Landscape Photography Composition in the Drakensberg 

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

Those sunset reflections are real wallhangers!

Love the intimate rrockpool shot

Wow. Awesome shoot. One of my favorite channels.

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 😁⛰🐒

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

What a sensationell location 👍

Beaut3colour in the water on the second image, Alex

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

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. :-)

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.

Amazing images! Love that view from the cave. ❤

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.

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

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

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

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 😊📷👍

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

Thanks Alex, for another great vid!

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.

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!

Wonderful video and location, thanks!

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!

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

Good video there , distilling the composition.

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.

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.

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.

love the portrait on right reflecting mountain in the pool Exceptional

Wonderful video and photos!

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

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

lovely footage in an amazing area! Beautiful video Alex!

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

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!

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

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

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 🙂🔥☀️👌

What a fun vibe in this one! Stunning scenery too

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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?

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?

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

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.

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.