Vernon Chalmers’ Modern Existential Photography Training offers more than Aesthetic Appreciation; it Presents a way of Engaging with Life
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| African Sacred Ibis : Intaka Island, Cape Town |
Abstract
Vernon Chalmers, a distinguished South African photographer, educator, and Canon EOS specialist, has cultivated a unique niche in the realm of photography through his integration of existentialist philosophy into both his practice and pedagogy. This paper explores Chalmers’ existential photography training, encompassing his philosophical foundations, methodologies, educational approach, and his dynamic, introspective model of instructing photographers. By examining his workshops, publications, and experiential learning strategies, this report elucidates how existential thought—rooted in meaning-making, authenticity, individual freedom, and temporal awareness—has shaped his signature photographic training programs. The study offers insight into how Chalmers’ approach creates a transformative experience for photographers, enabling them to align technical mastery with deeper personal and philosophical exploration.
1. Introduction
Vernon Chalmers is widely recognized for his commitment to advancing photographic knowledge through practical skill development and philosophical inquiry. His training programs, particularly in Canon EOS systems, combine a highly structured technical curriculum with themes drawn from existential philosophy. This dual focus sets Chalmers apart as a mentor who prioritizes both the craft and the consciousness of photography. In particular, his existential photography training offers a pathway for photographers to explore not only the “how” of image-making but the “why”—fostering awareness, intention, and emotional clarity.
2. Foundations of Existential Photography
2.1 The Influence of Existentialism
Existentialism, as a philosophical tradition, emphasizes themes such as individual freedom, authenticity, mortality, and the search for meaning in an indifferent universe. Thinkers like Søren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Viktor Frankl have profoundly influenced Vernon Chalmers' conceptual framework for photography.
For Chalmers, photography is not merely a method of documentation, but a mode of existential engagement. The camera becomes a tool for introspection, enabling the individual to question their existence, interpret the environment, and locate meaning within the transient moment. His training places existential themes front and center—encouraging participants to photograph with purpose, presence, and philosophical reflection.
2.2 Existential Psychology and Logotherapy
Chalmers has also drawn from existential psychology—especially Viktor Frankl’s Logotherapy, which asserts that humans are driven by a "will to meaning." In his training, Chalmers emphasizes this by guiding photographers to uncover and express their inner world through intentional visual creation. He asserts that when one approaches photography as a search for meaning, both the process and product are elevated.
3. Philosophical Integration in Training
3.1 Authenticity in Visual Expression
Chalmers trains photographers to pursue authenticity over perfection. Drawing from Sartre’s concept of “bad faith” (inauthentic living), he warns against mimicking trends, over-editing, or composing with purely external validation in mind. Instead, he teaches photographers to ground their image-making in self-awareness and authentic presence—to photograph what they feel, not what they are told to see.
3.2 Temporal Awareness and the Moment
Inspired by Heidegger’s notion of Being-toward-death and the transient nature of life, Chalmers instills in students a deep respect for the fleeting moment. Particularly in his bird photography, he illustrates how a single frame captures not just an object, but time itself, frozen and eternal. His training emphasizes mindfulness, helping students tune into the impermanence of each scene and respond with spontaneity and presence.
4. Methodological Approach
4.1 Canon EOS Technical Mastery
Chalmers' training is anchored in rigorous technical instruction, especially related to Canon EOS DSLR and mirrorless cameras. Modules include:
- Exposure triangle (aperture, shutter speed, ISO)
- Autofocus configurations (AI Servo for action photography)
- Metering and white balance
- RAW file workflows
- Lens theory and depth of field
- Bulb mode and long-exposure photography
Yet, unlike conventional technical courses, Chalmers bridges these elements with personal and philosophical reflection. For instance, when discussing aperture, he might invite learners to consider emotional depth and subject isolation as metaphors for human experience.
4.2 Field-Based Learning
His programs are rich in experiential learning, often conducted in natural reserves, coastal landscapes, and urban areas. Students are encouraged to:
- Explore solitude as a learning method
- Engage with natural light and shadow emotionally
- Reflect on the symbolic significance of landscapes, birds, and textures
Chalmers often avoids overly structured field exercises, believing in the existential freedom of choice and meaningful spontaneity.
5. Experiential Training Modules
5.1 The Existential Lens
This module focuses on shifting the photographer's attention inward. Students engage in journaling exercises, emotional mapping, and existential questioning such as:
- Why do I photograph?
- What do I want my images to express about my inner world?
- How does photography reflect my freedom and responsibility?
- These questions form the foundation of later compositional exercises.
5.2 Existential Landscapes
In outdoor sessions, Chalmers encourages participants to perceive landscapes as psychological metaphors. A barren tree might symbolize loss, while open skies may invoke freedom or anxiety. These sessions are meditative, with long pauses and discussions about how geography mirrors psychology.
