Vernon Chalmers Photography: Close-Up Photography

Showing posts with label Close-Up Photography. Show all posts

01 October 2025

Bird & Flower Photography Training Practical Kirstenbosch

Learn Creative Bird / Flower Photography at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden

Private Birdlife Photography Sessions / Courses at Kirstenbosch

Southern double-collared Sunbird at Kirstenbosch © Vernon Chalmers

Learn Creative Bird / Flower Photography with your Canon Camera

Morning Photography Training Practical Sessions at Kirstenbosch, Cape Town.

Facilitator / Photographer: Vernon Chalmers

This is an opportunity for new Canon photographers for hands-on learning how to photograph small birds and wildflowers at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Cape Town.

One-on-on early morning training around the Kirstenbosch Garden as either part of an once-off practical bird / flower photography learning experience or other Vernon Chalmers (introductory) Photography Training Options to master Canon Autofocus, exposure settings and techniques for capturing perched small birds and various flowers around Kirstenbosch.

Training Objective / Level : Bird & Flower Photography Training Kirstenbosch
For assisting the developing nature photographer with the understanding and application of introductory to intermediate small (garden) birds and flower photography around the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.

Bird and Flower Photography Learning Areas : Kirstenbosch Photography Training

General / Close-up Photography for Birds
General / Macro / Close-up Photography for Flowers
Cameras / Lens / Menu Overview
Autofocus Settings
Exposure Mode(s)
Exposure Settings
Techniques / Demonstrations*

* This will depend on the photographer's skills and camera body / lens pairing. During the practical walk-around photography session I will discuss / demonstrate various techniques for improving / maintaining ideal exposures (and focus) for small bird and flower photography at Kirstenbosch. The quality of light / other environmental conditions may also influence specific exposure settings applied during a specific session.

Vernon Chalmers Photography Approach

Integrated Hands-On Learning Approach - Kirstenbosch Photography Training
The training will have a relaxed integrated hands-on learning approach throughout the morning session with your own gear.

Training Duration at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

One session of up to four hours+ photographing various small / garden birds (the occasional butterfly) and flowers around Kirstenbosch Garden.

Training Cost for Kirstenbosch Practical Photography Training

R750 (one delegate) for up to four hours+ around the Kirstenbosch Garden areas. This fee is exclusive of the Day Entrance Fee rate. Please bring along your SA ID / International Passport document. This is a Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden entrance requirement.

Photography training rate(s) will be differently costed when a Kistenbosch birds / flower photography session is part of other Milnerton / Woodbridge Island photography training session options.

Maximum delegates: Up to two people (R700 per person)

Canon Camera Body / Lens Requirements

Any Canon EOS DSLR (APS-C / Full frame / Mirrorless) / Certain Canon Powershot models could also be considered
55-250mm / 70-200mm / 70-300mm / 100-400mm / 400mm+ lenses recommended
No tripod / monopod required

Online Kirstenbosch Bird and Flower Photography Support

All delegates are eligible for private WhatsApp for sharing / discussing photos, learn more, get online support and / or shoot with me at Kirstenbosch (after the original workshop practicals).

Contact Vernon Chalmers for More Information

More Vernon Chalmers Bird and Flower Images at Kirstenbosch. View here, here and here

Fabulous Friday at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden View

All Kirstenbosch Bird, Butterfly and Flower Images Copyright Vernon Chalmers Photography

Vernon Chalmers Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Bird Species Index

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Cape Town Map | Directions

Bird Photography Training Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Cape Robin-Chat Kirstenbosch - Vernon Chalmers Photography Training Cape Town

- Canon EOS 70D / EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens -

Cape White-Eye Kirstenbosch - Vernon Chalmers Photography Training Cape Town

- Canon EOS 7D Mark II / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens -

Cape Bulbul Kirstenbosch - Vernon Chalmers Photography Training Cape Town

- Canon EOS 7D Mark II / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens -

Flower Photography Training Kirstenbosch National Botanic Garden

Wild Flowers Kirstenbosch - Vernon Chalmers Photography Training Cape Town

- Canon EOS R / EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens -

Wild Flowers Kirstenbosch - Vernon Chalmers Photography Training Cape Town

- Canon EOS 7D Mark II / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens -

Wild Flowers Kirstenbosch - Vernon Chalmers Photography Training Cape Town

- Canon EOS 70D / EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens -

Butterfly Photography Training Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden

