Canon Photography Training Milnerton, Cape Town

Photography Training / Skills Development Milnerton, Cape Town

Fast Shutter Speed / Action Photography Training Woodbridge Island, Cape Town

Personalised Canon EOS / Canon EOS R Training for Different Learning Levels

Vernon Chalmers Photography Profile

Vernon Canon Photography Training Cape Town 2026

If you’re looking for Canon photography training in Milnerton, Cape Town, Vernon Chalmers Photography offers a variety of cost-effective courses tailored to different skill levels and interests. They provide one-on-one training sessions for Canon EOS DSLR and EOS R mirrorless cameras, covering topics such as:

• Introduction to Photography / Canon Cameras More
• Birds in Flight / Bird Photography Training More
• Bird / Flower Photography Training Kirstenbosch More
• Landscape / Long Exposure Photography More
• Macro / Close-Up Photography More
• Speedlite Flash Photography More

Training sessions can be held at various locations, including Woodbridge Island and Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden.

Canon EOS / EOS R Camera and Photography Training

Cost-Effective Private Canon EOS / EOS R Camera and Photography tutoring / training courses in Milnerton, Cape Town.

Tailor-made (individual) learning programmes are prepared for specific Canon EOS / EOS R camera and photography requirements with the following objectives:

• Individual Needs / Gear analysis
• Canon EOS camera menus / settings
• Exposure settings and options
• Specific genre applications and skills development
• Practical shooting sessions (where applicable)
• Post-processing overview
• Ongoing support
  
  

Image Post-Processing / Workflow Overview
As part of my genre-specific photography training, I offer an introductory overview of post-processing workflows (if required) using Adobe Lightroom, Canon Digital Photo Professional (DPP) and Topaz Photo AI. This introductory module is tailored to each delegate’s JPG / RAW image requirements and provides a practical foundation for image refinement, image management, and creative expression - ensuring a seamless transition from capture to final output.

Canon Camera / Lens Requirements
Any Canon EOS / EOS R body / lens combination is suitable for most of the training sessions. During initial contact I will determine the learner's current skills, Canon EOS system and other learning / photographic requirements. Many Canon PowerShot camera models are also suitable for creative photography skills development.

Camera and Photgraphy Training Documentation
All Vernon Chalmers Photography Training delegates are issued with a folder with all relevant printed documentation  in terms of camera and personal photography requirements. Documents may be added (if required) to every follow-up session (should the delegate decide to have two or more sessions).

2026 Vernon Chalmers Photography Training Rates 

Cabbage White Butterfly Woodbridge Island - Canon EF 100-400mm Lens

Bird / Flower Photography Training Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden More Information

2025 Individual Photography Training Session Cost / Rates

From R900-00 per four hour session for Introductory Canon EOS / EOS R photography in Milnerton, Cape Town. Practical shooting sessions can be worked into the training. A typical training programme of three training sessions is R2 450-00.

From R950-00 per four hour session for developing . more advanced Canon EOS / EOS R photography in Milnerton, Cape Town. Practical shooting sessions can be worked into the training. A typical training programme of three training sessions is R2 650-00.

Three sessions of training to be up to 12 hours+ theory / settings training (inclusive: a three hours practical shoot around Woodbridge Island if required) and an Adobe Lightroom informal assessment / of images taken - irrespective of genre. 

Canon EOS System / Menu Setup and Training Cape Town

Canon EOS Cameras / Lenses / Speedlite Flash Training
All Canon EOS / EOS R cameras from the EOS 1100D to advanced AF training on the Canon EOS 80D to Canon EOS-1D X Mark III. All Canon EOS R Cameras. All Canon EF / EF-S / RF / RF-S and other Canon-compatible brand lenses. All Canon Speedlite flash units from Canon Speedlite 270EX to Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT (including Macro Ring Lite flash models).

Intaka Island Photography Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens

Advanced Canon EOS Autofocus Training (Canon EOS / EOS R)

For advanced Autofocus (AF) training have a look at the Birds in Flight Photography workshop options. Advanced AF training is available from the Canon EOS 7D Mark II / Canon EOS 5D Mark III / Canon EOS 5D Mark IV up to the Canon EOS 1-DX Mark II / III. Most Canon EOS R bodies (i.e. EOS R7, EOS R6, EOS R6 Mark II, EOS R5, EOS R5 Mark II, EOS R3, EOS R1) will have similar or more advanced Dual Pixel CMOS AF Systems. Contact me for more information about a specific Canon EOS / EOS R AF System.

