Your explanations of your photos at the end are excellent, really helpful. I particularly like that you show photos that you are not satisfied with and explain why. Many thanks.
Another superb film Alex , can't get enough of your critique of your images always learn something from it . That layered abstract is a thing of beauty . Can't get enough of this place .
Great work as always. In my opinion you have the perfect balance of incredible images, photography ideas, advice, insight and "explanations" of your final images. Please keep them coming :-)
Wonderful video Alex - great memories for me, and it was wonderful to watch the video with very similar images of the same locations on my wall! wonderful stuff - thank you
Superb series of images Alex, even the cloud inversion you weren’t entirely happy with is amazing and accurately captures the drama before you , great to see your work
Always look forward to your vlogs Alex. I love the way you explain why and how you took the shot on location, and your self critique in post adds something that many other vloggers don't do - this aspect really adds a lot of additional value as it reinforces what to look for, and do, on location for me.
Keep up the good work Alex it is well worth the effort and one of the best vlogs I subscribe to. Your enthusiasm and attention to detail is an inspiration to us all to do better, thanks for sharing
Ian McDougall thanks Ian - if you want to see more head over to alexnail.com, I have spent 15 weeks shooting the Drakensberg now and the best images are up in my gallery!
@@alexnail Thanks, I have already. I stayed at the MCC a few weeks ago and will be heading there in August to get some snow shots on the back of Cathedral. Will also be taking a hiking group up in April next year.
On your web site, you have a shot of Sterkhorn in the Cathkin area. Yes, it is an actual hole called "Gat berg". Translating the Afrikaans into English, it means "Hole mountain". If you hike up from Monk's Cowl Camp Site, you have the view of it towering above you and then eventually level with you. Finally, as you have captured it, you then see it in the distance below you.
These videos are absolutely stunning. A privilege to hear you talk through your photos , and wonderful to see it on location. I'd be trying to book a trip if it wasn't impossible with covid19 ! Sometime soon hopefully. Please keep them coming
Awesome Alex We live in KZN. Would like to know what town you can see from your images light pollution. Excellent videos to see our beautiful country. Sani Pass is also awesome . Stay at Castleburn in Underberg. Then on the South Coast do Lake Eland resort awesome suspension bridge in the Oribi Gorge. Thank you once again
Really enjoyable Alex. I’ve seen your images from this fascinating location for a few years but doing a vlog on the experience really brings it to life and brings a freshness to this part of your portfolio. Looking forward to the rest.
Loving these videos. A great mixture of story telling and then some pro tips on composition and editing etc. Thanks a lot for taking the time to make these and passing on your knowledge and experience. I know how time consuming making a vlog can be lol 👍 Graham.
@@alexnail - will do Alex. If you ever get a spare 5 mins check out my channel lol would love if you could critique my latest image from Suilven. An area of Scotland u know like the back of your hand 😉 👍 cheers
@@GrahamWilliamson1985 I've had a peek looks like you've had some great trips. That shot looks great but if its going on the wall surely you don't want my critique?!
@@alexnail Thanks Alex. I'm hanging the image as more of a memory of the trip. Would def appreciate some constructive feedback from you from a photography point of view 👍 thanks a lot mate.
Graham Williamson okay well I think on a capture and technical level (particularly the edit!) it’s great. However compositionally the interest is very central, Canisp is a bit forgotten there at the edge of the image and the foreground needs some structure or it detracts... But ultimately my first reaction was ‘fantastic’ whereas in many cases images are let down far more fundamentally in a way that spoils my enjoyment.
Very much enjoying following your adventure Alex. The scenery is spectacular and your images are stunning. I am physically unable to even consider a trip like Drakensberg at present but your videos inspire me and keep me hoping for more improvement post surgery. 👍
Andy Chattaway well I hope you continue to get better Andy and glad that I can help with a little bit of inspiration! Thanks a lot for the kind words :)
Another very nice video, Alex. Just after watching it, i jumped on your website and had a look through the Drakensberg gallery there and now, this place jumped up in my top 5 places to go to soon :) Keep them coming and as for feedback - perhaps a bit less b-roll in the beginning of the video (try to get to the first shots a bit sooner) and disperse some more walking around footage throughout the clip.
