One camping landscape photography trip was not enough to this part of the south downs in West Sussex. At the end of July I return to Manorfarm down camping out a couple of nights but heading west to Bepton Down and Harting Down along the South Downs Way.

Landscape Photography and Camping

Camping out in the countryside so I am in the right location to capture sunsets and sunrises has always been appealing. So I began to research camping to determine what exactly I needed. The initial outlay is not cheap if you are starting from scratch. But long term should pay for itself as no need to stay in expensive hotels and Airbnbs, thats if they are available. Using google maps can usually find campsites nearby that cost around £10 to £15 a night pitching fees. Ultimately I want to hike for a couple of days and wild camp. But to break myself in, I am car camping. This means driving to campsite, pitching up and leaving the tent there for a couple of days. With the car I can take some extra gear like a cool box and camping chair etc.

Bepton Down Sunset

The first evening I was heading west from Manorfarm to Bepton Down.

Initially, checked out the views from the trig point at Linch Ball. Great views of the coast south here with the Isle of Wight in the distance. Then followed the edge of the woodland east to Bepton Down with great views east of the West Sussex countryside. To the north was the distinctive Blackdown hill of the Surrey Hills and the North Downs.

Bepton Down Panoramic

Delighted to find wild Marjoram growing on the hill side of Bepton down, this would make good foreground interest and colour contrast. I need to shoot more panoramas especially when confronted with views like this.

I don’t always think ‘panoramic’ when at a given location. Its pretty easy to shoot a pano. Its your tripod bullhead that needs to be level. Focus once then switch to fully manual mode, make sure each shot overlaps with the previous by 30% to 50%. The above panoramic is 3 shots stitched together automatically in Lightroom.

Balanced Wild Marjoram

I spent a very pleasant evening all alone it total peace on Bepton Down in West Sussex. Waited until way pass sunset and then headed back down to Manorfarm.

The above composition is well balanced with the two fresh vibrant clumps of wild Marjoram and the matching purple sky. The green grass is a complimentary colour of the purple of the Marjoram.

No Sunrise

The above view from Bepton Down is facing east so the sun is setting behind me. It was my intention to return here for a sunrise but not make it. I got out of the tent my last morning at Manorfarm but the sky was featureless and was going to be a very hot day. It was also a good 35 to 40 minute hike up to the summit of Bepton Down and I had pulled a muscle the day before at Harting Down. Thats my excuse anyway.

Now had I been wild camping on top of Bepton Down then it would have been so much easier.