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 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

Small Flower Photography with Canon Macro Lens

'A Bee’s View Approaching Small Flowers'

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

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

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

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

Small flowers with Canon EOS 6D Mark II and EF 100mm Macro USM Lens.

Location: Arnhem, Milnerton

Canon Camera / Lens for Flower Photography

• Canon EOS 6D Mark II (Full-Frame)
• Canon EF 100mm Macro USM Lens
• SanDisk Extreme PRO 64GB 200 MB/s

Exposure / Focus Settings for Adderley Flowers

• Autofocus On
• Aperture Priority (Av) Mode
• Aperture f/5.6 - f/11
• Auto ISO 1250 - 6400
• Shutter Speeds (Various)
• No Image Stabilisation
• No Flash
• Handheld

Image Post-Processing: Lightroom Classic (Ver 13.5)

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

Flower Images Copyright: Vernon Chalmers Photography

 

The Eyes of a Bee

"The eyes of a bee are intricate organs, finely adapted to the insect’s essential roles of foraging, navigating, and surviving. Bees possess two main types of eyes: compound eyes and ocelli. The large compound eyes, positioned on either side of the head, consist of thousands of tiny facets called ommatidia, each functioning like a miniature lens. Worker honeybees typically have around 5,000–6,000 ommatidia per eye, while drones, whose task is to locate queens in flight, may have more than 8,000, granting them greater visual sensitivity.

Compound eyes allow bees to detect movement with exceptional precision, a vital ability for avoiding predators and maneuvering swiftly among flowers. Although bees cannot see fine detail like humans, their vision is highly specialized for recognizing patterns and colors. They perceive ultraviolet (UV) light, invisible to humans, which reveals guiding patterns on flowers called nectar guides. This adaptation ensures efficient pollination, benefiting both the bee colony and entire ecosystems.

Complementing the compound eyes are three small ocelli, arranged in a triangular pattern atop the head. These simple eyes do not form images but detect light intensity, aiding in orientation, stability during flight, and navigation relative to the sun.

Together, compound eyes and ocelli form a visual system finely tuned to the bee’s ecological niche. The eyes of a bee are not just organs of sight but evolutionary tools that sustain survival, communication, and the pollination cycles upon which much of life depends." (ChatGPT 2025)

Bee Eyes Image: Created by Microsoft Copilot