Vernon Chalmers Photography

Grey Heron Landing: Milnerton Lagoon / Woodbridge Island Many of you may have seen this image of the Grey Heron landing (walking) quite a few times. Over the course of 15 years he has accumulated more than a million Likes and many, many Comments from all over the connected world. The (personal) contribution I want to make to the developing photographer is that it is not always about the Likes when making an image – it’s not about the stimulus and response in terms of take image (stimulus) and get rewarded via Likes (response) i.e. perceived beauty or quality of an image etc. What matters is what happens in the moment you take the image, your own satisfaction (as an impermanent and special moment) captured with purpose with your camera / phone. The (existential) story that an image portray (and sharing) is in my opinion more important than the Likes. Although Likes are generous attempts to support your image-making – and I suppose most photographers will experience gratitude in receivin...

The Aperture of Awareness and the Art of Conscious Seeing Explore how photographic aperture becomes a powerful metaphor for awareness, perception, creativity, mindfulness, and conscious living. What if the camera's aperture could reveal something profound about human consciousness? The Aperture of Awareness explores how photography provides a compelling metaphor for perception, attention, creativity, and meaning-making. By connecting photographic practice with philosophy, psychology, and mindfulness, this perspective offers a deeper understanding of how awareness shapes the way we experience and interpret reality. 1. Photography, Perception, and Conscious Seeing Awareness is one of the most fundamental aspects of human existence. It is through awareness that people perceive reality, form relationships, discover meaning, and navigate the uncertainties of life. Yet awareness is not static or uniform; it is fluid, expanding and contracting like the lens of a camera. The metaphor of a...

Photography as Existential Motivation: Awareness and Resources Perched Bird Photography with Canon EOS R6 / RF 800mm f/11 STM Lens " An active life serves the purpose of giving man the opportunity to realize values in creative work, while a passive life of enjoyment affords him the opportunity to obtain fulfillment in experiencing beauty, art, or nature ." ― Viktor Frankl Vernon Chalmers' Existential Photography   Modern Existential Photographers   Photography as Existential Motivation "Vernon Chalmers, a South African photographer specializing in wildlife and bird photography, captures images that can indeed be viewed through the lens of existential motivation. His focus on nature, particularly birds in motion, presents an interesting connection to existential themes of existence, time, and the search for meaning. Here’s how his work could reflect existential motivation: 1. Connection to Nature and the Human Condition : Contemplation of Existence: Through his wildli...

Principles of Existentialism in Photography: Meaning, Choice and the Art of Seeing Explore the principles of existentialism in photography, including freedom, choice, authenticity, meaning, mortality, uncertainty and lived experience. Existentialism in photography explores freedom, choice, authenticity, uncertainty, mortality and meaning through the photographer's lived experience and conscious encounter with the world. Vernon Chalmers Photography approaches existentialism as a practical philosophical framework for photographic seeing. Rather than treating photography solely as image production, this approach considers how freedom, choice, authenticity, uncertainty, mortality, attention and lived experience influence the photographer's encounter with the world. 10 Principles of Existentialism in Photography 1. Introduction: Merging Worlds of Thought and Image "Photography, by freezing fleeting moments, inherently engages with existential themes: mortality, meaning, freedom...

A Contemporary Exploration of Meaning, Identity, and Being. Modern Existential Photographers are Heirs to Both the Philosophical Tradition of Existentialism and the Expressive Power of the Photographic Medium. A Contemporary Exploration of Meaning, Identity, and Being. Authentic Freedom : Photographer Vernon Chalmers, Woodbridge Island, Cape Town Abstract Modern existential photographers delve into the human condition, utilizing photography as a medium to question identity, mortality, freedom, and authenticity. Influenced by existential philosophy - particularly that of Søren Kierkegaard, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Martin Heidegger—these photographers create visual narratives that invite reflection on life's impermanence, ambiguity, and meaning. This paper explores the work and philosophy of notable modern existential photographers, such as Sally Mann, Nan Goldin, Duane Michals, Trent Parke, Todd Hido, and Vernon Chalmers, offering insight into how their photographic practices embody ex...

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...