Landscape Photography Composition in the Drakensberg

In this video I photograph the Marble Baths in the Injisuthi area of the Drakensberg. I spent a lot of time looking for compositions working with foreground pools and a beautiful section of rapids. This was my first time photographing this location, and I definitely got lucky with the conditions!
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[@thevalleywalker]

That is some b-roll on the beginning Alex - I hope your viewers appreciate the extra effort you went to to set the scene , especially as you probably hate doing it I think you have mentioned previously - it really gave context to the hike and the scenery you were walking through. It's no wonder you return to the Drakensberg again n again, scenery is fabulous. I laughed my head off at Emily's slide, looked like she took a bit of a bump on the way down and it all went t*ts up.. or down..lol 😂 As ever it was interesting listening to you talk through your images and on that 1st set the last image was also my fave - the 2 foreground pools reminded me a little of a photographer I know who likes to shoot those portrait shots with a large foreground. I paused the video at that point to write up my comment and then... wow - what a moment for you - I smiled at your getting all excited and then seeing the result. I actually like 1st shot - but I am more of a saturated colour type anyway.. more so I think the lack of that white water is not so distracting for me as it appears to cut through the image? atb Al

[@alexnail]

Thanks Alan, glad you liked the B-roll, I actually really enjoy shooting and editing it, but it’s definitely slow work! I wish on the group trips I could stop and do the same but that just isn’t realistic obviously! Thanks for letting me know your preferences. All fair enough points, it’s subjective afterall!

[@georgemason2472]

Those sunset reflections are real wallhangers!

[@alexnail]

Thanks George!

[@davidskinner274]

Love the intimate rrockpool shot

[@steviem8466]

Extraordinary compositions and resulting images.

[@alexnail]

@@steviem8466 thank you Stevie :)

[@steveking6204]

Wow. Awesome shoot. One of my favorite channels.

[@alexnail]

Thank you very much Steve!

[@andrewfindlayphoto]

It's great to see somewhere different on a landscape photography channel. It's amazing how different parts of the world look similar although the plants are different. You could have been in a version of Scotland until those Baboons turned up 😁⛰🐒

[@alexnail]

Ha! I’m not having any of that! Scotland!😂 But thanks Andrew, really appreciate the enthusiasm!

[@jbairdexp]

I do like these deep dives into your process of finding composition. Of the two final images, I prefer the image on the right. The single pool of water and it's shape fit the vertical composition, plus you can see more of the river which gives more context of where you are, and I even think I prefer the sky. Extra kudos to Emily for being so patient! Landscape photography is a slow process but I guess there are worst places to wait about! :-) Hope you had a great holiday. :-)

[@davidskinner274]

The colour in the sky contrasts against the green and I think it helps

[@davidskinner274]

Beaut3colour in the water on the second image, Alex

[@nldazuu]

Very enjoyable seeing how you make your memories and as I like to do connect it with photography. I like the photo 2 with the less colourfull sky…. very nice also seeing you camp out with the misses! Keep going on…. //Dave

[@klaus.bernhard]

What a sensationell location 👍

[@alexnail]

It certainly is!

[@brianbeattyphotography]

man that view at 3:22 is spectacular!! beautiful spot to hike and awesome images

[@alexnail]

Yeah I took some photos in that spot too, but decided to leave them out of the Vlog!

[@woflgangdurst6752]

The landscape is fantastic. Video very enjoyable. Compositions great. What more can I say? I also prefer the right hand side image. Thanks for this wonderful journey with your wife. Wolfgang

[@alexnail]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@simonmiles1972]

Terrific shoot Alex, thanks for sharing. Love the abstract and final sunset image with the single pool.

[@alexnail]

Thank you very much :)

[@CharlesParmar]

Absolutely amazing and so much to learn as always! Well done Alex! I like the right image of the two. Thanks for sharing this video.

[@alexnail]

Thanks Charles, hope you’re keeping well!

[@keithtimmis]

Some amazing photos. I prefer the right hand of the 2 shots you mentioned. The reflection in the pool is fantastic!

[@alexnail]

Thanks Keith

[@briannicholson2971]

Wow what an amazing place to be at Alex...those pools are quite something else I could easily spend a long time there . For me the second image is much stronger with the single pool and not too much of that sky to be a distraction....Ike the inclusion of the flow of the water leading you back up towards the mountain 😊📷👍

[@alexnail]

Thanks Brian, I’m inclined to agree!