Cape Town Photography Training Schedules / Availability

From Tuesdays - during the day / evening and / or over weekends.

Canon EOS / Close-Up Lens Accessories Training Cape Town

Core Canon Camera / Photography Learning Areas

• Overview & Specific Canon Camera / Lens Settings
• Exposure Settings for M / Av / Tv Modes
• Autofocus / Manual Focus Options
• General Photography / Lens Selection / Settings
• Transition from JPG to RAW (Reasons why)
• Landscape Photography / Settings / Filters
• Close-Up / Macro Photography / Settings
• Speedlite Flash / Flash Modes / Flash Settings
• Digital Image Management

Practical Photography / Application

• Inter-relationship of ISO / Aperture / Shutter Speed
• Aperture and Depth of Field demonstration
• Low light / Long Exposure demonstration
• Landscape sessions / Manual focusing
• Speedlite Flash application / technique
• Introduction to Post-Processing

Tailor-made Canon Camera / Photography training to be facilitated on specific requirements after a thorough needs-analysis with individual photographer / or small group.

• Typical Learning Areas Agenda
• General Photography Challenges / Fundamentals
• Exposure Overview (ISO / Aperture / Shutter Speed)
• Canon EOS 70D Menus / Settings (in relation to exposure)
• Camera / Lens Settings (in relation to application / genres)
• Lens Selection / Technique (in relation to application / genres)
• Introduction to Canon Flash / Low Light Photography
• Still Photography Only

Above Learning Areas are facilitated over two or three sessions of four hours+ each. Any additional practical photography sessions (if required) will be at an additional pro-rata cost.

Fireworks Display Photography with Canon EOS 6D : Cape Town

From Woodbridge Island : Canon EOS 6D / 16-35mm Lens

Existential Photo-Creativity : Slow Shutter Speed Abstract Application

Perched Pied Kingfisher : Canon EOS 7D Mark II / 400mm Lens

Long Exposure Photography: Canon EOS 700D / Wide-Angle Lens

Birds in Flight (Swift Tern) : Canon EOS 7D Mark II / 400mm lens

Persian Cat Portrait : Canon EOS 6D / 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM Lens

Fashion Photography Canon Speedlite flash : Canon EOS 6D @ 70mm

Long Exposure Photography Canon EOS 6D : Milnerton

Close-Up & Macro Photography Cape Town : Canon EOS 6D

Panning / Slow Shutter Speed: Canon EOS 70D EF 70-300mm Lens

Long Exposure Photography Cape Town Canon EOS 6D @ f/16

Canon Photography Training Session at Spier Wine Farm

Canon Photography Training Courses Milnerton Woodbridge Island | Kirstenbosch Garden

The Vernon Chalmers History Project

The Vernon Chalmers History Project is a 1652 - 2026 digital initiative that documents the socio-political and ecological evolution of Cape Town, South Africa.

Core Conceptual Integration

Conscious Intelligence is used as a methodological lens to transform photography from simple illustration into a tool for rigorous historical inquiry.

Conscious Intelligence (CI): A theory developed by Chalmers that conceptualizes photography as an integrative cognitive activity involving perception, presence, and spatial cognition.

Visual Historiography: This approach treats photography as both primary evidence and an interpretive medium, emphasizing the role images play in shaping historical understanding.

Core Focus Areas

The project provides a comprehensive account of regional history through a combination of archival documentation and contemporary photography:

• Urban & Social Transformation: Extensive documentation of the V&A Waterfront's transition from an industrial dock to a post-apartheid leisure precinct, and the architectural reimagining of the Zeitz MOCAA.

• Apartheid Legacy & Displacement: Research into the forced removals in Simon’s Town and District Six, highlighting how communities maintained cultural identity through traditions like the Kaapse Klopse (Cape Minstrels).

• Maritime & Coastal History: Historical profiles of Hout Bay Harbour, Kalk Bay, and the modern engineering of Woodbridge Island.

• Ecological Archiving: A "visual log" tracking the environmental status of Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden and Milnerton Lagoon, including detailed 2025 reports on water quality and remediation.

Methodology

Chalmers utilizes existential photography - a philosophy inspired by Viktor Frankl's 'In Search for Meaning' and Maurice Merleau-Ponty's 'Phenomenology of Perception' - to frame historical sites as places of personal and collective meaning-making. He integrates these historical narratives into his Canon EOS photography workshops, teaching students to "see" the history and ecological fragility of the landscapes they capture.

The Vernon Chalmers History Project is an ongoing historical and environmental documentation initiative launched in 2025. Based in Cape Town, the project uses photography and research to archive the complex social and ecological narratives of South Africa's Western Cape.

