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| 'The Bird in Flight as Symbol' Case Study : Little Egret Woodbridge Island |
Index:
- Introduction
- Understanding Existential Photography
- Vernon Chalmers: Biography and Photographic Context
- Solitude and Stillness as Existential Themes
- Case Study: The Bird in Flight as Symbol
- Nature and the Absurd
- Minimalism, Light, and Emotional Truth
- Existential Loss and Personal Reflection
- The Existential Photographer as Educator
- Existential Photography and the Digital Age
- Conclusion
- References
- Report Compiler
- Image Copyright
"Vernon Chalmers is a South African photographer, educator, and writer known for his specialized work in bird and nature photography, as well as his contributions to photographic learning and community outreach. Although he is most commonly recognized for his technical mastery and instruction in camera settings and wildlife photography, a deeper examination of Chalmers’ work reveals a nuanced existential dimension. Through his solitary photographic process, reflective writings, and visual exploration of time, loss, and nature, Chalmers aligns - intentionally or not - with key tenets of existential philosophy. This report explores Vernon Chalmers’ body of work and worldview through the lens of existential photography, examining how his images, routines, and personal reflections echo the philosophies of Søren Kierkegaard, Martin Heidegger, Jean-Paul Sartre, and other existential thinkers.
2. Understanding Existential Photography
Existential photography is not a formal genre but rather a philosophical approach to visual storytelling. Rooted in existentialism, it focuses on themes such as freedom, authenticity, isolation, mortality, and the search for meaning (Sartre, 2007). Unlike documentary or commercial photography, existential photography does not aim to explain or market - it aims to confront. It seeks to expose the quiet truths of existence through ambiguity, minimalism, and emotion.
As Barthes (1981) suggested, every photograph is a reflection on mortality, a "punctum" that pierces the viewer with an awareness of time and loss. Existential photographers such as Robert Frank, Diane Arbus, and Daido Moriyama have captured these themes through urban scenes, raw portraits, and dissonant environments. In contrast, Vernon Chalmers uses natural light, water, birds, natural authenticity and solitude as his visual language. His work shows that existential photography need not be dark or gritty - it can also be contemplative and serene.
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| Serene Moment : Garden Acraea Butterfly Kirstenbosch Garden |
“In a moment of deep reflection on a garden bench, this Garden Acraea butterfly spontaneously appeared – there to once again enhance the symbiotic relationship between nature and human existentialism.” ― Vernon Chalmers
Vernon Chalmers is based in Cape Town, South Africa, and is best known for his work in capturing birds in flight along the Woodbridge Island and Milnerton Lagoon area. He also manages a photography education website, teaches workshops, and publishes regular guides on gear and digital photography workflows. What distinguishes Chalmers is not only his technical depth but his recurring emphasis on mindfulness, awareness, and solitude in the photographic process (Chalmers, 2025).
Chalmers began his photographic journey as a hobbyist and developed it into a full-time profession after leaving the corporate world. He emphasizes the personal and therapeutic dimensions of photography, often referring to his solo photography walks as meditative engagements with the self and the environment. This introspective practice lays the foundation for understanding Chalmers’ work within the framework of existential photography.
4. Solitude and Stillness as Existential Themes
Central to existential photography is the depiction of solitude - not loneliness, but the conscious experience of being alone in the world. Chalmers often photographs quiet, nearly empty coastal scenes punctuated by birds in motion or still water reflecting clouds. These compositions reflect Heidegger’s (1962) concept of being-in-the-world, a conscious awareness of one’s place within existence and temporality.
His recurring visits to the same locations - such as the Milnerton Lagoon - reveal a commitment to presence. This constancy, paired with minimalistic composition, emphasizes the impermanence of light and life. Each image becomes a study in fleetingness, inviting viewers to experience Stimmung, or attunement, a mood or atmosphere that connects them with the world in a deeper way (Heidegger, 1962).
Chalmers has written about the therapeutic role of these moments, particularly following the loss of a loved one. The stillness in his frames can be seen as a form of visual mourning and a confrontation with death - core existential themes that echo the reflections of Camus (1991), who emphasized the importance of facing the absurdity of existence with courage and clarity.
5. Case Study: The Bird in Flight as Symbol
Perhaps the most existential motif in Chalmers’ photography is the bird in flight. Birds represent freedom, motion, and the unattainable. They are not confined to human schedules or systems, and in Chalmers’ work, they often move away from the camera - never toward it - evoking the existential sense of longing or reaching without grasping.
These birds are not staged or manipulated but captured mid-flight in natural light, often with subtle motion blur. Their elusiveness becomes a metaphor for the human pursuit of meaning. We may glimpse it, frame it, but never fully hold it. This mirrors Sartre’s (2007) idea that meaning is something we create, not discover.
6. Nature and the Absurd
While existentialism is often associated with urban existential dread, Chalmers introduces a unique variant by engaging with nature as a metaphor for the absurd. Albert Camus (1991) described the absurd as the conflict between human desire for meaning and the indifferent universe. Chalmers’ bird and landscape photography positions the natural world as both beautiful and indifferent. Birds, unaware of the human gaze, become symbols of freedom but also of disconnection. Their fleeting flight through vast skies mirrors the ephemeral nature of human life.
