Vernon Chalmers Photography

Birds in Flight Photography Training Cape Town Mastering Birds in Flight Photography 2026 with Vernon Chalmers, featuring Canon autofocus techniques, tracking, exposure and field skills. Yellow-Billed Duck : Copyright Vernon Chalmers Photography " Bird in flight photography offers an exhilarating blend of artistic appeal and immense technical challenge " "Birds in flight (BIF) photography demands exceptional precision, reflexes, and mastery of photographic tools. Among these tools, Canon’s EOS ecosystem — encompassing both DSLR and mirrorless platforms — provides a comprehensive combination of autofocus performance, lens compatibility, and configurable controls that make photographing fast-moving avian subjects possible. This essay offers a systematic exploration of BIF photography techniques specifically tailored to Canon EOS systems. Topics include autofocus configuration, shutter speed selection, exposure control, lens choices, and workflow strategies that are critica...

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens for Birds in Flight and Wildlife Photography Discover why the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM remains a capable lens for birds in flight and wildlife photography on EOS and EOS R cameras. Implications for Nature Photography and Birds in Flight "The transition from Canon’s EF DSLR ecosystem to the mirrorless RF platform has created a unique situation for photographers who own legacy professional lenses. Many of these optics—particularly Canon’s L-series telephoto zooms—remain optically capable decades after their release. Among them, the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM (Mark I) occupies a historically significant position. Introduced in 1998 and widely used by wildlife photographers for more than a decade, it became one of Canon’s most recognizable wildlife lenses (Canon Camera Museum, 1998). ( Canon Global ) By 2026, mirrorless cameras such as the EOS R5 Mark II and EOS R6 Mark III represent a fundamentally different technolog...

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens for Birds in Flight and Wildlife Photography. Explore the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM for birds in flight and wildlife photography with outstanding optics on EOS and EOS R cameras. Significance of the Canon EF 100–400mm f/4.5–5.6L IS II USM Lens in 2026 More than a decade after its introduction in 2014, the Canon EF 100–400mm f/4.5–5.6L IS II USM remains one of the most influential telephoto zoom lenses in Canon’s professional ecosystem. Even in 2026—an era dominated by mirrorless systems and RF-mount optics—the lens continues to hold substantial relevance for photographers working with Canon DSLRs and adapted EF lenses on mirrorless bodies. Its enduring popularity stems from a rare balance of reach, portability, optical performance, and professional durability , making it particularly valuable for wildlife, bird, aviation, and sports photography. The lens represented a significant technological and ergonomic leap from the origi...

Birds in Flight / Perched Bird Photography at Woodbridge Island Mainly birding with the ever-green Canon EOS 7D Mark II / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens Yellow-Billed Duck in Flight : Above Woodbridge Island Shooting at 400mm with the Canon EOS 7D Mark II (APS-C) body Some blue sky and a moderate south-easterly wind with rain forecasted for later - that was my conditional challenge, but I knew from experience that this pairing would deliver even with full cloud cover. Again, I went for my regular photography hike, down the Diep River, Woodbridge Island, right up to the edge of the  Table Bay Nature Reserve . I just feel so confident with this body and lens in my hands - this is what I wrote on my profile on Birdlife South Africa's Facebook Group about using the Canon EF 400mm f/5/6L USM lens:  Along the way I had the usual birds and was very exiting to see the terns back - that could potentially mean they are here after spotting some fish - or perhaps they just came around investiga...

Birds / Birds in Flight Photography at Woodbridge Island Capture birds and butterflies with the Canon EOS 6D Mark II—exploring autofocus precision, full-frame image quality, and field techniques for detailed wildlife photography. Experimenting with the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM prime lens paired with the Canon EOS 6D Mark II. Purple Heron in Flight : Above Woodbridge Island Shooting at 400mm with the Canon EOS 6D Mark II (Full Frame) body Looking out the window this morning I viewed a relatively cloudless blue sky and a moderate south-easterly wind. For my regular photography hike, down the Diep River, Woodbridge Island, right up to the edge of the  Table Bay Nature Reserve  I decided to pair the Canon EOS 6D Mark II with the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens. With the objective to experience the focal range a little different than with the effective crop-factor of the Canon EOS 7D Mark II  paired with the same lens. I decided that the 6.5fps, 26 megapixel sensor (for impro...

Advanced Canon EOS R Birds in Flight Optimisation | EOS R1, R3, R5 Mark II & R6 Mark III Master Canon EOS R Birds in Flight optimisation with advanced AF settings, tracking strategies and expert configuration for the EOS R1, R3, R5 II and R6 III. Birds in flight photography places some of the highest demands on a camera's autofocus and tracking system. This guide explores advanced optimisation techniques for the Canon EOS R1, R3, R5 Mark II and R6 Mark III, helping photographers configure autofocus, AF Case settings, subject tracking, exposure and custom controls for consistently sharp images of fast-moving birds. Whether photographing seabirds, raptors or waterfowl, these practical strategies are designed to maximise autofocus performance and improve keeper rates in real-world field conditions. For Canon R1, R3, R5 Mark II, and R6 Mark III for Birds in Flight Photography Canon EOS R Birds in Flight Photography Optimisation Birds in flight (BIF) photography is widely recognise...