What follows is a collection of my best photos taken during August 2025. Including trips to Ashdown forest on the high weald and walks over the south downs all within the boundaries of east Sussex.

Camber Castle

A lot of incentive now for getting outdoors is to revisit locations and make some videos. But given the cloud formation above Camber Castle had to get the camera out for this one and capture a still.

I actually visited Camber castle in July but then took a rest from local photography but included the photo in my August review.

There is some interesting history behind Camber castle which you can learn about via the following video. Mostly shot with a drone.

Getting into Videography has meant a new burst of life for using my drone a DJI mini 2. But my drone skills need some improvement.

Ashdown Forest Airman’s Memorial

Again the main inspiration for this trip to Ashdown forest was to make some small films of some of the landmarks there. But also hopefully to photograph some of the heather. It was late August and a lot of the heather looked passed its peak.

What was impressive was the lone tree and stone wall surrounding the airmans grave in Ashdown forest. Again an interesting cloud formation above the tree and a sunset sky behind. Worthy of getting the old DLSR out the backpack.

Stone on the Church Exceat Hill

Once again wanted to make a small film about the history of Exceat village and the church that once stood upon Exceat Hill on the south downs with the Seven Sisters Country Park.

Once again another interesting cloud formation above the memorial stone so had to get the camera out again. In the background is High and Over and a vineyard.

Cuckmere Oxbow

After visiting Exceat Hill wandered down towards the Cuckmere river in the seven sisters country park to check out some possible compositions. Golden hour was approaching followed by sunset.

Found a nice composition with golden hour side light coming in from the left over the separated oxbow lake of the Cuckmere valley. Its the oxbow that makes the striking interest of the Cuckmere valley not the river itself. Was really getting back into landscape photography after taking a rest and having given more priority to shooting video.

Butts Brow Jevington

My videos of the ww2 memorials have been doing extremely well especially on facebook so decided to make another on the American Ruth-less one on top of Butts Brow. Immediately out of the car park noticed some hay bales in a field down towards Jevington.

After filming the memorial took a detour there. After the driest and hottest summer on record the weather was finally turning to unsettled and showers. Lucky took my waterproof jacket. Nice arrangement of an odd number of haybales in the foreground. Jevington church in the background, some nice layers and diagonals. But light was a bit flat and having focus problems due to focal range needed and depth of focus.

Butts Brow Sunset Skies

On the walk back to Butts Brow carpark from Bourne Hill the sunset sky lit up so got the camera out with the 100-400mm lens and pointed back to the scene I had just been photographing close up.

Turning to the right the sunset skies extended also over Folkington hill.

I would get better photos if I was more patient in the field simply waiting for the time to expire rather than assuming it wont happen. Also reviewing my photos in field to check for focus etc. Still learning but just great to be back outdoors.

Butts Brow Sunrise

I returned to Butts Brow a few days later. Wanted to have another go at the hay bales and observe them in the morning light with the sun behind me. Even with a 5AM rise, late August I was still 30 minutes late for sunrise.

Straight out of the car pulled the camera out and began shooting exposing for the highlights but not worried about the sun overexposing only the sky. Nice.

Another aspect of getting outdoors is the hiking not just photography and videography. The plan was to hike from Butts Brow round to Wilmington Hill then Folkington Church back to Butts Brow via Jevington. All in changing weather conditions so had my waterproofs and hoping for some rainbows and dramatic morning light over the south downs.

Birds In Flight Bourne Hill

Not really manage a composition of the Hay bales and Jevington church with the morning light. I was lining up a shot of some hay bales in front of a lone dead tree with some crows perched in it.

All of a sudden a flock of birds flew into the scene, luckily zoomed right in at 400mm so was at a fast enough shutter speed to avoid any motion blur. Its different.

Wilmington Hill Rainbow

On the hike towards Wilmington hill there was some strong showers moving in from the west with the sun shining at the same time behind me in the east, perfect conditions for a rainbow.

Rarely are you in the right location for the best composition when a rainbow occurs. A polariser is essential for the rainbow to pop else it was very faint.

Exmoor Ponies Wilmington Hill

By the time I reached Wilmington Hill, the morning light was now very dramatic across the landscape here. This is one of my favourite places, great views not just in east Sussex but the world from what I have seen of it. I feel at home here, this is what makes me homesick when I’m away to long.

What made all the difference was some hardy Exmoor ponies standing on the brow of a small hill really adding a strong focal point. Just love those dark brooding skies and sunlight hitting the land.

One issue with a long focal range once again is focus and depth of field. With the wider shot wanted everything in focus. With the zoomed in shot intentionally letting the background fall out of focus.

End of August

That brings my landscape photography for August 2025 to a close. After a short summer break, I’ve found my rhythm again. One big change has been weaving videography into my outdoor trips, often paired with a touch of local history — sometimes with a little AI help. Some outings are now led by video, others by photography, and often a mix of both. They’re no longer separate worlds, but different ways of telling the same story. With September and autumn ahead, I’m excited to keep that momentum going.

On Facebook, things have taken off in recent months. Short videos — or reels — have brought phenomenal growth, and it’s been fascinating to learn how each platform has its own rhythm and rewards. While my original aim was to grow my YouTube channel, I’ve come to appreciate the different strengths of both spaces.

I’d love your support on both platforms:

Follow me on Facebook.

Follow me on YouTube.