 6D Mark II for Bird Photography

Vernon Chalmers Photography AI Disclaimer

Vernon Chalmers Photography Copyright | Intellectual Property Policy

Anton Smit South African Sculptor

Anton Smit is a renowned South African sculptor known for his powerful and evocative works. His sculptures often feature towering human figures, impressive heads, masks, and abstract pieces 1. He works with a variety of materials, including steel, metal, stones, and bronze, and is known for imbuing his sculptures with an illusion of movement.

Smit's art explores themes of suffering, reconciliation, glory, and sublimation1, and his works can be found in both public and private collections around the world. He has exhibited his sculptures in various locations, including the Pretoria Art Museum and the Century City Art Foundation 1. (Source: Microsoft Copilot)

Anton Smit South African Sculptor Kirstenbosch Garden

Anton Smit has recently collaborated with the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) to showcase his sculptures in several National Botanical Gardens. As of November 5, 2024, his artworks have been on display at the Pretoria National Botanical Garden. This partnership will extend to the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town, with installations planned for 2025.sanbi.org

Smit's sculptures are known for their expressive themes, often delving into human emotion and spirituality. His works have been exhibited both nationally and internationally, gracing public spaces and private collections. en.wikipedia.org

For those interested in viewing his art in Cape Town, current exhibitions include displays at the Century City Arts Trail and the Delaire Graff Estate in Stellenbosch. antonsmit.co.za


To stay updated on the latest installations and exhibitions, it's advisable to check the official websites of SANBI and Anton Smit. (Source: ChatGPT 2025)

More about Vernon Chalmers Photography at Kirstenbosch Garden

“Vernon Chalmers has a strong connection with Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden 1. He frequently conducts photography training sessions there, focusing on various aspects such as bird and flower photography, macro and close-up photography, and landscape and long exposure photography 2.

Recently, on December 11, 2024, Vernon facilitated an extensive one-on-one training session at Kirstenbosch 1. Despite slight rainy conditions in the morning, the session continued with practical applications in the garden under diffused but dry conditions 1. Vernon used a Canon EOS 6D Mark II to capture images of sculptures and small flowers, providing hands-on guidance to new photographers 1.” (Source: Microsoft)

Camera / Lens for Sculpture Images

• Canon EOS 6D Mark II (Full-Frame)
• Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens
• Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens

Exposure / Focus / Focal Length Settings

• Autofocus On
• Aperture Priority (Av) Mode
• Aperture: f/4
• Auto-ISO: 100
• Focal Length: 105mm / 400nn
• Zone Autofocus
• Handheld

Image Post-Processing

• Lightroom Classic (Ver 13.5) - minor adjustments / RAW to JPEG conversion
• Windows 11 Photo App

Philadelphia, Cape Town Photography

Canon Photography Training Milnerton Woodbridge Island | Kirstenbosch Cape Town | Intaka Island
Milnerton Lagoon / Woodbridge Island Photograph, Cape Town

Glorious Bird Photography Morning Woodbridge Island

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
• Shutter Speed: 1/1000 - 1/3200
• AI Servo: Case 1: Wide Zone
• 10 fps High Speed Continuous Mode
• Handheld

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

Little Egret in Flight Table Bay Nature Reserve, Woodbridge Island

Cape Teal Duck in Flight Table Bay Nature Reserve, Woodbridge Island

African Sacred Ibis in Flight Table Bay Nature Reserve, Woodbridge Island

Egyptian Goose in Flight Table Bay Nature Reserve, Woodbridge Island

Pied Crow in Flight Table Bay Nature Reserve, Woodbridge Island

Perched Cape Bulbul Table Bay Nature Reserve, Woodbridge Island

Birds in Flight Photography Cape Town View

Bird Species Woodbridge Island, Cape Town View