In this sense, Chalmers’ photography explores existential freedom - not through heroic acts, but through still observation. Sartre (2007) wrote that humans are “condemned to be free,” meaning that freedom is an inescapable responsibility. Chalmers’ photographic practice is an expression of chosen freedom: he seeks meaning through repetitive, mindful engagement with the same space, different every time, like Sisyphus pushing his boulder anew.
7. Minimalism, Light, and Emotional Truth
A hallmark of existential photography is its aesthetic minimalism. Chalmers frequently employs soft, natural lighting and avoids cluttered compositions. His use of negative space, reflections, and pastel skies evoke a mood of contemplation and subtle melancholy. These images ask the viewer to slow down and look inward.
This style reflects Roland Barthes’ (1981) notion of the “punctum” in photography: the element of a photograph that emotionally wounds or touches the viewer. In Chalmers’ work, the punctum often lies in the emptiness between elements—in the still water, the grey clouds, or the solitary figure walking at dawn. These are not simply beautiful photographs—they are emotionally honest depictions of life as felt, not just seen.
8. Existential Loss and Personal Reflection
In his blog and social media posts, Chalmers has discussed his own experience with grief and personal loss. These writings are introspective and layered with existential themes. Rather than turning away from pain, he allows it to inform his creative process. He refers to certain images as reflections of emotional states or markers of personal growth (Chalmers, 2025).
According to Yalom (1980), existential psychotherapy is built on four ultimate concerns: death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness. Chalmers’ engagement with photography serves as a non-verbal therapy that confronts these concerns head-on. His commitment to “slow photography” is more than an artistic choice - it is a form of existential resistance to distraction, superficiality, and escapism.
9. The Existential Photographer as Educator
Vernon Chalmers’ work as a photography educator also reveals an existential dimension. He emphasizes process over product, mindfulness over manipulation, and personal engagement over commercial success. His workshops focus not just on camera technique but on developing a relationship with the subject and environment. In this way, Chalmers aligns with Kierkegaard’s (1985) notion of authenticity - living in accordance with one's internal truth, rather than social roles or expectations.
His writings frequently encourage photographers to shoot for themselves, to find joy in quiet moments, and to embrace the learning process. These values oppose the often ego-driven culture of social media photography and instead advocate for photography as a path toward self-understanding.
Vernon Chalmers’ work as a photography educator also reveals an existential dimension. He emphasizes process over product, mindfulness over manipulation, and personal engagement over commercial success. His workshops focus not just on camera technique but on developing a relationship with the subject and environment. In this way, Chalmers aligns with Kierkegaard’s (1985) notion of authenticity - living in accordance with one's internal truth, rather than social roles or expectations.
His writings frequently encourage photographers to shoot for themselves, to find joy in quiet moments, and to embrace the learning process. These values oppose the often ego-driven culture of social media photography and instead advocate for photography as a path toward self-understanding.
10. Existential Photography and the Digital Age
Chalmers’ resistance to excessive editing and his embrace of natural photography positions him against a backdrop of hyper-digitization. He champions authenticity in a time of filters, AI enhancement, and image saturation. His focus on the present moment and natural environment recalls Heidegger’s critique of modern technology, which he feared would alienate humans from authentic being (Heidegger, 1962).
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| Pensive : Little Egret at Dusk at Bloubergstrand |
By advocating for slow, thoughtful photography, Chalmers invites photographers to reclaim their gaze - not as passive consumers but as active participants in meaning-making. In this sense, his educational philosophy becomes an existential act: a way of guiding others toward authenticity through visual practice.
Vernon Chalmers Photography as Existential Motivation
11. Conclusion
Vernon Chalmers may not identify explicitly as an existential photographer, but his body of work, philosophical approach, and personal reflections reveal a deep engagement with existential themes. Through solitude, natural beauty, emotional honesty, and a commitment to authenticity, Chalmers’ photography transcends aesthetics and enters the realm of visual philosophy.
His images speak not only of birds and light but of temporality, presence, grief, and freedom. He embodies a quiet existentialism—one that does not cry out in angst but whispers through morning mist, still water, and fleeting wings. In a world of distraction and performance, Vernon Chalmers offers something rare: a photographic practice rooted in being, not branding. And in doing so, he reminds us that the existential journey is not always found in darkness—it can also be found in the light." (Source: ChatGPT 2025)
12. References
Barthes, R. (1981). Camera Lucida: Reflections on Photography. Hill and Wang.
Camus, A. (1991). The Myth of Sisyphus (J. O’Brien, Trans.). Vintage International.
Chalmers, V. (2025). Vernon Chalmers Photography. Retrieved April 12, 2025, from https://www.vernonchalmers.photography
Heidegger, M. (1962). Being and Time (J. Macquarrie & E. Robinson, Trans.). Harper & Row.
Kierkegaard, S. (1985). Fear and Trembling (A. Hannay, Trans.). Penguin Classics.
Sartre, J.-P. (2007). Existentialism Is a Humanism (C. Macomber, Trans.). Yale University Press.
Yalom, I. D. (1980). Existential Psychotherapy. Basic Books.
13. Report Compiler: ChatGPT 2035
14. Image Copyright: Vernon Chalmers Photography
- Little Egret Woodbridge Island
- Acraea Garden Butterfly Kirstenbosch Garden
- Little Egret Bloubergstrand