The month of July and long hot summer days, insect repellent and sun cream. What follows is a compilation of the best landscape photography during the month of July 2021.
Wye Downs, Kent
The first trip of July was a weekend away staying at a hotel at the foot of the Wye downs in Kent. Have explored the Wye Downs before, was impressed and one morning was not enough. Unfortunately the mornings were overcast, wet and foggy, but the evening golden hour was a lot more productive, the advantage of staying in an area is get more chances to capture better light.
Farthing Common
A new place visited on the Kent downs was Farthing common. Too much polarisation in the image below. Got to be careful of this on wide angle shots.
Some good potential compositions and walks from Farthing common, but now headed back to the Devils Kneading Trough on the Wye Downs to capture golden hour and sunset.
Wye Downs July Sunset
One of the better compositions was of the Devils Kneading Trough with the low sunlight of golden hour catching the escarpment.
Very lush green on the Wye Downs during summer, could have done with a big splash of lilac in the foreground with some summer flowers.
The July sunset was not in the best position on the Wye downs, too far to the northwest. A winter sunset could be better from this location.
Hung around on the Wye downs well into blue hour and got my splash of Lilac to compliment the lush green. But up in the clouds rather on the ground. Even if don’t get the best weather and lighting conditions really enjoy these weekends away somewhere, makes a refreshing change from just photographing the same location all the time. The intention is to do them every two weeks, at least while I continue to work.
Malling Down, July, East Sussex
There is not much I have now not covered on the south downs in the East Sussex area. One such place though was Malling Down nature reserve on the Lewes Downs walking in from B2192 where there is a large layby for parking. So it was one July evening after work headed to Malling Down for some sunset photography.
To get the best landscape photography out of any location requires repeat visits different times of the day and year. As my first visit to Malling Down was hunting around for a good composition. The July dusk sunset sky was putting on a light show. The best composition was a telephoto using my new 100-400 Canon F4 lens. This composition included the distinctive shape of Mount Harry and Black Cap beyond.
To include the setting sun in the composition from Malling down required a wide angle telephoto or panoramic. Again summer sunsets are proving difficult winter and the sun would be setting behind mount harry there.
Ranmore Common Surrey Hills
Another July weekend away, this time to the Surrey Hills. Was staying at a hotel at the foot of Box Hill. The first morning visiting the Surrey Hills visited a new location called Ranmore Common or Denbies Hillside, but too late for sunrise.
Some lovely views south from Ranmore common. Also delighted to find some wild Marjoram for some flora foreground interest. Could have done with a bigger splash of purple though to compliment the lush July summer green. Very hot July day, the beginning of a heatwave.
Leith Hill, July Sunrise, Surrey Hills
Had scouted Leith Hill the day before and thought could be good for a sunrise. Looking north east could get a cityscape of London with my new 100-400mm lens although now 600mm would be better.
Not quite calculated the sunrise correctly using Photopills but still a nice composition. Although to get up for a July sunset the odds really need to be in your favour.
Shropshire Hills, West Midlands
From the weekend away at the Surrey Hills, now continued the journey for my first visit to the Shropshire Hills in the West Midlands. The July heatwave continued for the duration of my stay in the Shropshire Hills. This meant no hiking during the day and landscape photography would mostly be confined to evenings and sunset photography.
Despite the July heatwave had a fantastic time in the Shropshire Hills, the views were amazing. Again sunsets were difficult as not include the most iconic hills. Golden hour was a lot better as got some good side lighting on the hillsides.
The end of July
July 2021 had been a good month for getting out and landscape photography. Had got out of my comfort zone visiting some new places. Many landscape photographers choose to hibernate during the summer months. For me the key to getting outside during summer is to go away on some trips. Going forward the intention is every few weeks to do a weekend away somewhere. Then every couple of months to go a lot further for a long weekend or week away. Roll on August….