Interview with Alex Nail

January 23, 2018

Welcome to episode 040 of the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen podcast with England-based landscape photographer Alex Nail! I've been a huge fan of Alex's photography for quite a long time! Alex is also a mountain guy and takes images from hard to reach places that are absolutely inspiring. I first stumbled onto Alex's work when I was a guest editor over on 500px and immediately made one of his photos an editor's choice! Alex is one of the most down-to-earth artists I've spoken to and just oozes authenticity. We had such a great conversation (one of my favorites). 

Alex and I covered some great topics this week, including:

  • How Alex got into Landscape Photography
  • Photographing hard to reach places
  • Time-lapse photography
  • Keeping his work fresh while trying to promote his book without sharing images from the book
  • Critique
  • The "online arms race" for self promotion and its impact on landscape photography
  • The difference in processing styles between USA and European artists

Special announcements: Please consider supporting the podcast on Patreon! Let’s keep the conversations going! I recently set a goal of $1,000 in monthly contributions which I will use to seed a $1,000 landscape conversation award. This will only be possible if people contribute on Patreon! 

Lastly, I am happy to announce that I'm now a Formatt-Hitech filter ambassador. Listeners to the podcast get 10% off their order if they use the code "PAYNE10" - thanks for supporting the podcast!

To learn more about Alex:

His Website

Facebook

Instagram

Here are the artists that Alex would like to hear on the podcast:

Hougaard Malan

Arlid Heitmann

Some examples of Alex's photography can be seen below. 

I love hearing from the podcast listeners! Reach out to me via Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter if you'd like to be on the podcast or if you have an idea of a topic we can talk about.

Alex Nail - Photographing Hard to Reach Locations

In two trips backpacking in the Langisjor area this is the best sunrise I have experienced. With an inversion over the waters below and crystal clear air it really was a memorable morning.

Alex Nail - Photographing Hard to Reach Locations

Shortly after sunrise a shaft of sunlight found its way into Rockeries Pass breifly illuminating the greenery below.

Alex Nail - Photographing Hard to Reach Locations
Alex Nail - Photographing Hard to Reach Locations

Sometimes good fortune plays a greater role in the making of an image than preparation or artistry. These shafts of light passed over the turquoise lake below just as the clouds were closing in. It was pure luck that our hike brought us here at this particular moment. I can't imagine better conditions to shoot the dramatic peak of Uxatindar

Alex Nail - Photographing Hard to Reach Locations

As the first sunlight of the day appeared on the peak of Sgurr Eilde Mor I made my way to the edge of the loch to photograph the snow patterns that had formed in the wind. A scene this perfect is a rare thing indeed.

Alex Nail - Photographing Hard to Reach Locations

The Mnweni Pinnacles are one of the Drakensberg's most dramatic features, but they are not easily photographed. The conditions I had on this particular evening revealed their full granduer.

Alex Nail - Photographing Hard to Reach Locations
Posted in Photography Podcast and tagged Podcast.