2019 was another active year walking and landscape photography across the south east, south west and then moving to the east of England. What follows is a compilation of my best landscape photos for each month during 2019.
January, New Forest, Hampshire
I was not working during the month of January 2019 and was living in Dorset at the time. I took a few trips across the border into Hampshire and the New Forest.
This handheld shot using my compact is my favourite from January, it captures the cold and the frost of January well and love those wild white horses looking into the camera.
February, Winchester Cathedral in the Mist, Hampshire
Hampshire comes first again in February with my first trips into the Hampshire south downs. I had meticulously planned on OS Maps a landscape cityscape morning sunrise shoot from St Catherines Hill with Winchester Cathedral in the background.
Despite some initial hiccups regarding parking and missing the moon setting it went better than expected with thick morning mist adding an ethereal feel. I knew these sunrise photos of Winchester Cathedral in the mist were special. It was not until September that The Times contacted me and published the above photo on a story they were running on the poet John Keats. Download article here – > John Keats To Autumn, Winchester lost in the mists of time.
March, Ivinghoe Hills, Buckinghamshire
March 2019 saw me relocated in Hertfordshire, the east of England on a new works contract for the next year. Lots of new locations to explore. Weekends would see me cross the border into Buckinghamshire to explore the Chiltern Hills.
One mid March afternoon walking the ridgeway along the Ivinghoe Hills, was lucky enough to get some sunlight catching Beacon Hill.
April, Berkhamsted, Herfordshire
Got out walking a lot during the month of April, throughout Hertfordshire and nearby Bedfordshire. Mostly visiting locations recommended in the walking guides for these counties which are not necessarily the best for landscape photography. Eventually I would use walking guides less and less and construct my own walks using OS Maps online.
Still, I like this photo of Berkhamsted common in April at the foot of the Chiltern hills, its captures spring nicely. You can have some beautiful warm days in April with some great light.
May, The Ayots, Hertfordshire
The month of May has to include some bluebells, so my favourite landscape photo for the month of May was taken in the middle of the Ayots in Hertfordshire of some wild bluebells.
May also saw my first weekend excursion into Suffolk and along the east coast there, I missed the coast being landlocked in Hertfordshire. Often though one visit to a new location like Suffolk is not enough to come back with some epic landscape and seascape photos.
June, Barley, Hertfordshire
The days are getting long and hot come the month of June as summer is well under way. I did some photo walks over north east Hertfordshire mostly using walking guides for the county and was particularly impressed with the quintessential Hertfordshire countryside just out of Barley with poppies scattered in among the crops.
June was the month I took my first excursion into the east coast of Norfolk for some seascape photography. Again one visit was not going to be enough.
July, Dunstable Downs, Bedfordshire
The month of July and the height of summer is not the best for landscape photography, with the long days, harsh light and heat. The para-gliders off Dunstable Downs in Bedfordshire were enjoying the weather though and it made a good summers day composition for July.
I take another weekend break further up the east coast in Norfolk visiting Cromer. Most weekends the weather has been good, I am getting out a lot walking and practising landscape photography but not really capturing anything epic in this part of England.
August, Weston Hills, Hertfordshire
The month of August mostly saw me wandering around Hertfordshire with a trip to the north Norfolk coast. Days are getting shorter as autumn approaches. One of my best photo walks in August was a sunset over the Weston Hills near Baldock in Hertfordshire.
I was out walking during a transition between two weather fronts giving rise to some dramatic lighting, even a rainbow and a moonrise. Harvest approaches as summer draws to a close.
September, Chiltern Hills
A lot of September was spent walking over the Chiltern Hills which spans the counties of Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire in the east of England.
My favourite landscape photography composition was captured on a beautiful evening ascending the Pegsdon Hills to capture a sunset and moonrise. But the best shot of evening was during the golden hour.
October, High Weald, Kent
I completely missed October last year and most of Autumn so wanted to make up for it in 2019. At weekends now I was back down the south east and exploring the high weald in Kent and east Sussex seeking that elusive fall landscape composition.
My favourite autumn composition is the above shot over the high weald in Kent not far out of Lamberhurst. I love the autumn colours. The composition presented some technical difficulties due to low light and powerful wind and not wanting any motion blur in the red leafs.
November, Sevenoaks, Kent Downs
With my now regular trips at the weekend from Hertfordshire to east Sussex you cant help noticing the Kent Downs near Sevenoaks as you drive down the A21.
I knew from up there in the hills of the Kent Downs there must be some pretty spectacular views across the weald. Once parking and walking around I was not dissapointed. With the short days this time of year, just not enough time to explore as autumn gives way to winter.
December, Beachy Head, South Downs
From October through to December 2019, had a lot of wet weather in the south east of England. Starts to restrict where you can go on a photo walk if you dont want to get bogged down in mud. Wet weather not really effect beach walks. There was a break in the deluge and decided to catch a sunset during low tide at Beachy Head Lighthouse.
A positive of not working is during the week if there is good weather you can head out for a good seascape photography walk. Not a typical December scene and required a lot of post processing in Photoshop to blend multiple exposures. Still one of my favourite seascape compositions during 2019, a nice way to finish the year.
Looking back 2019
Due to work covered a lot of counties, Hertfordshire features a lot during spring and summer of 2019 as that was where I was living and working. I was out walking every month during 2019 as took no vacations or breaks abroad. Downloads and purchases on Shutterstock were up. Technically I improved as well as compositionally and artistically, of course always restricted by the location one finds themselves in. Towards the end of 2019 my post processing skills also make some leaps using Photoshop. A good landscape composition may require 50% editing. I not really spend any money on new gear apart from new tripods and backpack to attach them too. Spend more time, not money if you want to improve. Happy New Year.
References
A youtube video slideshow compilation of the best landscape photography during the year of 2019. A couple of the best landscape compositions taken from each month.
Gallery of best landscape compositions of 2019.
Landscape Portfolio on Shutterstock.
From Previous years
Best Landscape Photography 2018
Best Landscape Photography 2017
Best Landscape Photography 2016