Horia Bogdan thanks Horia. It’s difficult because in this case the ‘b-roll’ is a major part of what I want to show. The images are at the end essentially because we shoot the same location at sunset and sunrise so it ties together better. I appreciate the feedback though.
Ha! I think I'm boring as hell, but thanks! Thing is this is my first proper go at it so I've learnt a lot since - I'll be better next time. So wish I could get more people to see them though - takes bloody ages to produce!
Alex, I'm assuming you don't drag a star tracker on your hikes..? How do you take multiple images of the Milky Way, for stacking!? Do the stars not move too much between frames?
Francois Nel yes, early April. I’ve hiked all the way from early November to mid December and from early Feb to mid April. Closer to peak summer the storms are a little more frequent but otherwise I’ve found the weather to be very consistent throughout both those time periods.
Amazing site. Your explanations and commentary are excellent. Great pictures. And the B-roll is very satisfying. Thanks for sharing!
I really do not know how often I watched these videos now.
You're my number 1 fan!
@@alexnail at least i do follow your work longer than most others.
Your explanations of your photos at the end are excellent, really helpful. I particularly like that you show photos that you are not satisfied with and explain why. Many thanks.
Glad you're enjoying them Larry :)
Another superb film Alex , can't get enough of your critique of your images always learn something from it . That layered abstract is a thing of beauty . Can't get enough of this place .
Mark Mc Mullan thanks Mark. Yeah the Berg is crazy! Plenty more long lens shots to come!
Great work as always. In my opinion you have the perfect balance of incredible images, photography ideas, advice, insight and "explanations" of your final images. Please keep them coming :-)
Thanks Don!
Breath taking pictures Alex. Amazing!
Wonderful video Alex - great memories for me, and it was wonderful to watch the video with very similar images of the same locations on my wall! wonderful stuff - thank you
david wilkinson it’s a pleasure David - glad I could take you back!
Superb series of images Alex, even the cloud inversion you weren’t entirely happy with is amazing and accurately captures the drama before you , great to see your work
Thanks so much Nick!
Yes Alex, I concur with other comments. True adventure with some good insight and great images. Just what I aspire to with my videos!
Thanks Thom!
Always look forward to your vlogs Alex. I love the way you explain why and how you took the shot on location, and your self critique in post adds something that many other vloggers don't do - this aspect really adds a lot of additional value as it reinforces what to look for, and do, on location for me.
Mike Norton thanks Mike, I’m glad you’re finding that helpful. I need to try to incorporate more of that on location if possible!
Loving the videos, and great to get to tag along on your journey. Keep them coming 👍🏻
Bann Images thanks for the encouragement!
Keep up the good work Alex it is well worth the effort and one of the best vlogs I subscribe to. Your enthusiasm and attention to detail is an inspiration to us all to do better, thanks for sharing
Cheers Peter! Still hoping to improve a fair bit!
Amazing shots. I love the Mnweni area and you have captured things to a T!
Ian McDougall thanks Ian - if you want to see more head over to alexnail.com, I have spent 15 weeks shooting the Drakensberg now and the best images are up in my gallery!
@@alexnail Thanks, I have already. I stayed at the MCC a few weeks ago and will be heading there in August to get some snow shots on the back of Cathedral. Will also be taking a hiking group up in April next year.
On your web site, you have a shot of Sterkhorn in the Cathkin area. Yes, it is an actual hole called "Gat berg". Translating the Afrikaans into English, it means "Hole mountain".
If you hike up from Monk's Cowl Camp Site, you have the view of it towering above you and then eventually level with you. Finally, as you have captured it, you then see it in the distance below you.
Great stuff Alex - enjoying your vlogs very much .
Marc elliott cheers Mark!
These videos are absolutely stunning. A privilege to hear you talk through your photos , and wonderful to see it on location. I'd be trying to book a trip if it wasn't impossible with covid19 ! Sometime soon hopefully. Please keep them coming
Thanks a lot Ian!