Core Objectives

• Historical Documentation: The project chronicles the evolution of key South African landmarks, tracing their origins from pre-colonial times through the apartheid era to the present day.

• Environmental Archiving: Chalmers uses "seascape as activism," creating a visual log of ecological shifts, pollution levels, and bird migration patterns to foster environmental mindfulness.

• Existential Photography: The project integrates existential philosophy into the act of documentation, framing photography as a tool for meaning-making.

Key Historical Documentation Areas (1652–2026)

The project features comprehensive articles on the following locations and cultural histories:

• Cape Town: In the twenty-first century, Cape Town has gained global recognition for design, gastronomy, and environmental innovation. Read More

• Table Mountain: A Timeless Landmark at the Edge of Africa: Table Mountain is more than a geological formation or tourist attraction. Read More

• The Noon Gun: The Noon Gun of Cape Town is more than a daily firing of two 18th-century cannons. It is a layered cultural practice that has evolved from functional maritime service to symbolic civic ritual. Read More

• V&A Waterfront: Details its transformation from an obsolete industrial harbour in the 1980s to a post-apartheid leisure destination. Read More

• Port of Cape Town: The Port of Cape Town occupies a central place in the maritime, economic, and political history of southern Africa. Read More

• Zeitz MOCAA: Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) in Cape Town, structured to capture its origins, architectural transformation, cultural significance, leadership, and evolving impact. Read More

• Robben Island: From Seabirds to Symbol of Freedom: Robben Island’s history mirrors the broader trajectory of South Africa itself. Read More

• Shipwrecks of Milnerton: The shipwreck history of Milnerton and the Cape Town region forms a microcosm of broader global maritime narratives. Read More

• South African Navy: The history of the South African Navy is one of adaptation, resilience, and strategic necessity. Read More

• Simon’s Town: Examines the traumatic history of forced removals under the Group Areas Act and the transfer of the naval base to the South African Navy. Read More

• Kalk Bay: Traces its development from Dutch lime production and indigenous fishing to a modern artistic community. Read More

• Hout Bay Harbour: The history of Hout Bay Harbour within the broader historical, economic, social, and cultural development of Hout Bay from its pre-colonial origins to the present day. Read More

• Milnerton Lighthouse: The history of the Milnerton lighthouse and its role in maritime safety on the South African west coast. Read More

• Woodbridge Island: Explores its origins in mid-20th-century land reclamation and its role in apartheid-era spatial planning. Read More

• Intaka Island: Origins, development, environmental significance, community roles, and evolving purpose. Read More

• Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden: A century of nature, nationhood, and conservation. Read More

• Kaapse Klopse (Cape Minstrels): Analyses the carnival's role as a cultural refuge and site of resistance during apartheid. Read More

• Philadelphia: Explores rural Cape history and the institutional consolidation of South Africa’s heritage. Read More

• Milnerton Flea Market: The Milnerton Flea Market stands as a testament to the vitality of informal economic spaces in urban life Read More

• Killarney Racing: Killarney International Raceway’s history is a testament to innovation, community spirit, and resilience. Read More

The Vernon Chalmers History Project: Integrating CI and Visual Historiography

The Vernon Chalmers History Project is a multidisciplinary initiative that combines historical research, documentary photography, and the principles of Conscious Intelligence (CI) to document and interpret place-based histories. Central to the project is the integration of CI as a methodological lens for observation, perception, and temporal awareness. This essay outlines the conceptual foundations, methodological approaches, thematic scope, and educational significance of the project, emphasizing how photographic training and CI principles enrich historical inquiry and public engagement.

Introduction

History is more than the recording of dates and events; it is an experiential process that unfolds in space, time, and perception. The Vernon Chalmers History Project approaches history through a Conscious Intelligence (CI) lens, wherein observation, presence, and perceptual awareness guide both photographic practice and historical documentation. CI emphasizes mindfulness, attentional control, and situational awareness—qualities that enable the practitioner to perceive nuanced details in landscapes, architecture, and human activity (Chalmers, 2025). 

By merging CI-based photographic methodology with rigorous historical research, the project creates a multidimensional form of historiography. It focuses particularly on coastal environments, maritime histories, and local South African cultural landscapes, producing narratives that are simultaneously visually compelling and historically accurate. Photography is not merely illustrative; it is integral to the analytic process, functioning as a tool for observation, interpretation, and storytelling.

