Drakensberg Photography Adventure - Part 3 - Mnweni Pinnacles

The third video in a series photographing the Drakensberg Escarpment of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
On our third day we hike through the hills of Lesotho to the sensational Mnweni Pinnacles.
I guided this trip for five photography friends, all of whom are independent photographers and hikers so I was able to find time to talk to camera.
I regularly run workshops in the Drakensberg for adventurous photographers. If you are interested in joining next year then follow this link:
www.alexnail.c...

[@AdventureDeNorthVlogs]

Amazing place my friend

[@rob9386]

I'm enjoying this series so much, hiked the Drakensberg a few times and man you capture it so perfectly! Thank you so much for your time and effort!

[@alexnail]

Thanks! There are a few more one the way!

[@jbairdexp]

Finally got around to watching all three parts of your Drakensberg adventure. Great stuff. I'm really enjoying your videos. Good balance of on location chat, on location composition, and post production review. I appreciate how much effort these videos take but I personally find them a great source of information and inspiration. Keep up the good work!

[@SimonPeterKing]

Really good to see the live view perspective of framing up, quite unique Alex and very enjoyable to see.

[@alexnail]

Cheers Simon, glad you liked that part, I will have to try it again.

[@donniebel]

You self critiques at the end is most helpful. I hope my main shots coming up are as good as you optional extras. As for the windy grass foreground I think it might have better preferable to have been more blurred, ie more motion. I’ve shooting a lot of waterfalls lately and it occurs to me that the grass motion is like water motion- getting the right amount of motion/detail is critical. Often either extreme can be a good choice but generally there is a point with just a little movement does not look good. These videos are intensely inspiring.

[@markmcmullan3351]

Loving these videos Alex those longer focal length shot are superb . The colours are just amazing . Always nice to get some great light for all your efforts .

[@alexnail]

Thanks Mark, I have to say, as far as light goes the Drakensberg is the most reliable place I have visited!

[@AlynWallace]

Loved it man. Possibly the most justified use of vertical video I've seen too

[@alexnail]

Yeah I'm going to do more filming of the compositions themselves I think - easier to talk about. Need to do it with a gimbal though!

[@rob9386]

22:08 if you were sitting at the edge of the cliff in your red jacket drinking coffee with a bit of steam coming off the cup would be the best coffee ad ever!

[@The21Governor]

Yet another educational and entertaining video Alex. Loved the detailed discussion around camera placement and how it altered the composition. The consideration you apply to each potential shot is something for me to work on.

[@alexnail]

Thanks Mike, glad you found it helpful. Hopefully I can do more 'live compositions' in future

[@thomphotography3662]

Excellent as always Alex! Thank you!

[@alexnail]

My pleasure Thom!

[@andreaknobel]

Congratulations Alex, amazing frames and really well done videos. You deserve way more likes! I really like how you explain your compositional choices.

[@timdamico6244]

Thank you for the detailed explanation of composition in each image... Well done!!!!!

[@alexnail]

No problem - still working on making it a bit more concise!

[@susanbreau]

Very informative and such beautiful images, thank you from Canada!

[@alexnail]

Thanks for watching from Canada Susan!

[@GavinHayhurst]

Really enjoying your videos Alex, the Norway and Drakensberg ones have been amazing. Love seeing how you talk through deciding on a composition and how you critique your work afterwards.

[@alexnail]

Thanks Gavin, glad they are going down well!

[@thevalleywalker]

Your content never feels overlong and was surprised to see this break the 30 mins barrier. The opening sequence gave a great sense of the adventure and the rest of the video flowed well. Like many others the talk through of images and your thoughts are always a welcome tutorial for me - I would even like to think I might be learning something - whether or not that I can transfer that out into the field is another matter mind, lol. Going through your images the beautiful portrait image at 14 mins in - I much prefer shooting side on to the sun - there was a a little patch of the ledge on the right hand side that I thought you might pick up on... it didn't bother me but going on your past appraisals/critques I did expect you to mention it. I loved the image and the 3 layered colour palette of yellows to green to red/pinks n purples reminded me of the colour bands of a Rothko. Avery enjoyable episode and glad to know there is more to come.

[@alexnail]

Thanks Alan, glad you are still enjoying the vlogs! Yes I know what you mean about the cliff creeping in on the left in that image. Actually I had to double check my image review to make sure I didnt mention it, because I certainly did in a version that I obviously didn't use! Essentially I'm not totally settled on whether I will leave it or crop. I actually shot it like that planning to crop as close as possible to the cliff edge but then I quite liked how it broke the straight line feel of the top of the cliff.

[@hybryd83]

Amazing series Alex!

[@alexnail]

Thank you :)

[@BrianNorthmorePhotography]

Once again great video series looking forward to seeing the. next video. Would be interested how you get your KZbin channel out there and noticed, just starting out and it’s not easy is it? So I take my hat of to you sir, I’ll be back for more!

[@alexnail]

Brian Northmore Photography I’ve been in the social media game for long enough to know what happens happens. All you can really do is try to make good content and hope people notice! Glad you’re enjoying the videos!

[@BrianNorthmorePhotography]

Alex Nail Photography thanks for the reply! And there I was thinking maybe one of these how to get a million subscriber channels had the answer lol. Best get back to editing and making content then I guess 😀