February 2022 was a good month for getting outdoors with the camera. The best part of February 2022 was spent on a road trip west through Surrey, Wiltshire, Somerset and finally Dartmoor in Devon. What follows is a compilation of the best landscape and seascape photography from February 2022.

Eastbourne Pier Sunrise

Been after a colourful sunrise during low tide at Eastbourne Pier for a while now. Previous attempts to capture the visualisation had in mind had failed due to too much cloud. The night before the weather apps predicted some high cloud so decided on another sunrise low tide attempt.

Paid off this time, got the colour I wanted. Reflections of Eastbourne pier and the colourful sky on the sands during low tide ensured the whole frame contained interest. Used HDR to get detail in the pier due to dynamic range of light being to great for a single shot. Took some separate shots of the seagulls to get a fast enough shutter speed and blended these in post processing using Photoshop and luminosity masking.

Check out the East Sussex Landscape Photography Gallery

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Reigate Hill, Surrey Hills

Beginning of February and decided to take a roadtrip west. But the first stop would be in the Surrey Hills, on Reigate Hill or more precisely Colley Hill.

Colley hill has some beautiful views west over the escarpments of the Surrey Hills. Had been meaning to visit this location for sometime now. Was a good first stop location for the road trip. Had some good light in the morning. Due to the orientation of the Surrey Hills could not include the rising sun in the composition. But often golden hour side light is just as good if not better.

Check out the Surrey Landscape Photography Gallery

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Marlborough Downs Wiltshire

The next location stop on the road trip west was Marlborough and the Marlborough downs, part of the North Wessex Downs. Wiltshire has lots of great locations for landscape photography. Lots of Hill forts commanding great views over the countryside and white horses calved into the escarpments making great subjects and focal points.

Any good location for landscape photography like the Cherhill white horse on the Marlborough downs also depends on good light to make a very good landscape photo. Unfortunately during my stay in Wiltshire not get much in the way of good light. In overcast conditions can substitute good light with strong shapes and texture.

Check out the Wiltshire Landscape Photography Gallery

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Cadbury Hillfort Somerset

A good way to break up a long road trip is to stop off at good locations on the way before reaching your final destination. In fact make a day of it. Google maps is great for discovering new potential landscape photography locations. That is how I discovered Cadbury hillfort in Somerset. What a find that was!

Cadbury hillfort is a beautiful tranquil area in Somerset with great views all round. The February afternoon I arrived the clouds had broken up and had some good sunlight and interest in the sky. Its a lovely walk around the ramparts of Cadbury hill fort steeped in the legend of King Arthur.

Check out the Somerset Landscape Photography gallery

Check out the Somerset Landscape Locations Map

Blackdown Hills, Somerset

From Wiltshire was making my way to the Blackdown Hills in Somerset and Devon. My first day on the Blackdown Hills was a beautiful sunny February day, clear blue skies, not great for photography. But the Wellington Monument makes a great subject.

Was important to shoot the Wellington obelisk one of the largest in the world from the side to get depth and dimension and also to include a sense of scale with the cannon silhouette although a tree would have been better or a person. A clear blue sky works well as a background with such a strong subject else could have been distracting with too much interest in the sky.

Blackdown Hills, Devon

The Blackdown hills also extends into the west county of Devon which joins with the east Devon AONB that continues down to the coast. My favourite location on the Devon side of the Blackdown Hills was Hembury Hillfort.

The ramparts of Hembury hillfort are surrounded by mature Beech trees. Side lit from the February evening golden hour made the composition stand out. Got so engrossed in shooting the beech trees in the evening light that completely forgot I had left my camera bag on the forest floor, luckily it was still there when I returned.

Dartmoor, Devon

Then onto the final destination of the road trip west, the mighty Dartmoor. By the time I reached Dartmoor the weather was turning more stormy. The first full day on Dartmoor was more the transition period from calmer to stormy conditions.

Shortly after dawn was treated to a spectacle of rainbows over the moorland. Had to think quick as rainbows do not last long and you are rarely prepared for them. Managed a handheld panoramic to get the full rainbow within the frame. Dartmoor is a great location for landscape photography although my adventures there were curtailed somewhat with the likes of February storms Eunice which was very destructive and dangerous to be out in.

Check out the Devon Landscape Photography gallery

Check out the Devon Landscape Location Map

End of February

After the February road trip west was pretty dormant for the remainder of the month. I had left my job so was now a man of leisure and could take my time. What I needed next was a change of scenery and climate. With Covid travel restrictions being lifted began researching a trip abroad but not primarily about Landscape photography, just a break.

Hoping to do another road trip within England soon, but want to keep costs down. This includes the cost of fuel, accommodation and food. Ideally camping somewhere with many interesting locations nearby or staying put in an Airbnb rental. The problem as always with England is the unpredictable weather that can make or break a road trip. Roll on March and springtime.