Garden Acraea Butterfly Kirstenbosch - Vernon Chalmers Photography Training Cape Town

- Canon EOS 7D Mark II / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens -

African Monarch Butterfly Kirstenbosch - Vernon Chalmers Photography Cape Town

- Canon EOS 70D / EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens -

African Monarch Butterfly Kirstenbosch - Vernon Chalmers Photography Cape Town

- Canon EOS 70D / EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens -

Canon EOS / Canon EOS R / Canon PowerShot Photography Training Milnerton Woodbridge Island | Kirstenbosch Cape Town | Across the Cape Peninsula

Nature Photography Kirstenbosch Garden, Cape Town

Birdwatching Photography Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, Cape Town

All Images Copyright / Intellectual Property of Vernon Chalmers More Information

Macro & Close-Up Photography Training Cape Town

Creative Macro & Close-Up Photography Training Milnerton, Cape Town

Macro / Close-Up Photography Training Cape Town

Macro & Close-Up Flower Photography Training, Kirstenbosch Garden, Cape Town

Vernon Chalmers facilitates Macro / Close-Up Photography Private Training Classes in Milnerton, Cape Town / Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

This is an opportunity for new photographers / experienced photographers with / without Macro lenses to learn more about Macro / Close-up Photography, exposure settings, techniques and various accessories (close-up filters / extension tubes / flash).

Small Flower Macro / Close-Up Photography

You do not have to own a macro lens to attend this workshop / private training - I will demonstrate various cost-effective ways to capture macro and / or close-up shots (even with your current DSLR and non-macro lens.

Assistance will be provided for purchasing any future macro lenses / macro flash or macro / close-up accessories - even after the workshop / private training.

Flower Photography Training at Kirstenbosch Garden Practical Sessions

Macro & Close-Up Photography Training Costs

Cost-effective Macro and Close-Up photography training for assisting the new and more advanced Canon photographer developing specific Canon camera / photography skills. One practical session may be presented at Kirstenbosch Garden. (Mornings Only). Contact me for more scheduling information.

Introductory sessions for new photographers starts from R850 per session (up to four hours 4+).

R2 450 for three sessions one-on-one Photography Training Sessions (up to five hours 4+ each).

From R900 for the developing / more advanced Canon EOS / EOS R camera per training session (up to four hours 4+).

R2 600 for three sessions one-on-one Photography Training Sessions (up to five hours 4+ each).

Sessions can be adjusted / structured to meet specific learning requirements (camera and / or photography).

There will be some Lightroom post-processing orientation (if required) and an extra session could be costed in for Lightroom training at half the cost of a separate Lightroom training session.

All Vernon Chalmers Photography Training delegates are issued with a folder with all relevant information 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).

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).

Different costing will apply for Kistenbosch Garden Practical Photography Sessions.

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

Integrated Hands-On Learning Approach
The workshop will have an integrated hands-on learning approach throughout all sessions (with your own Canon EOS / Canon EOS R gear and / or by using supplied Macro / Close-Up accessories).

Macro / Close-Up Photography Learning Areas

Introduction (Macro vs. Close-Up Photography)
Macro / Close-Up Subjects (Food, Flower and Insect Photography)
Macro vs, non-Macro / Other Lenses
Cameras / Lenses / Accessories
Exposure / Focus Settings
Macro / Close-Up Techniques
Adding Light / Macro Lighting
Macro and Speedlite HSS Photography
Autofocus vs Manual Focus Options
Composition Guidelines

All Macro / Close-Up Photography Workshop promotions, bookings and logistics are facilitated by Vernon Chalmers Photography Training.

Macro and Close-Up Photography may also form part of other modular training (if required).

Contact me for more Information

Small Flower Canon EOS 6D Mark II / EF 100mm Macro USM Lens

Small Flower with Canon EOS 6D Mark II / EF 100mm Macro USM Lens

Small Rose Petal with Canon EOS 6D Mark II / EF 100mm Macro USM Lens

Flowers in the Rain (Canon EOS 70D) : Paddocks Milnerton

Wildflower : Canon EOS R Close-Up Photography Training Kirstenbosch Garden

Flower Close-Up Photography with Canon EOS 700D (Speedlite Flash)

Small Flower with non-Macro lens and Canon Extension Tube EF25 II

Inside a flower: Canon EOS 6D / EF 70-300mm L Lens / Canon Extension Tube EF25 II

