January 2025 began with some fantastic winter landscape photography across the South Downs, capturing the beauty of East Sussex in the crisp winter light. From chasing sunsets behind Belle Tout Lighthouse to photographing snow-covered views from Firle Beacon, the month was filled with stunning scenes. After mid-January, I took a short break from photography, but the early part of the month provided plenty of memorable moments. I’ll be back in February 2025 with more landscape photography adventures to share.

Belle Tout Lighthouse Sunset

January 2025 started off with a hike over the south downs at Beachy head. The plan was to photograph the sun setting behind Belle Tout lighthouse from Frost Hill. Parking up at Beachy Head West car park took in some footpaths not walked before before making my way to Frost Hill.

Being low down and Belle Tout lighthouse high up, the sun sets a lot sooner. I had to keep moving with the 100-400mm lens to align the setting sun behind the lighthouse, was good fun. No time to setup a tripod had to hand hold. Not exposing for the shadows, just the highlights throwing the lighthouse into Silhouette. I do like the silhouette of the hikers on the brow of the cliff edge.

On the hike back to the car was treated to a crescent moon rise above Beachy Head with Venus above. Would have been rude not take some handheld shots of the celestial spectacle.

Snow covered Firle Beacon

During January 2025 East Sussex had had a brushing of snow and I had to get out with the camera and photograph it. The plan was to capture the wide expanse of landscapes from Firle Beacon on the south downs. Due to the ice, the plan was to park up at the bottom in Firle village where there is a free car park and hike up to the summit.

Heading up Firle bostal gave some sweeping snow covered views south back to mount Caburn. The road was thick ice glad I parked up at the bottom.

On the top of Firle beacon looking east managed to capture some sunlight just catching the peak of Firle Beacon.

Snow like light is totally transformative on the landscape. Snow is also getting rarer so making it extra special to be out in the winter wonderland. Was a beautiful fresh winters morning out on top of Firle Beacon on the south downs in east Sussex.

Wilmington Hill Dappled Light

Had been an overcast wet week in mid January 2025. Suddenly there was a break in the clouds and I knew the dappled light would look great over the expansive views from Wilmington hill on the south downs. So that was the plan a hike over Wilmington hill to capture the dappled light across the east Sussex countryside.

Straight out of the car park in Wilmington village immediately compositions opened up. Framing up Berwick church steeple catching the light and Bo Peep and Firle Beacon rising high to the west. I wish I had arrived an hour earlier when the clouds first broke up.

With the broken cumulus clouds, the sun at this time of day and year casts shadows and highlights over the landscape. Afternoon light in January can be exceptional. This dappled light is natural dodging and burning no need to do in photoshop post processing. This view from Wilmington Hill is one of my favourites on the south downs in east Sussex. I love this location.

A great hike over Wilmington hill on the south downs with great light mid January. From this viewpoint compositions opened up everywhere west back to Firle Beacon and Mount Caburn. Using the 100-400mm lens gave me the most flexibility just handholding the camera not need to setup the tripod with the available light and IS switched on.

End of January 2025

That’s it for January 2025. Mid January until mid February took a break from east Sussex and landscape photography. Join me in February 2025 landscape photography review.