Been very active during July 2022. Photography both landscape and wildlife and exploring many new locations. What follows is a compilation of the best photography during July 2022.
Active July
Many landscape photographers go into hibernation during the summer months. July 2022 has been very hot and dry. But this year due to not working have been very active during the month of July. Have scouted out lots of new locations much closer to home, largely due to the heat and having a foot injury so cannot walk to far. Ideally each trip would have its own post but cannot always manage to do this. Consequently the following July summary is quite long, but with lots of photos and too the point. Have decided now to start backing up the posts to links to my Google photo albums. These google photo albums tell much more of a story of the location. They contain many reference shots, photographs not show cased or included on this blog. So please follow the provided links.
Camber Bike Ride
July started as June ended with another bike ride along the England Coast Path that runs from the outskirts of Rye to Dungeness in Kent. There are various places to park along Camber road that merges into Lydd Road, the best is Broomhill. This area is perfect for bike riding due to it being completely flat. With my foot injury a bike ride was a good way of getting outdoors and doing some exercise. Had been meaning to explore this location for a long time.
If I could get close enough the Cheyne court wind farm would make a good subject especially with the wide expanse of Walland Marsh and the moody cloudscapes.
There were numerous footpaths leading into Walland Marsh behind Camber. It was going to take a few attempts to get closer. Google Photos Walland Marsh
Lydd Ranges to Rye
Returned to same area a few days later in early July with my bike to explore another leg of the England Coast Path. This time along Lydd Ranges. There is a road called S Brookes Road that runs along the side of the redoubt military camp there that takes you all the way to the beach. Public have access when there is no firing.
Its a very baron and remote area with views all the way back to Cliff End. On the drive back stopped off in Lydd for some supplies then took some country lanes back home.
Had to pull over into a layby on the A259 and get out the 100-400mm lens for a townscape of Rye with the high weald in the background. Has potential given a dramatic sky. Google Photos Lydd Marsh
Newtimer Hill South Downs
During June had visited a few locations on the south downs in West Sussex which got me studying the area in more detail on OS Maps online, which is a fantastic resource for discovering new locations and walks.
Online maps
Noticed on the map that had never walked over Newtimber hill near Poynings which should give some good views west over the South Downs in West Sussex from Devils Dyke all the way to Chanctonbury Ring.
Was not disappointed! Except would have liked more light on Poynings church down there. Surely the shot of July 2022 maybe even 2022. What was good about this trip was my foot was OK for walks up to a few miles including ascending some steep south downs escarpments. Unfortunately lost my glasses on this trip and they were not cheap. Google Photos Newtimber Hill
Denge Marsh to Dungeness
Exploring one location can often lead to discovering new locations nearby. So it was with another bike ride, this time through Denge marsh and Denge Marsh beach then onto Dungeness for golden hour and sunset.
Denge Marsh pretty barren landscape great for bike riding but finding compositions with a subject were hard to come by. Still I wanted to take photos and tell stories even if those photos are of an Industrial landscape. After exploring Denge Marsh drove to nearby Dungeness for an evening walk along the beach.
Always a subject to find on Dungeness beach, old fishing boat wrecks are not hard to find if hard to compose and photograph. Google Photos Denge Marsh Dungeness
July Sunset Little Cheyne Windfarm
Still had not got that dramatic shot of the Little Cheyne Court Windfarm on Walland Marsh. Again studying OS maps online there were more footpaths to scout that should get me closer. This day was a hot July Sunday summer evening, so there were lots of visitors to Camber beach. But by evening most were now leaving rather than arriving. Managed to park up OK at Broomhill and then cycled to Scotney Bridge.
Managed to get closer to the Little Cheyne Court Wind Farm. Realised though the turbines were facing the wrong way for a good sunset shot. The wind farm was facing south west but the sun was setting to the side west north.
From the roadside using the 100-400mm lens handheld the best I could manage was a sunset side on of the wind turbines. Its a large area to cover and great for bike riding, but now for something different. Google Photos Little Cheyne Court Windfarm
Cadborough Cliffs Rye
Was keen to go on some short walks closer to home and scout out some new locations in East Sussex and the High Weald.
Online maps
Studying OS Maps online Cadborough Cliffs between Cock Marling and Rye looked interesting potentially giving a good view of Camber Castle down on the Rye marsh.
Was a very hot and hazy July morning along the foot of Cadborough Cliffs, you can park and ascend the cliff at the western end but could not get a good composition of Camber Castle, very pleasant walk though. Google Photos Cadborough Cliffs
Full Moonset Hastings Pier
Was planning to photograph the July full moon rising two nights and one morning with it setting if I could get up. A few days before the weather forecast looked good. Had a couple of ideas of including a subject with the full moon rising behind, one being Camber Castle. But on the day was overcast with clouds so not put in the effort.