Small Flower Woodbridge Island / Table Bay Nature Reserve (Canon 400mm Lens)

Red Pepper Macro Image : Canon EOS 70D / 100mm Macro Lens

Inside a Chocolate Bar : Canon EOS 70D / 100mm Macro Lens

Canon Photography Private Training Sessions Milnerton, Cape Town

Introduction to Photography / Canon Cameras More
Bird / Flower Photography Training Kirstenbosch More
Birds in Flight / Bird Photography training More
Canon Speedlite / Ring Lite Flash Photography Training More
Landscape / Long Exposure Photography Sessions More

Canon Photography Training Courses Milnerton Woodbridge Island | Kirstenbosch Cape Town | Around the Cape Peninsula

29 August 2025

Adderley Flowers, The Paddocks Milnerton

Daily Fresh Flowers For Sale : Milnerton, Cape Town

“The smallest flower is a thought, a life answering to some feature of the Great Whole, of whom they have a persistent intuition.”– Honore de Balzac

Adderley Flowers Selling Address:

Paddocks Shopping Centre (Main Entrance)
Cnr. of Racecourse Rd, Milnerton

Google Map and Directions

All flower images with the permission from Adderley Flowers.

Daily Fresh Flowers For Sale : Milnerton, Cape Town

More Fresh Flowers from Adderley Flowers

Canon Camera / Lens for Flower Photography

Canon EOS 6D Mark II (Full-Frame)
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4 - f/5.6L IS USM lens
Canon EF 25 II Extension Tube
Lexar Professional 64GB UHS-I 160MB/S /1066x Speed

Exposure / Focus Settings for Adderley Flowers

Autofocus On
Aperture Priority (Av) Mode
Aperture f/11
Auto ISO (4000 - 6400)
Shutter Speeds (Various)
Image Stabilisation On
No Flash
Handheld

Image Post-Processing: Lightroom Classic (Ver 13.5)

Minor Adjustments (Exposure / Contract / Crop)
Spot Removal
RAW to JPEG Conversion

Canon Photography Training Milnerton, Cape Town

All Images Copyright: Vernon Chalmers Photography

01 August 2025

Canon Extension Tube Option For Close-Up Photography

Application of the new Canon Extension Tube EF25 II

Canon Extension Tube EF25 II between body / lens
Paired with Canon EOS 6D / EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS UUSM Lens

Difference between Macro and Close-Up Photography

A look at the Extension Tube option for Close-Up Photography

I receive regular questions on the use / benefits of extension tubes vs macro lenses.

Without going into much technical detail an extension tube will assist your non-macro lens (or even your macro lens) in decreasing the minimum focus distance (of your regular lens). In the image below is a 25mm extension tube (meaning that this particular tube moves the lens 25mm further away from the camera). The result is a decrease of the normal minimum focus distance of your lens and an increase in the magnification (of whatever you're photographing).

There is no glass in the tube, its purely a hollow tube with some electronic circuitry for retaining camera / lens autofocus. If fits between the body and the lens (and in the case of the Canon extension tube is compatible with EF and EF-S lenses) Some tubes, like the Kenko brand is sold in in a set of three. ie. 12mm / 20mm / 36mm (which can be stacked). The more you stack the shorter the focus distance with a larger magnification.

The extension tube is a very cost-effective way for getting into close-up and macro photography offering various creative opportunities (without purchasing a macro lens).

Disadvantages of the extension tube are the possible loss of image quality, much shallower depth of field to work with and tricky at times to focus.

I regularly use the Canon EF25 IIextension tube with the Canon EOS 6D and EF 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS USM lens (as seen in the image) without any significant image quality sacrifice.

The extension tube is even more effective at shorter focal lenght lenses. Herewith an example / demonstration with the Canon EF 50mm f1/8 STM lens and Canon EF25 II extension tube (Canon EOS 70D).

In my Macro and Close-Up Photography Training I demonstrate the Canon Extension Tube EF25 II on various non-macro lenses (if required).

