While researching Mount Caburn and the Lewes Downs a few weeks back I noticed on the other side of Lewes the South Downs continued with interesting peaks like Mount Harry and Blackcap leading on to Ditchling Beacon which I have visited before.
Mount Harry to Blackcap
The intention was to park up in Lewes near the church in south Malling and walk along the river Ouse then ascending the scarp of the south downs pass Offham towards mount Harry, pass Blackcap and then onto Ditchling beacon.
It was a warm sunny morning early June, visibility was good arriving around 7AM which is way to light for the golden hour this time of year. The sun was already high in the sky and bright.
The views from mount harry both south and north were spectacular sitting there in the long grass it felt good to be in outside in the sun and fresh air with my camera. South east you can just make out the distinctive peak of Bopeep and nearby Firle. I have yet to explore those hills opposite east of Brighton which includes Castle Hill.
South Downs Way to Brighton
Not far from mount Harry is the Trig point at Blackcap and a memorial stone at 206 meters high. It was hot by now, the sun high in the sky and landscape photography from this vantage was difficult due to the harsh sunlight above. Ditchling beacon was another 2-3 miles west and I not fancy it. So took the south downs way near Blackcap walking down towards Brighton.
Could not help but notice the occasional lone red poppy in the field of wheat with the city of Brighton in the background. The lone poppy would make a good composition and give foreground interest as well as complimentary colour contrast for a landscape photo. Without the poppy it would have been a pretty bland photo.
There was a slight breeze blowing so in order to not get motion blur on the petals of the poppy I increased the ISO to 200 so could increase the shutter speed to 1/60 sec for a correct exposure.
Using a polariser heading back up towards mount Harry and blackcap I was able to capture some fluffy white clouds within a deep rich blue sky. The angle was right else one half of the sky was to overexposed almost white. For foreground interest was focusing on the clumps of wild Daisies which are looking a little pass their prime.
I really am on the lookout for some wild Marjoram which should be flowering this time of year June to September. It favours the chalk grasslands of the south downs, but as of yet I have been unable to identify any wild Marjoram.
I got back to Offham around midday just in time for the pub opening the Blacksmith arms. After a pint I managed to capture a nice last shot of the river Ouse heading back into South Malling where my car was parked.