Decided to take the risk for a early morning moonset. The original plan was Birling Gap but chose Hastings Pier much closer to home in case it not work out. Was low cloud on the horizon and thought it was going to be a no show. Then suddenly for a minute or two the full moon setting appeared through the clouds low on the horizon. Rushed to get out the 100-400mm set on a tripod and just managed to capture it. Was it worth waking at 3AM for? you decide. Google Photos Hastings Pier moonset
Beckley Woods Butterflies
July is prime time for shooting butterflies and a good reason to get out with your camera during summer. I remember seeing many butterflies in Beckley woods on the high weald a few years back so decided to revisit this location.
Photographing butterflies requires a different mindset and settings from landscape photography. Using the 70-200mm lens to zoom in from some distance away gives a very shallow DOF. You can see the Fritillary going out of focus. Ideally want to capture the butterfly as a wildscape in its environment on a fresh flower with background Bokeh.
River Rother Butterflies
Not far from Beckley woods is Peasmarsh and on the east Sussex Kent border is the river Rother in the Rother valley running from Rotherfield to Rye. Studying OS Maps online thought the River Rother would make a good Sunday morning walk in the hot July sun photographing more butterflies. Parked up at Blackwall bridge along Mackerel hill road and headed west along the river bank.
Not take long to find the butterflies sunbathing on the riverside bush and foliage. Had learnt a few lessons from photographing butterflies in Beckley woods hoping to improve my hit count this session. Chose aperture mode over manual. This means can keep switching aperture and not have to worry about shutter speed and ISO with ISO on auto. DOF is an issue with butterflies. If the butterfly is face on can use a wider aperture if more to the side or at an angle need a narrower aperture to get more DOF and focus.
Also switched to AI Servo with my finger pressed constantly on the backbutton focus. Then just kept trying to move closer and kept shooting in burst mode using the 70-200mm lens.
Noticed a dragon fly on a grass reed, auto focus though could not cope so switched to manual. This is easy to do with back button focus as just take your finger off the button and turn the lens ring until the dragon fly came into focus. Switching to manual focus was a game changer in this situation. Another problem with DLSR cameras is cannot see the histogram through the optical viewfinder. This means as the frame changes may be under or over exposing without realising. Pays to check the histogram when changing the viewpoint. Another problem with semi automatic modes like aperture priority when photographing butterflies it not always give me a fast enough shutter speed, the camera does not know what you are shooting, only you do, you can usually correct these miscalculations via exposure compensation dial. Google Photos River Rother
Pett Level Toot Rock
The river Rother trip got me thinking about other waterways close to home and decided to take a trip to Pett Level and maybe a walk along the royal military canal path and photograph more butterflies.
Exploring the footpaths around the location took me to a new viewpoint over Pett Level. The weather worn park bench makes a good foreground subject. I think every composition should have a strong subject somewhere for your eyes to rest – an anchor. On the top of hill is an old world war 2 observation post on what is known as Toot Rock.
On the top of Toot rock there were lots of Gatekeeper butterflies to try and photograph. July 2022 has been a good year for Gatekeeper butterflies seeing lots of these on my travels. Google Photos Pett Level
Guestling Wood High Weald
Another scout, another new location nearby was Guestling wood on the high weald in east Sussex. The intention again was some butterfly photography but what I am finding is discovering new landscapes.
A lone tree contrasting with the background always makes a strong landscape subject. Its important to get separation around the edges that could not manage at the top. You cant expect epic shots on your first visit to a new location. But they sow the seeds for a return visit under better lighting conditions. I did see a few butterflies on my walk through Guestling wood but unable to get a photograph of them some purple emperors. Google Photos Guestling Wood
River Brede
Another waterway close to me is the river Brede at the foot of Brede hill in East Sussex. Again butterflies were the goal but am now discovering new landscapes.
It was a cloudy July day that morning, not many butterflies, a farmer told me along the river Brede its usually teaming with them. Its a lovely walk along the river Brede. You can park at a big layby on the A28 and then its about a 50m walk down to Brede bridge and the public footpath. This footpath will take you all the way to Winchelsea or up over to Icklesham. Not get any butterflies along the river Brede that day but got some swans or a wildscape in their natural environment. Would loved to have kept walking that day, but due to injury had to turn back. But I would be back to cover the other legs of the river and the surrounding high weald hills. Google photos River Brede
Rowland Wood Nature Reserve
I often visit the Golden Cross area in East Sussex as have family living there. Was browsing OS maps online around the area and noticed a large wooded area Vert Wood almost as big as Abbot wood also nearby.
Online maps
One hot July afternoon was in the area and decided to park up at Whitesmith and walk the main public footpath through the entire woodland just to get some excersise. Not have my camera gear on me, but took a few reference shots with my mobile phone. Saw quite a few butterflies that afternoon including some white admiral that not seen before. Later was researching online the best places for butterflies in Sussex and an area of Vert wood was listed Rowland wood nature reserve and up to Park Corner Heath.