Awesome Alex We live in KZN. Would like to know what town you can see from your images light pollution. Excellent videos to see our beautiful country. Sani Pass is also awesome . Stay at Castleburn in Underberg. Then on the South Coast do Lake Eland resort awesome suspension bridge in the Oribi Gorge. Thank you once again
Use Roof of Africa Tours
Really enjoyable Alex. I’ve seen your images from this fascinating location for a few years but doing a vlog on the experience really brings it to life and brings a freshness to this part of your portfolio. Looking forward to the rest.
Thanks Matt - glad that it doesnt feel stale to you!
incredible so far man, well done. this is the exact hike i still want to do
Loving these videos Alex, I esp like the format of vlog then image review with a short critique keep em coming!
glen sumner cheers Glen - I plan on it. There’s either 4 or 5 left!
Loving these videos. A great mixture of story telling and then some pro tips on composition and editing etc. Thanks a lot for taking the time to make these and passing on your knowledge and experience. I know how time consuming making a vlog can be lol 👍 Graham.
Graham Williamson glad you’re enjoying them Graham, if you’d help spread the word that would be awesome!
@@alexnail - will do Alex. If you ever get a spare 5 mins check out my channel lol would love if you could critique my latest image from Suilven. An area of Scotland u know like the back of your hand 😉 👍 cheers
@@GrahamWilliamson1985 I've had a peek looks like you've had some great trips. That shot looks great but if its going on the wall surely you don't want my critique?!
@@alexnail Thanks Alex. I'm hanging the image as more of a memory of the trip. Would def appreciate some constructive feedback from you from a photography point of view 👍 thanks a lot mate.
Graham Williamson okay well I think on a capture and technical level (particularly the edit!) it’s great. However compositionally the interest is very central, Canisp is a bit forgotten there at the edge of the image and the foreground needs some structure or it detracts...
But ultimately my first reaction was ‘fantastic’ whereas in many cases images are let down far more fundamentally in a way that spoils my enjoyment.
Very much enjoying following your adventure Alex. The scenery is spectacular and your images are stunning. I am physically unable to even consider a trip like Drakensberg at present but your videos inspire me and keep me hoping for more improvement post surgery. 👍
Andy Chattaway well I hope you continue to get better Andy and glad that I can help with a little bit of inspiration! Thanks a lot for the kind words :)
Another very nice video, Alex. Just after watching it, i jumped on your website and had a look through the Drakensberg gallery there and now, this place jumped up in my top 5 places to go to soon :) Keep them coming and as for feedback - perhaps a bit less b-roll in the beginning of the video (try to get to the first shots a bit sooner) and disperse some more walking around footage throughout the clip.
Horia Bogdan thanks Horia. It’s difficult because in this case the ‘b-roll’ is a major part of what I want to show. The images are at the end essentially because we shoot the same location at sunset and sunrise so it ties together better. I appreciate the feedback though.
I'm loving these drakensberg vlogs man! really great! you're just as good in front of the camera as you are behind it ;)
Ha! I think I'm boring as hell, but thanks! Thing is this is my first proper go at it so I've learnt a lot since - I'll be better next time.
So wish I could get more people to see them though - takes bloody ages to produce!
Great channel... Here from Alyn Wallace Channel #WITNS
Alex, I'm assuming you don't drag a star tracker on your hikes..? How do you take multiple images of the Milky Way, for stacking!? Do the stars not move too much between frames?
you shoot a series of 20 second exposures and then use stacking software to bring them back into alignment - seems to work well!
@@alexnail Interesting! I always assumed you had to be tracking the sky for that to work.. What software are you using to stack the images? RegiStax?
WHat time of year did you do this trip? April?
Francois Nel yes, early April. I’ve hiked all the way from early November to mid December and from early Feb to mid April. Closer to peak summer the storms are a little more frequent but otherwise I’ve found the weather to be very consistent throughout both those time periods.
Ah, I need to get back to editing my images instead of looking at yours. :D
yep!