Similar close-up article with more detailed camera / lens EXIF data: View

Canon EF25 II Extension Tube Benefits

Canon Extension Tube EF25 II Key Specifications / Specifications

Length: 25mm
Compatibility: Works with Canon EF, EF-S, and TS-E lenses
Purpose: Allows lenses to focus closer than their normal minimum focusing distance, ideal for macro photography
Magnification: Provides additional magnification by increasing the distance between the lens and the camera sensor
Autofocus and Exposure: Maintains electronic communication between the lens and the camera, ensuring autofocus and auto exposure functions work properly
Construction: Contains no optical elements, ensuring no degradation in image quality
Usage: Recommended for lenses with focal lengths of 50mm and above 1 2 3. (Source: Microsoft Copilot)

Canon Extension Tube Options For Close-Up Photography

Using Canon extension tubes is a fantastic way to get into close-up and macro photography without investing in a dedicated macro lens.

Here are some key points to consider:

Compatibility: Extension tubes are compatible with any Canon lens, making them a versatile option for close-up photography 1.
Magnification: By placing the extension tube between your camera body and lens, you effectively shorten the minimum focusing distance, allowing you to get closer to your subject and achieve greater magnification 1.
Types of Extension Tubes: There are different lengths available (e.g., 12mm, 25mm, 36mm), and you can even stack them for increased magnification 2.
Electrical Contacts: Some extension tubes come with electrical contacts that maintain communication between the camera and lens, allowing you to keep autofocus and auto-exposure functionality. Others are simpler and require manual focus and exposure settings 2.
Light Loss: Using extension tubes can result in some light loss, so you may need to adjust your exposure settings accordingly 2.
Depth of Field: The closer you get to your subject, the shallower the depth of field, so you might need to use a smaller aperture (higher f-stop) to keep more of the subject in focus 2. (Source: Microsoft Copilot)

Flower Images (Table Bay Nature Reserve, Woodbridge Island)

A few example images to show the image quality when using the Canon EF25 II with above Canon body and lens:

Close-Up Flower Photography Cape Town: Canon Extension Tube EF25 II

All Images: Copyright Vernon Chalmers Photography

30 June 2025

Fresh Flowers For Sale - The Paddocks, Milnerton

A fresh selection of in-season flowers are sources as often as possible (but at least once a week Thursdays / Fridays).

Fresh Flowers For Sale - The Paddocks, Milnerton

Fresh Cut Flower

Fresh cut flowers remain one of the world’s most beloved gifts, rooted deeply in personal expression - from romance to sympathy, celebration to corporate gifting. In South Africa, especially around Cape Town, local flower farms supplement imports and support regional demand via farmers’ markets, florists, and online subscription services.

Flower Selling Include:

Special Occasions: Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Weddings, Holidays.
Everyday Gifting: Daily Enjoyment, Home Décor, Workplace Sentiment.
Cprporate and Events: Office Displays, Gala Décor, Retail Ambience.
Wellness Trend: Flowers as Mood Enhancers and Gifts for Mental Health.

Adderley Flowers Selling Address:

Paddocks Shopping Centre (Main Entrance)
Cnr. of Racecourse Rd, Milnerton

Google Map and Directions

All flower images with the permission from Adderley Flowers. (Photographer Vernon ChalmersO
Canon Camera / Lens for Flower Photography

Canon EOS 6D Mark II (Full-Frame)
Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens
Canon Speedlite 270EX II-RT
Lexar Professional 64GB UHS-I 160MB/S /1066x Speed

Exposure / Focus Settings for Adderley Flowers

Autofocus On
Aperture Priority (Av) Mode
Aperture f8 - f/11
Auto ISO (4000 - 6400)
Shutter Speeds (Various)
Image Stabilisation On
Canon Speedlite 270EX II-RT
Handheld

Image Post-Processing: Lightroom Classic (Ver 13.5)

Minor Adjustments (Exposure / Contract / Crop)
Spot Removal
RAW to JPEG Conversion

Canon Photography Training Milnerton, Cape Town

All Images Copyright: Vernon Chalmers Photography

01 January 2025

Canon Aperture and Depth of Field Samples

Various Aperture Depth of Field Sample Images

With Canon EF-S 18-135mm IS STM lens

Aperture / Depth of Field Flower Image Samples

Close-up photos in / around Constantia, Century City, Durbanville and Milnerton Cape Town. (All images by Vernon Chalmers)

Objective: Demonstrating Depth of Field application and quality / level of background blur (bokeh) using different lenses with the Canon EOS 700D / Rebel T5i DSLR camera body.

Note: All garden and nature photos hand-held in Av mode (Aperture Priority) with or without external hot shoe flash. ISO's between ISO 100 - 400. Shutter speeds all automatically selected by camera. Some photos with Canon Extension Tube EF25 II or Canon 500D close-up lens.

Canon Equipment