[@chodzsiepowoczymy1892]

16:55 IMO the right is better. It is more dramatic with that diagonal flow of water. There is a good connection between foreground and background. Left image feels almost like two separate images, one in the bottom and the other in the upper part

[@alexnail]

Yes, I’m inclined to agree. Thanks for your input!

[@iank1638]

excellent video Alex! Nothing like a swim when on a big walk! I prefer the right hand image at 16:51 with the shape of the pool with the beautiful reflection, and the inclusion of the river. The scrubby green hill forms part of the geometric pattern of triangles rather than standing out as a distraction. Superb stuff

[@alexnail]

Thanks Ian. Yeah I love to swim when out hiking although when we hike with porters on the top of the Berg the guys always find it hilarious!

[@lindaarndt9506]

Amazing images! Love that view from the cave. ❤

[@alanpinn2266]

Incredible location and shots Alex! As far as a preference for the last shots (with the spectacular light) - I think I prefer the left image (@17:00). I really like the composition with the 3 pools and not so much of the river. The 3 pools really lead your eye through the image - especially with the subtle "S" curve in the middle. Great images! Keep up the good work and more videos please! Cheers.

[@alexnail]

Thanks for your thoughts Alan, much appreciated!

[@paulwarrilow1019]

I really enjoyed your video, Alex; what a great location! I prefer the image on the right - both in terms of composition and the light and colours. Many thanks for sharing!

[@alexnail]

Thanks Paul, my pleasure!

[@dominiclester3232]

Wonderful video and location, thanks!

[@alexnail]

My pleasure, thanks for the comment

[@barbarachamberlain6918]

I prefer the second sunset shot, altho' both are beautiful!

[@alexnail]

Thanks Barbara!

[@paulbruins9935]

Thanks Alex, for another great vid!

[@alexnail]

My pleasure Paul, hope you’re keeping well!

[@stevemarson9665]

Love to go back. It's 45 years since I trekked in the Drakensbergs but I still recognise the landmarks well. May join you for a trip in the future whilst the old knees can still manage it .... Great video and images.

[@Prashant.Khapane]

Alex, that last image of your wife (Emily) is brilliant. I prefer the second vertical image as there is a nice triangle formed by the hill and flowing water.

[@alexnail]

Thanks, she certainly likes that photo too. One for the fridge! I agree on your preference - interesting that you see a triangle there too

[@paulwbakerphotography]

Stunning location mate and some beautiful photographs. That dump in the water look awesome, a little jealous 😂

[@alexnail]

Yeah, that’s the best but tbh!

[@elliswoodphoto]

lovely footage in an amazing area! Beautiful video Alex!

[@alexnail]

Thanks Ellis!

[@stevef2114]

Good video there , distilling the composition.

[@alexnail]

Thank you :)

[@SteveKleinheider]

Wonderful video and photos!

[@alexnail]

Thank you very much!

[@Katjie-9090]

Loved the video thanks so much for all the effort you put in.

[@alexnail]

My pleasure, thanks for the comment

[@smirz1234]

love the portrait on right reflecting mountain in the pool Exceptional

[@alexnail]

Thank you :)

[@davidmoore720]

The right-hand (less pink cloud) version of the 2 images you compared is the one I much prefer: The elongation of the foreground pool has more impact and the more obvious & more angled portion of the river better suits the portrait crop. The angle of the river also leads my eye through the central portion of the image, after looking at the reflection. Great stuff!

[@alexnail]

Thanks David!

[@brendanlynch7296]

Amazing location, looks like an excellent hike and what a place to camp! Of the last two photos the right hand (last) image works best for me ... the long shape of the pool along with the river lead you into the background much better. Excellent photo. Really liked the abstract shot too.

[@alexnail]

Thanks Brandan, glad you enjoyed it and that for sharing your view!

[@piero_75]

A new video from you is an instant click for me, Alex. Great to see you out and about again! And I agree, the second sunset image was the strongest for me. It's amazing to talk about colour clash in nature but photographically it can and does happen, but the second image ameliorated that with the subtler sky colours.

[@alexnail]

Thank you! Yes I’m out and about fairly regularly, just not always vlogging.

[@tomwhite71]

Great video mate, some stellar images. Enjoyed Emily ending up upside down 😂

[@alexnail]

Ha yeah!