Conceptual Framework

The project is situated at the intersection of visual historiography, place-based history, and the Conscious Intelligence framework. Visual historiography treats photography as both documentary evidence and interpretive medium, highlighting the epistemic role of images in shaping historical understanding (Burke, 2001; Benjamin, 1969). 

Conscious Intelligence, as applied to photographic practice, emphasizes the following principles:

•  Attentive Observation: Deep, sustained attention to subjects and environments, capturing subtle visual cues and temporal dynamics.

• Temporal Awareness: Sensitivity to change over time, including environmental conditions, light, and human activity.

• Spatial Cognition: Understanding of compositional relationships, physical orientation, and place-based context.

Through these principles, photography becomes both a technical and philosophical practice. Careful observation, anticipation of environmental changes, and mindful engagement with historical spaces cultivate cognitive capacities that enhance historical analysis: patience, pattern recognition, and interpretive foresight.

Methodological Approach

The project employs a hybrid methodology integrating archival research, journalistic writing, and CI-informed photography:

Archival Research

Primary and secondary sources - including government records, historical texts, naval logs, and community archives - form the evidentiary backbone of each study. All sources are systematically cited to maintain scholarly rigor (Chalmers, 2025; Rosenstone, 2014).

Journalistic Historical Writing

Histories are presented in accessible narrative form, blending storytelling techniques with empirical accuracy. This approach ensures clarity for general audiences while preserving analytical depth (Carey, 2009).

CI-Based Photographic Documentation

Photographic practice applies CI principles to document historically and aesthetically significant moments in dynamic landscapes. Attentive observation, environmental awareness, and precise compositional framing enable images to function as both evidence and interpretive commentary.

Integrated Interpretation

Written and visual materials are synthesized to create holistic historical narratives. Photography informs textual interpretation, and textual research guides photographic exploration, producing a feedback loop between observation and analysis.

Thematic Scope 

The project’s scope is defined by the convergence of history, environment, and CI-informed observation:

Maritime and Naval Histories

Harbours, naval bases, and coastal settlements are documented not only through archives but also through photographic observation, capturing shifts in light, activity, and environmental context. Such sites exemplify the interplay of strategic, economic, and cultural factors.

Coastal and Environmental Change

Shorelines and islands are analyzed as dynamic agents of history. CI-informed photography highlights subtle ecological transformations, erosion patterns, and human interventions, situating these changes within broader historical contexts (Gillis, 2012).

Local and Community Histories

Towns, suburbs, and historical districts are explored to document vernacular architecture, public spaces, and community memory. Photography trained through CI practices captures the lived environment’s temporality, rhythm, and social nuances.

Memory, Movement, and Continuity

CI-informed observation enables the documentation of fleeting, ephemeral phenomena - light, shadow, seasonal change - that mirror the passage of historical time. Through this lens, photography becomes a method for perceiving and recording the continuity of human and environmental narratives.

Vernon Chalmers Conscious Intelligence Theory

Photography as Historical Inquiry

Photography in this project is both epistemic and expressive. CI-trained observation enables the photographer to:

• Detect subtle spatial relationships, patterns, and temporal changes.
• Anticipate historical significance through environmental cues.
• Capture images that reveal not just static moments, but dynamic interactions between humans, place, and nature.

This practice aligns with broader documentary traditions that recognize photographs as both evidence and interpretation (Sontag, 1977; Linfield, 2010). CI principles reinforce this approach, cultivating the reflexive awareness required to identify historically meaningful compositions.

Public Engagement and Pedagogical Relevance

The Vernon Chalmers History Project also serves as a platform for photography education and CI training, illustrating how cognitive skills cultivated in conscious observation translate to historical analysis and environmental literacy. Workshops, visual essays, and guided explorations emphasize how attentional awareness, mindfulness, and environmental sensitivity enhance both photographic output and historical understanding.

This model aligns with public history principles, promoting accessibility, engagement, and critical literacy among diverse audiences (Ashton & Kean, 2009). Participants gain insight into how perception, attention, and mindfulness can shape both visual art and historical interpretation.

Significance and Contribution

The project contributes to multiple domains:

• Historical Scholarship: Integrating visual and textual sources with CI-informed observation enhances historical accuracy and interpretive depth.
• Photography and CI Practice: Demonstrates practical applications of Conscious Intelligence in capturing environmental and historical phenomena.
• Public History and Education: Promotes accessible, evidence-based storytelling and perceptual literacy.
• Cultural and Environmental Preservation: Documents vulnerable coastal and historical environments through both archival and visual means.

By uniting CI principles with historical methodology, the project models a holistic approach to understanding, recording, and conveying history.

