Vernon Chalmers Photography

Just in Frame: Reed Cormorant Photography & Conservation A 2021 Reed Cormorant photograph in Table Bay fog becomes a 2026 exploration of bird photography, autofocus, fish availability and conservation. Reed Cormorant in Flight : Table Bay Nature Reserve VCP Field Observation & Conservation Context This article combines first-hand photographic observation with independently sourced conservation information. The Reed Cormorant photograph was made by Vernon Chalmers at Table Bay Nature Reserve , Cape Town, n 2021 using a Canon EOS 7D Mark II and EF 400mm f/5.6L USM. The account of the fog, fleeting light, close-range encounter, bird behaviour and autofocus response is based on the photographer's original field experience and photographic archive. The conservation context has been researched separately using published information from BirdLife South Africa, SANCCOB and South Africa's Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE). BirdLife South Africa docume...

South Africa's National Bird: Blue Crane on the Cape West Coast A Blue Crane photographed beside the road towards Jacobsbaai on South Africa's West Coast. Blue Crane | Jacobsbaai, Cape West Coast Blue Crane photographed beside the road towards Jacobsbaai on South Africa's West Coast. About this photograph: This Blue Crane photograph forms part of the Vernon Chalmers Photography archive and was made during a roadside encounter while travelling towards Jacobsbaai on South Africa's West Coast. The image is revisited here not only as a bird photograph, but as a record of place, landscape and photographic observation. Blue Crane on the Cape West Coast The Blue Crane (Anthropoides paradiseus), South Africa's proud national bird, can be found across the rolling wheat fields and pastures of the Cape West Coast, though it is most famously concentrated in the Overberg region.  Spotting the Blue Crane on the West Coast While more than half of the world's remaining Blue C...

Black-headed Heron and Juvenile Mole Snake: Predator–Prey Encounter at Jacobsbaai, Cape West Coast A remarkable Jacobsbaai wildlife encounter: a Black-headed Heron captures a juvenile Mole Snake, documented through nature photography on South Africa's West Coast. Black-headed Heron | Jacobsbaai, Cape West Coast A Black-headed Heron holds a juvenile Mole Snake in its bill while standing in sandy coastal vegetation at Jacobsbaai on South Africa's West Coast. The photograph documents a predator–prey encounter and illustrates the heron's terrestrial feeding behaviour. This article documents a wildlife encounter personally photographed at Jacobsbaai on South Africa's West Coast. The image records a Black-headed Heron ( Ardea melanocephala ) holding a juvenile Mole Snake ( Pseudaspis cana ), providing direct photographic evidence of a predator–prey interaction. Species information and ecological context are supported by authoritative South African biodiversity sources, while ...

Common Kestrel Over Woodbridge Island, Cape Town | Vernon Chalmers Photography A rare 2025 Common Kestrel sighting over Woodbridge Island, Cape Town, photographed with a Canon EOS 7D Mark II and EF 400mm lens. Common Kestrel Over Woodbridge Island A single Common Kestrel sighting over Woodbridge Island in 2025 produced a distinctive Birds in Flight photograph and became an early observation in a developing record of raptors moving through the Cape Town coastal-inland landscape. This article is based on my own first-hand photographic observation of a Common Kestrel over Woodbridge Island, Cape Town, in 2025. The bird was photographed in flight using a Canon EOS 7D Mark II and EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens. This remains my only recorded sighting of a Common Kestrel in the area. I observed the bird approaching from the Table Bay side and continuing inland over the Milnerton Golf Course and Woodbridge Island. The interpretation presented here is deliberately limited to what can be supported by ...

Black-Winged Kite Over the Diep River | Woodbridge Island A 2024 Black-winged kite observation over the Diep River, photographed from Woodbridge Island with a Canon EOS 7D Mark II. Black-Winged Kite over Woodbridge Island Black-winged kite (Elanus caeruleus) photographed in flight above the Diep River at Woodbridge Island in 2024, after approaching from the Milnerton Golf Course direction. Captured with a Canon EOS 7D Mark II and EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens. First-hand field observation: This Black-Winged kite was photographed by Vernon Chalmers above the Diep River at Woodbridge Island in 2024 using a Canon EOS 7D Mark II with an EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens. The observation records the bird approaching from the Milnerton Golf Course direction and continuing inland. It forms part of an ongoing personal photographic record of raptor activity around the Woodbridge Island–Diep River landscape. Another Raptor Observation at Woodbridge Island There are bird photographs that record a moment, and t...

Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Contemporary Use Case A 2026 field-based analysis of the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM, exploring its autofocus speed, optical sharpness, BIF performance, and continued relevance on modern mirrorless EOS systems. Canon EOS 7D Mark II / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens Long-Term Use and Experience Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens Key Specifications & Features Focal Length & Aperture: Fixed 400mm with an aperture range of f/5.6 to f/32. Optical Construction: 7 elements in 6 groups (including UD elements) with Super Spectra coatings. Autofocus: Ring-type Ultrasonic Motor (USM) with full-time manual focus override. Image Stabilization (IS): None (relies on fast shutter speeds or camera bodies with in-body image stabilization). Minimum Focus Distance: 3.5 meters (11.5 feet). Filter Size: 77mm front thread. Weight & Dimensions: Approximately 1.25 kg (2.75 lbs) and 90mm x 256.5mm. Build: Metal barrel with dust/moisture resistance, a built-in sliding lens hood, and a re...

Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM BIF Use Case Guide for Birds in Flight and Wildlife Photography Discover why the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM remains a legendary lens for Birds in Flight and wildlife photography on Canon EOS DSLR and EOS R cameras. Can a lens introduced in 1993 still compete in today's mirrorless era? The Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM proves that outstanding optics never go out of style. Explore its enduring strengths for Birds in Flight and wildlife photography on Canon EOS DSLR and EOS R cameras, including practical use with the Canon EF 1.4× Extender III. A Timeless Super-Telephoto Lens Across Canon EOS DSLR and EOS R Mirrorless Systems Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens The Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM has earned an enduring reputation as one of Canon's most respected super-telephoto lenses for Birds in Flight (BIF) and wildlife photography. Introduced in 1993, it continues to demonstrate that exceptional optical engineering can transcend generations of camera technology. Whil...