I felt kind of relieved September had arrived. Summer was nearly over and Autumn was on the horizon.  For many landscape photographers Autumn is their favourite season.  I missed Autumn last year due to travelling abroad. Not this year, I intend to be around in the east of England and beyond capturing those Autumn colours.  What follows is a compilation of my best landscape photography during the month of September of which most was spent on the Chiltern Hills.

Whiteleaf Hill, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire

Beginning of September and a return to the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire was in order.  I wanted a good walk in the sunshine but also rich in possible landscape photography compositions.  Whiteleaf Hill had been on my to do list for a long time.  Pass Combe Hill and Chequers so the furthest I have pushed into the Chiltern Hills.

I rushed to the viewpoint from Whiteleaf Hill which was majestic.  Wished I had arrived earlier though to catch a bit more colour in the sky.  Was going to be a lovely day.  Lovely walk through wooded hills of Beach trees, must return here for late Autumn.

Later on during the walk low cumulus clouds moved in adding interest to the sky and stops your eyes from leaving the frame.   This sky would look a lot better from the summit of Whiteleaf Hill.  Even late in the morning or early afternoon, when the light is a lot harsher you can still take good landscape photos given the right elements are present, especially around the Chiltern Hills.

Warden Hills, Bedfordshire

The night before was going through all my walking guides for Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire and was coming up short for a photo walk the next morning.  Not really fancy a long drive so using OS Maps online staked out a photo walk from Lilley then over Galley and Warden Hills part of the Chilterns in Bedfordshire.

It was a cloudy morning as I made my way towards Galley Hill and then around the Warden hills.   Just out of Lilley I thought it was worth getting my DLSR out of my backpack.   Looked round and sun spots were catching the peak of Warden hill, highlighting the haystacks and trig point on the summit.  It was important to capture the splash of blue sky and white clouds adding harmonious colours to the yellow of the hay fields.  Once again, the light was fleeting and no time to setup tripod etc in order to get the shot.

Barton Hills, Bedfordshire

Got up early to capture a sunrise over the Barton Hills in Bedfordshire.  The morning before there had been fiery red skies, but not today when I was ready with my camera just clear blue skies.  I have visited the Barton Hills before late March it was my first landscape photography scout and shoot having moved to the East of England.

Now I was returning to the Barton Hills, different season and different time of day.  To get the best out of a location, you need to visit more than once.   There was nothing to capture facing the sunrise, I had not worked out a composition.  Plan B was always golden hour.

With my back to the sunrise I would capture the early morning sun catching the peaks of the Barton Hills. For the golden hour I had plenty of time to setup on my tripod.  I put in extra effort to line up the horizon straight.  Using the bubble level on the tripod legs and then the head.  After then level within the camera, so all three were straight.  Once the golden hour was over Plan C was then to enjoy a good walk around this part of the Chiltern Hills.  A beautiful September morning to be outside.

Pegsdon Hills, Harvest Moon Rise

It was that time of month when the full moon rises shortly after the sun has set.  Being September it  was a Harvest moon also coincidentally a micro moon being 10% smaller than usual as further away.  I decided to revisit the Pegsdon Hills hoping to catch a sunset from the top of Deacon Hill turning around and then catching a moon rise.  I made my way over Knocking Hoe which I have also visited before.  Although late afternoon there was some good compositions but was lazy to get my camera out of my backpack.  I made my way to a nice pub off the beaten track called Live and Let Live.  Stopping for a pint before heading up the Pegsdon Hills to witness Golden Hour.

Friday night and I got the Pegsdon Hills to myself.  Golden Hour was casting some superb light.  Handholding the camera, compositions were everywhere.  I made it to the summit of Deacon Hill and setup on my tripod.  Sunset was a washout and not capture anything good.  Problem is sunflare and the hills were in total shadows.  So face on from this vantage point not good.

Moonrise was better though, although the foreground and midground are nothing special.  The moon rises rapid so not too long an exposure else blurred.  I changed to a 200mm lens to late.  Lessons learnt.  I just love being out on the Chilterns hills and witnessing these heavenly spectacles, that you would miss if otherwise sat indoors.

Sharpenhoe moonset, sunrise

Up early to catch the moon set and sunrise this time from Sharpenhoe Clappers.  I would be facing towards the Sundon Hills for the moonset.  Then around the other side of the clappers for the sunrise over the distant Barton Hills.

Arrived 6AM and the only one about, had to rush to the clearing and setup my tripod to catch the setting harvest moon.  I was hoping for morning mist in the valley, but facing west there was none.

Facing east there was some mist but in the background.  Facing a rising sun and it is hard to avoid sunflare.  I set my aperture to F/22 to try to get a starburst effect.  I have read it works a lot better with a prime lens on F/22.  Yet to try that.  After the setting moon and rising sun spectacle was over I took a good walk over Smithcombe hill for a bit of scouting.  Its so much better walking Sharpenhoe clappers in the early morning as no one about.

Ivinghoe Beacon, Sunrise

Seems September is all about the northern end of the Chiltern Hills, sunsets and sunrises.  Keeping with the theme I wanted to catch a sunset and mist in the valley with a return to Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire.

I had to get up real early for this sunrise with the Dunstable downs on the horizon.  As I arrived the sky was fire red, a couple of minutes later it had all but gone.  Needed to get here earlier.  I rushed to get set up moving down from Beacon Hill to include Gallows hill in the foreground.  Sure enough the valley had its share of ground mist due to warm days, cold clear nights.  Problem with the mist it misted up my lens.  Lost a lot of shots until I realised.  So had to keep wiping the lens with a microfiber cloth.

I hung around Ivinghoe beacon, turning west to capture the golden hour lighting up the ridgeway meandering into the distance.  The walker on the summit with his dog adds a sense of scale.  Due to the reward its getting easier to get up so early in the morning to catch a sunrise, its a different world, that not many people witness.

Hitchin, Hertfordshire

Iv recently moved to Hitchin in Hertfordshire.  10 minute walk from my flat and I am in the countryside approaching the northern edge of the Chilterns Hills.  So I set out early end of September to explore and scout this area.

Sunrise is getting a lot later now, around 7AM.  I could only catch dawn from low ground just out of Oughton head common.  I was heading to some hills in the distance around little Offley.

On the walk back, I decided to change lens.  I had two prime lens that not used for ages, 50mm and 24mm.  Prime lenses are much simpler and at their fixed focal range supposed to be noticeably sharper.  I experimented with the 50mm and liked the results and will use both more in the future.

The end of September

Thats it for September, the change in seasons is becoming noticeable.  The Chiltern hills during autumn is suppose to be a fantastic location for landscape photography due to all the deciduous trees.  I shall be returning during October and November.

Check out my Chiltern Hills Portfolio where you can download images in full resolution.  Love walking and photographing the Chiltern Hills.