The last days of autumn were upon us. Those warm deep golden hues would soon be gone for another season. From late morning onwards the weather forecast looked promising for a visualisation had in mind. With no specific composition in mind the plan was to capture an autumn woodland scene somewhere on the High Weald in East Sussex.

Salehurst High Weald

The starting location was to be Salehurst on the high weald in East Sussex, not too far from where I live along the A21. Have visited nearby Salehurst a few times in the past and has some typical high weald woodland scenery.

Had a good scout around Salehurst late morning into early afternoon using both the car and on foot covering all the small lanes that lead off. Found a couple of good compositions that included Salehurst church but would work better early morning with some mist and colour in the sky. With these type of woodland scenes telephoto lens work better, zooming into the detail in the distance and excluding dead ground in the immediate foreground usually in the form of a grass field. Had the 24-105 and the 70-200mm lens with me and polarising filter.

Refreshing Bodiam Castle

Burnt off a lot of energy scouting out compositions around Salehurst. Wanted to stay on the high weald until past sunset which was still a few hours away. Decided to visit nearby Bodiam Castle thinking this as a subject could look great within the setting of Autumn woodland.

Bodiam castle was very busy with visitors. Managed to park up for £4. Its £11 to enter the grounds. But closes around 3pm in which case can enter for free. Had some refreshments in the cafe then just walked around the outskirts. Some deep afternoon shadows on the ground. I think Bodiam castle works better early morning again with some mist.

Silver Hill High Weald Woodland

The loose plan was to shoot sunset from somewhere around Johns Cross on the high weald. Knew from observation the best light would be around 3:15 to 3:30pm so needed to be in position at around 3pm still without a specific composition in mind just a general visualisation. On the way to Johns Cross pulled over near Silver Hill on the High Weald.

Out with the 200mm lens and zooming into the intimate autumn high weald woodland detail. A traditional and location specific Oast house adds a great anchor and focal point within the late afternoon sunlit golden tree tops.

Sharp beyond Infinity

A fast shutter speed greater than your focal length almost guarantees a sharp image given not using a tripod and a steady hand. At 200mm and given everything want in focus is beyond 200m so beyond infinity also almost guarantees a sharp image throughout. Am always checking these two aspects of focal range:

• subject greater than focal length
• shutter speed greater than focal length

When focusing on infinity aperture not really matter so may as well use your lens sweet spot which is usually 2 stops above your widest aperture so in this case with an F4 lens was F8. With an F2.8 lens will be F5.6.

If wanting to include interest close in the foreground wide angle then have to consider hyperfocal smaller apertures depth of field even focusing stacking.

Obviously with a tripod and given everything is steady shutter speed is less of a concern.

Mountfield Sunset

Still had a bit of time to kill so drove onto Mountfield also on the High Weald close to Johns Cross. Decided to take a gamble and drive along a mountfield lane eventually bringing me back round to Johns Cross.

Pulled over a few places checking out the high weald woodland views. I found my high weald autumn sunset composition. This was probably as good as it was going to get, lots of golden woodland to catch the setting sun and some farm and Oast houses to anchor the eye. Warm light on warm colours like you want cool light on cool colours. Setup with the tripod and at that moment the sun went behind some clouds.

Patience

Now needed to be patient, it was likely given the weather conditions the sun would pop out again but not for long, Needed to be ready. Welcomed the broody clouds they added a good dark moody backdrop that contrasted well with the golden light. Just needed the setting sun to shine through and it happened. Captured my visualisation and probably my best high weald landscape photo to date. Experimented with a polariser but not sure it made much difference with the sun being so low in the sky? Prefer not to use one as that extra glass renders a slower shutter speed and can soften the image.

Mountfield Rainbow

Thought it was all over so packed up and followed Mountfield lane keeping an eye out for anymore possible locations in the last of the light. Then it began to rain and could see a burst of sunlight breaking through. Knew this meant rainbows. Pulled over and trespassed into a private field above Darwell Reservoir.

The rain was hitting the lens had to keep wiping with a microfibre cloth. Wanted to experiment with the polariser as these are suppose to enhance the rainbow and its true compared to without. Problem is low light so pushing up the ISO to 800+ using the widest aperture on the 24-105mm F4 lens. Rainbows always take me by surprise. Not the best quality but you get the picture.

Great day out location scouting on the high weald in east Sussex. Covered a lot of ground in both the car and on foot. Got my late autumn high weald woodland landscape visualisation.

Check out the November 2022 landscape photo gallery

Check out the East Sussex landscape photo gallery