[@donniebel]

Next time I’d want to visit here. Some of the earlier pool shots I thought would be helped with more water in some of the pools. Later in the video you mentioned your hope to return with some higher water. Perhaps take a bucket next time to enhance that? I’m prefer the comp with the lesser red sky over the more intense one. Some of the more intimate scenes are very appealing. The shot with Emily in the cave takes the prize for most fun!

[@alexnail]

Thanks Donnie! I’m not really one for interfering with the scene I’m presented with on the level of a bucket tbh! Stewart actually visited with higher water but looking at his images of this area I think it might well just create more problems!

[@pawelkuzma2804]

It's always a pleasure to watch your video, thank you. I'm preferring picture on the left the one with the stream. The pothole and the pinnacle is right on the centre of the image, also there's less haze on the mountains in the back ground. Ps. I don't remember to see you so much exited after the shot but 100% understand you 🙂🔥☀️👌

[@alexnail]

Thanks for the feedback - I few more or less the same way as you

[@ThyWorshipMetal]

What a fun vibe in this one! Stunning scenery too

[@alexnail]

Thanks Justin!

[@johnchambers6272]

Wow, beautiful area and stunning images. Some of your abstract images hit the mark. My preference would be for that second image ( the one on the right). The highlights are a little distracting in the first one, I also feel that it is a slightly better composition in the 2nd one with a better view of the river that leads the eye up into the centre of the image. Great post processing for the colours and tones. Thank you for sharing Alex.

[@alexnail]

My pleasure John, thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[@alexnail]

My pleasure John, thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[@ChristophGeiss]

I prefer the composition on the right. The moving water has a bit more prominence, and the creek stays more within the frame, leading up to the buttress.

[@alexnail]

Thanks, and I agree!

[@PhilippLutz]

What an incredible place, I would have looked forward to slide down the pools, it's really a bummer to not be able to visit it in a couple of weeks :/ Regarding your question with the 2 images: I'm in favor of the right one, both compositionally and due to the colors which I find more pleasing, maybe because I find the left one too going towards cyan vs. magenta.

[@alexnail]

Cheers Fil 😜 Its definitely a pity we can’t detour here!

[@davidskinner274]

To include the third pool in full is a much stronger image

[@alexnail]

Don’t quite understand what you are referring to here David!

[@juanbon5996]

Hi Alex, new to your channel. Compositionally, the image on the right is simpler, more focused. I do, however, like the light on the left image better.

[@alexnail]

Thanks for your thoughts Juan :)

[@brianmckeever5280]

Amazing images. The one @ 16:41 is my favorite. The image from inside the cave is very nice too. I know Adam Gibbs was around a while back and I couldn't help imagining Uncle Grumpy sliding through the water. Do you worry at all about the other primates/apes on the trails? I've heard they can be aggressive and I know they are very strong with sharp teeth. I know Canadians use bear spray, is there spray for apes?

[@alexnail]

There are baboons here, but on the higher berg they are hunted by the Basotho and even in the national parks they seem mostly afraid of people. I have never heard of an attack on a person and I don't believe they would just randomly attack you. That said I am honestly not the kind of person to worry about such things!

[@davidskinner274]

Can't decode which vertical pool is better.. they both have interesting colour contrasts

[@alexnail]

Yes, they are similar enough that there isn’t a huge difference!

[@davidskinner274]

There is a vertical shot with a pool on the right, 3rd one in that is cut in half,, another one, the same pool shown in its entirity

[@Mike-VR]

Hi Alex, not sure if you're aware of the other better cave (not so much the view but rather the better sleeping option) just around the corner from where you guys slept?

[@alexnail]

Yeah, we walked past it, but we were perfectly happy where we were. Thanks though!

[@And-rc9yy]

4:30 I think photography should never take priority. Far too many people are obsessed with getting the Instagram picture that will give them the oh so important 'Likes and Faves'. Life experiences are far more important than any short term buzz from social media.

[@alexnail]

To be honest I only post on social media for business reasons these days, so none of my Drakensberg images from recent years are on any social channels. There are many photographers with higher goals than social media and I think that does give a level of legitimacy to the craft that might well justify forgoing an experience. I have to make these choices all the time to complete projects. But yes, sometimes the experience is more important.

[@And-rc9yy]

@@alexnail Thanks Alex, In no way am I being critical of your work. It's just a general feeling I get from the Instagram crowd.

[@juanbon5996]

Hi Alex, new to your channel. Compositionally, the image on the right is simpler, more focused. I do, however, like the light better on the left image.

[@alexnail]

Thanks Juan!