Plenty of butterflies in the woodland mostly seeing gatekeepers but manage to capture some Brimstones, Peacocks, common blues and even a little skipper.
Lots of potential for photographing butterflies in Rowland wood on the low weald in East Sussex. Rowland wood is very peaceful not see anyone else walking in the woodland. Photographing butterflies is a great excuse to get out in the July midday sun with your camera and get plenty of practice, exercise, sunshine and scouting out new landscapes. Google Photos Rowland wood
Icklesham 1066 Country Walk
I wanted to head up to the hills near Icklesham when walking along the river Brede but more than my foot could take. So the plan was to break the area down into separate sections and then walk each. For the Icklesham leg can park up at the Queens head pub and join the footpath there, time it right on the way back stop for a pint.
The views open up immediately both east to Winchelsea and west along the 1066 country walk route. Again amazed not explored this location before. It was another hot dry July day so have to thank butterfly photography for discovering these new landscapes. With the lack of rain during July the dry landscape was starting to remind me of something from southern Europe compared to the lush greens of May.
Ideally would have kept walking pass Lower Snailham and onto Doleham but would need to walk that section another day due to foot injury. From a landscape photography aspect panoramics with better lighting conditions would be the way to go, now I know it exists. Google Photos Icklesham
Lower Snailham
For this leg of the walk was looking to park up at Doleham station but tight around this area. There is a layby on the junction of Doleham hill, north lane and Fourteen Acres lane. You then walk down North lane to join the public footpaths to Lower Snailham. Need to be careful along this small stretch of narrow country lane due to cars and blind spots.
Was a cooler cloudy moody July day. The views west are impressive and could work well as a pano 3:1 during a colourful sunset. The distinctive cottage adds contrast and a focal point for the composition. But wish it was a couple of distinctive oast houses that are common in this area but never where you want to shoot them.
Down in the valley the butterflies were out and managed to capture a resting common blue. Google Photos Lower Snailham
From Udimore
Another leg of the Brede valley wanted to scout was starting from Udimore following the footpaths down to Langford’s bridge and up to where more or less I finished at Lower Snailham. You can park up near Udimore church, there is not much to see on the footpath down as covered by trees and fenced off.
Ascending the hills the other side of the River Brede there was a nice purple splash of Fireweed in the foreground, a sycamore tree in the mid ground and an orchard in the background. These scenes work late morning with a cloudy dramatic sky. A lot of contrast – was auto bracketing with just 2 exposure one normal and one under exposed for the sky. No need for an over exposed image.
Up on the hill took a hand held pano of the high weald countryside looking south to Guestling. Shows the breath taking views from up here but the image kind of lacks a strong subject or focal point – I mean a couple of Oast houses down there where Pond wood begins. Great detail in the sky though. I tried walking down into Pond wood but the footpath suddenly ends, all overgrown with brambles. That is often the case with the footpaths on the high weald in east Sussex, they are not used much and not maintained so be prepared. So Pond wood remains a mystery. Google Photos From Udimore
Broad Oak High Weald
Had to drop something off at Broad Oak in East Sussex so checking OS maps online in the location looked like a few good walks nearby. Was not dissapointed, lovely views over the high weald from Broad Oak, although first thing was overcast and dull so no light on the land.
Later during the walk the light began to break through and found a good composition with a crooked tree revealing two Oast houses in Beckley Furnace. Followed the footpaths up to Great Conster Farm, good views from here then down and back up pass the river Tillingham. Google Photos Broad Oak
Broad Oak High Wealdeness
Studying OS Maps online I wanted to do another walk from Broad Oak but taking the footpaths over the High Weald in the opposite direction. Along and off Stubb lane near Brede. I got up quite early and while putting out some rubbish noticed thick mist in the valleys of the High Weald. But by the time I reached Broad Oak it had all evaporated. Need to get up early to capture mist but need a sure thing composition and subject facing the right angle and am still scouting for that. The late July walk over the high weald from Broad Oak started well, but as is usual with this part of south east of England, like the mist the footpaths seem to evaporate. Got completely lost in woodland totally overgrown with nettles and brambles – The high wealdeness.
Some nice views over the high weald countryside in this area. Although now I think panoramas suit this landscape better rather than just a single frame. Seem to remember this post processing the images rather than in the field. Good walk over the high weald, managed to clock up over 5 miles with my foot injury including some steeps climbs. Was told ok if the pain threshold is 5/10 probably hit 6!. Google Photos Stubb Lane
End of July
So July 2022 was a good month for getting out. The good weather contributed to this although this included a few very hot days record beaters. Due to cost of petrol and foot injury covered a lot more new locations closer to home over the High Weald. Another contributing factor is not working and having lots of free time, something I will look back on when I return to work soon. Roll on August.
Check out July 2022 Landscape Photography Gallery
Check out East Sussex Landscape Photography Gallery
Check out West Sussex Landscape Photography Gallery
Check out Kent Landscape Photography Gallery