Conclusion

The Vernon Chalmers History Project exemplifies an integrated approach to historical research and visual documentation. By combining archival scholarship, journalistic narrative, and CI-informed photographic practice, it produces multidimensional accounts of place, memory, and environment.

Conscious Intelligence principles enhance perceptual acuity, temporal awareness, and compositional insight, transforming photography from mere illustration into a rigorous tool of historical inquiry. In doing so, the project advances both the study of history and the practice of photography, offering a replicable framework for future interdisciplinary projects that seek to merge cognitive skill, visual literacy, and historical knowledge." (Source: ChatGPT 2026)

References

Ashton, P., & Kean, H. (2009). People and their pasts: Public history today. Palgrave Macmillan.

Benjamin, W. (1969). Illuminations (H. Arendt, Ed.; H. Zohn, Trans.). Schocken Books.

Burke, P. (2001). Eyewitnessing: The uses of images as historical evidence. Cornell University Press.

Carey, J. W. (2009). Communication as culture: Essays on media and society (Rev. ed.). Routledge.

Chalmers, V. (2025). Conscious Intelligence and photography: Principles and Practice. Vernon Chalmers Photography Training.

Gillis, J. R. (2012). The human shore: Seacoasts in history. University of Chicago Press.

Linfield, S. (2010). The cruel radiance: Photography and political violence. University of Chicago Press.

Rosenstone, R. A. (2014). History on film/film on history (2nd ed.). Routledge.

Sontag, S. (1977). On photography. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

The Crispness of Early Morning Light…

Advantage of Early Morning Photography in Cape Town

Summer Photography Milnerton, Woodbridge Island

Woodbridge Island from Arnhem, Milnerton : Copyright Vernon Chalmers Photography

Woodbridge Island from Arnhem, Milnerton

Here down in the South of Africa (Milnerton, Cape Town) we have an advantage of very good morning light during our summer season. Above image was captured between 06:00 - 06:30 in the morning. For birds in flight photography I apply high Shutter Speeds (1/2500 - 1/3200) and Auto-ISO (handheld) and the average ISO's during most mornings are between ISO 400 - 800 (depending on the background colour and / or the colour of the bird).

Vernon Chalmers Photography Training Genres

The early morning light is exquisite for birds / birds in flight photography, landscape / seascape photography and close-up / macro photography. The wind may have an effect on 1:1 macro subjects, but generally the wind picks-up after 10:00 (but could be blowing slightly already early-morning). More

Early Morning Light Birds in Flight Photography Vernon Chalmers Copyright

Birds / Birds in Flight Photography Training Objective

For assisting the developing photographer with the understanding and application of introductory to intermediate perched bird / birds in flight photography in terms of exposure settings / photography techniques / practical sessions. More

Early Morning Table Mountain Photography Vernon Chalmers Copyright

Landscape Photography Training Objective

For assisting the developing photographer with the understanding and application of intermediate to advanced landscape / long exposure settings and techniques. Landscape Photography Training: More

Early Morning Butterfly Photography Vernon Chalmers Copyright

Close-Up / Macro Photography Training Objective

For assisting the developing photographer with the understanding and application of introductory to intermediate flower and insect macro / close-up photography accessories / exposure settings / photography techniques (with ongoing Macro & Close-Up Photography Training support). More

Canon Equipment / Settings

Image 1 and 5 : Woodbridge Island / Milnerton Lighthouse

• Canon 700D (APS-C Body)
• Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5 - 5.6 IS STM lens
• AV Mode
• ISO 100
• Aperture f/16
• Manual Focus
• Manfrotto Compact Tripod

Image 2 : Bird in Flight against Table Mountain

• Canon 7D Mark II (APS-C Body)
• Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens
• Manual Mode
• ISO 640
• Aperture f/5.6
• Autofocus
• Handheld

Image 3 : Table Mountain from Table Bay Nature Reserve

• Canon 70D (APS-C Body)
• Canon EF-S 70-300mm f/4.- 5.6L IS USM lens
• AV Mode
• ISO 100
• Aperture f/11
• Autofocus
• Handheld

Image 4 : Butterfly along to the Diep River

• Canon 7D Mark II (APS-C Body)
• Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens
• Manual Mode
• ISO 800
• Aperture f/5.6
• Autofocus
• Handheld

Woodbridge Island from Arnhem Milnerton Copyright Vernon Chalmers Photography 

Canon Photography Training Milnerton Woodbridge Island | Kirstenbosch Cape Town | Intaka Island