July has been an interesting month for Landscape Photography and hiking. It started with more High Weald walks in East Sussex, then switching to the South Downs. This included my first camping trip to the border of West Sussex and Hampshire and then onto the North Wessex Downs and Berkshire.

Variety

Variety is the spice of life. Living near Hastings in East Sussex, you have quite a few options for landscape photography and hiking not far away. There is the coast and seascape photography stretching from Kent around to West Sussex. Inland you have the High Weald and then running from Eastbourne to Winchester the South Downs. Not far away either is the Kent and North Downs. Spoilt for choice, lots to explore.

Broad Oak, High Weald, East Sussex

My first photo walk in July was around the landscape of the High Weald near Broad Oak and Heathfield in East Sussex. I discovered this area returning from Kent while driving down the A265 and the views over the High Weald here looked promising. I arrived early around 6AM, as far as the light is concerned for this time of year that is too late.

Still hiking through an area of the High Weald called Tottingworth Park and the landscape began to open up and got my camera out to capture the morning light.

I then noticed on OS Maps online a windmill called blackdown mill just before Punnetts town. A windmill being on top of hill usually commands a good view and I was not disappointed. Although the sun was high in the sky by now, the white fluffy cumulus clouds cast interesting shadows over the farmland of the High Weald below.

Devils Dyke, South Downs, West Sussex

Feeling like a change decided to return to the South Downs with a return trip to Devils Dyke in West Sussex. Intended to walk a section of the South Downs way from Devils Dyke to Lower Beeding. Again arrived early around 6AM but still to late for the best light. Devils Dyke is very popular with many large towns nearby like Brighton. Even at this time of the morning there were lots of people around. Parking was £4 for 4 hours.

Good walk though taking me over Fulking, Edburton and Truleigh Hills to Lower Beeding and then the hike back in the beating July sunshine.

Many of the views from Devils Dyke and the South Downs way here are very picturesque and beautiful, including Ditchling and Wolstonbury to the west and Chanctonbury ring to the east. Back at the car park at Devils Dyke I was right on time at 10:15, the sky was full of para gliders and the car park overflowing. Its my plan in the future to walk the entire south downs way.

Berwick, East Sussex

Driving along the A27 I had noticed the church spire of Berwick at the foot of the South Downs between Wilmington and Bo Peep. A walk at the foot of the south downs would be different and a first. Although the top of hills can provide great views, not always the best compositions.

Parked up off road near the church at Berwick and using OS Maps online followed the footpaths round. It was not possible to get a composition of Berwick church and the hills of the south downs in the background. There is a footpath called Comp Lane or the old Coach Road that follows the foot of the South Downs pass Charleston Farmhouse and Firle.

I cut short the walk at Alciston and passed through the village. Before heading back to Berwick. It was a hot summers day in July and I not arrive early. But will return to do the walk in full pass Firle and maybe back over the south downs. Sunsets and Sunrise could be very good a long the foot of the south downs here.

Manorfarm Down, West Sussex

My first solo camping trip was to Manorfarm down just off the south downs way in West Sussex near the Hampshire border. Having invested in a lot of camping gear the intention is now to travel more around the south east of England and eventually over the UK. No more expensive hotels or Airbnb, usually you can find a campsite near your intended location for around £10 a night pitching fee. Ultimately I want to go wild camping but baby steps first.

The local farmer running the campsite recommended some great viewpoints I would not have known about otherwise. The view across the valley to Blackdown of the Surrey hills and the North Downs in the background was breathtaking.

Managed to crawl out of the tent the next morning early and return to manorfarm down and the stunning views for sunrise. Light and composition are considered the most important aspects of Landscape Photography after you have gained some technical competency. But lately I am realising the huge effort involved in just arriving at your chosen location at a given time cannot be under estimated. Camping out helps with that.

Butser Hill, South Downs, Hampshire

Butser Hill in Hampshire is the highest point on the south downs at 271m. The intention was to spend more time photographing Butser Hill but got distracted with Manorfarm down, so could only make a passing visit late morning to Butser Hill just to scout the location and put my flag down there.

Was impressed with the panoramic views from Butser Hill and the wild Marjoram that grows in this area of the South Downs, It puts Aldbury Knowers on the Chilterns to shame. Still the light is just too bright to get a good shot this time of day.

Beacon Hill, North Wessex Downs, Hampshire

I extended the camping trip to my first visit to the North Wessex Downs bordering Hampshire and Berkshire. I was camping at Oakley Farm for a couple of nights, not far from intended locations but would need to drive.

The first night on the North Wessex Downs was on top of Beacon Hill Hampshire with remains of an ancient hill fort. For the sunset I took multiple exposures, exposing for the sky and then the ground. The intention was to blend them together post processing in Photoshop. Prefer this method to using filters.

Walbury Hill, North Wessex Downs, Berkshire

I not make sunrise the next morning with the intended location being Walbury Hill on the North Wessex Downs and my first visit into the county of Berkshire in south east England. The reason for not getting up early was it was an overcast morning so not much point. Walbury Hill is the highest hill in the south east of England at 297m high.

Around midday there was a transition from thick cloud to sunny spells spotlighting the farmland below. The intention was to return to Walbury Hill for a sunset shoot. I just sat on the side of Walbury hill in the sunshine for a couple of hours admiring the views without a care in the world.

Pilot Hill, North Wessex Downs, Hampshire

My last night on the North Wessex downs was going to be a sunset shoot on Pilot Hill in Hampshire. Pilot Hill is the highest hill in Hampshire at 286m. Rain clouds were moving in from the south as sunset approached over Pilot Hill.

Again multiple exposures for the highlights and shadows then blending using luminosity masks in Photoshop and I am happy with the result. Tonight I would be testing camping out in the rain before heading home in the morning which due to the weather wont be doing another sunrise shoot.

The End of July

So that wraps up July Landscape Photography I did return to manorfarm end of July but will do a separate post on that as these monthly compilations are getting lengthy. Made a couple of breakthroughs with camping out and exposure blending. Im still not working mostly due to Covid and a general lack of will. Lockdown has been eased and good to have a pint in a county pub again especially after a long walk. Although threats of a second wave are on the horizon, regarding life work balance need to make some adjustments not ruling out early retirement.