One good thing with being on a road trip, staying in a hotel, you are more motivated to get outside rain or shine.  The rain and clouds had returned with a vengeance, after a break of one day along the north downs.  Based in Folkestone,  I decided to take a trip inland to the Elham Valley.

The Elham Valley Way

The Elham valley in east Kent, part of the North Downs with some sweeping views.  With the bad weather, flat light, it was limiting in what I could take landscape photos of.

Still I persevered and completed the walk, and got to pin another flag on my map.  I managed one or two acceptable landscape photos that capture the remoteness of the Elham Valley in east Kent.

Overcast Wet Windy Days in Winter

Overcast cloudy weather in winter is not the best weather for sweeping vistas and opens downs views.   On wet overcast days during December you would be better heading into a forest with your camera and a polariser.  I was hoping for some holes in the thick grey clouds and some brief moments of sun and spot lighting.  It not happen today in the valley.

High Contrast ND Filter

On overcast days like these I find a graduated neutral density filter necessary as there is high contrast between the lighter grey sky and the darker ground.  Holding back the light of the sky brings out the colours of the ground.

Following the Elham valley way you get some nice higher views of Elham village itself.  With the church spire being the dominant feature and focal point.  Down there in Elham village where my car was parked was a nice pub called the Kings Arms, maybe with a real fire to sit beside.