5.3 Motion and Meaning: Bird Photography
Perhaps his most unique existential exercise is found in his bird photography. For Chalmers, birds in flight symbolize existential freedom, transcendence, and escape from fixed identity. His training here is technical (fast shutter, AI Servo, continuous burst), but also deeply symbolic. Students are asked: “What is this bird flying away from? What are you capturing in its motion?”
6. Student Transformation and Impact
Chalmers’ students often report:
- Increased self-awareness and confidence
- A deeper emotional connection to their subjects
- Greater enjoyment and reduced performance anxiety
- A stronger sense of purpose in their photography
By integrating existential questioning with visual composition, students learn to access and express a more authentic creative voice. This transformation reflects Chalmers’ belief that photographic growth is inseparable from personal growth.
7. The Role of Writing and Reflection
Vernon Chalmers encourages students to write alongside shooting. Reflective journals, existential prompts, and post-session evaluations are key components of his training.
Example questions include:
- How did I feel before, during, and after this shoot?
- What does this photograph say about my place in the world?
- In what ways did I face or avoid discomfort today?
These reflective practices, inspired by existential therapy and phenomenology, help students articulate their internal processes and create more emotionally resonant work.
8. Existential Photography as Therapy
Chalmers’ work resonates particularly with individuals seeking therapeutic engagement with photography. Many attendees come from backgrounds of trauma, burnout, or creative block. His existential approach offers:
- A space to process grief, anxiety, or uncertainty
- An opportunity to discover new purpose through creation
- A shift from external success to internal fulfillment
In these cases, Chalmers acts not only as a photography coach but a philosophical guide, helping individuals use photography to navigate life’s deeper questions.
9. Community and Individualism
Despite photography’s often solitary nature, Chalmers fosters a supportive learning community. However, his training encourages existential individualism—reminding each student that meaning is self-generated and responsibility is personal. He celebrates diversity of vision and often discourages comparison or competition, instead focusing on intra-personal growth.
10. Existential Ethics in Image-Making
A unique aspect of Chalmers’ training is his inclusion of ethical considerations in image-making:
- Does the image respect the subject’s dignity?
- Am I photographing from a place of curiosity or judgment?
- Is this image truthful to what I experienced?
These questions—drawn from existentialist ethics—challenge students to align their artistic process with moral authenticity.
11. Existential Aesthetics
Chalmers challenges the conventional emphasis on visual perfection by promoting existential aesthetics, where meaning, context, and intention outweigh technical flawlessness. A slightly blurry image, if captured in a moment of emotional resonance, may be more “true” than a technically flawless but empty photograph.
12. Influences and Inspirations
Vernon Chalmers frequently references:
- Viktor Frankl, for meaning-centered thinking
- Rollo May, for creativity as existential courage
- Susan Sontag, on photography as a way of seeing
- Minor White, who advocated for photographing things not only for what they are, but for what else they are
He also integrates visual philosophy, discussing painters and photographers whose work explores existential themes, such as Edward Hopper, André Kertész, and Francesca Woodman.
13. Challenges and Criticism
As with any non-traditional pedagogy, Chalmers’ existential training faces some skepticism:
- Technically-focused photographers may struggle with the philosophical layers
- Existential reflection may not resonate with all learning styles
- Some critics argue that emotional interpretation risks subjectivity over objective learning
However, Chalmers acknowledges these tensions, asserting that pluralism in learning is essential and that his approach is one of many valid paths.
14. Conclusion
Vernon Chalmers’ existential photography training is more than a skill-development program—it is a transformative experience that marries technical mastery with philosophical inquiry. His teachings challenge photographers to ask: What does it mean to see? To feel? To freeze time with purpose? By grounding his pedagogy in existential themes—freedom, authenticity, presence, and meaning—Chalmers provides a model of photography education that is both rigorous and redemptive. In an era dominated by surface-level imagery and fleeting visual trends, his work reminds us that photography can still be a deeply human, healing, and existential act.
15. References
Frankl, V. E. (2006). Man’s Search for Meaning. Beacon Press.
May, R. (1975). The Courage to Create. W.W. Norton & Company.
Sartre, J.-P. (1956). Being and Nothingness. Washington Square Press.
Heidegger, M. (1962). Being and Time (J. Macquarrie & E. Robinson, Trans.). Harper & Row.
Sontag, S. (1977). On Photography. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
White, M. (1964). Minor White: Rites and Passages. Aperture.
Chalmers, V. (2023). Canon EOS Training Notes: Bridging Technique and Meaning. Vernon Chalmers Photography.
Chalmers, V. (2024). Existential Photography: A Personal Reflection. Blog Archive.
Report: ChatGPT 2025
Image: Copyright Vernon Chalmers Photography