April 2024 and the bluebell spring season was in full swing. From April 2023 had made a mental note this year wanted to visit Kings Wood on the Kent Downs for the first time. Kings wood is renowned for its bluebell woodland displays during springtime.

Bluebell Location

As a landscape photographer its good to revisit locations but also explore new ones. Having been an avid landscape photographer for over 8 years now, within approximately an hours drive of my home in east Sussex can still discover great new locations for photography and hiking, Kings Wood on the Kent downs being one such place.

I have mostly shot bluebell woodland around the east Sussex and the high weald so fancied a change from revisiting these locations. I have visited a few locations on the Kent Downs before but not Kings wood.

Blue Hour Bluebells

Late April and sunset is around 8pm now. After much rainfall the weather looked reasonable for the weekend ahead. Decided after work to make my first visit to Kings Wood Friday evening. I not know the area whatsoever and Kings wood is a large forest. With OS Maps on my mobile would not get lost but not know where the best bluebell locations were. Google maps shows where the main carpark is on White Hill near Challock. Nearby it also shows where the main concentration of the bluebell woods are towards Molash. So that was the direction I was heading on my first visit and just react to whatever presents itself.

From the carpark was a little underwhelming and was wondering if I would come away with a keeper. But as you get closer to the main location carpets of bluebells open up in front of you. Its tempting to point the camera at everything and shoot. But I was looking for order within the chaos. A footpath, mature tree trunks, overhanging vibrant green leaves and not least some sunlight! Towards the end of the evening after the sun had set into blue hour I found my composition but no light. Was handholding, strong winds and a high ISO. I knew I would return, was primarily scouting out Kings wood this first evening.

Golden Hour Bluebells Kings Wood

The following day returned to Kings Wood on the Kent Downs for more indulgent bluebell photography. Arrived late afternoon as was planning a big hike from the carpark down to the North Downs way then back up to previous nights location for golden hour, that was the plan.

Sunrise

I would have liked to rise for some sunrise photography I think the light is more subtle for woodland photography in the early morning. Its extra hard to get up for sunrise photography if you been out the night before and a long drive. Next year I think I will stay in the Kings wood area for a long weekend. To rise at 3AM I need to have a specific composition in mind and the weather needs to favourable.

So scouting out compositions is better during daylight hours and using Photopills to pinpoint where the sun will rise and set. No substitute for being there and observing how the light interacts with the elements but still a great tool.

At the far end of the North Downs way in Kings wood got a little distracted with a patch of woodland with carpets of bluebells. The Beech trees were quite mature and well spaced.

Still the composition lacked something, overhanging vibrant green leaves maybe there was too many trees and no well defined footpath. The plan now was to head back to the scene I found on my first night exploring Kings Wood.

Distractions

On the long footpath back towards Molash I got distracted once again with carpets of bluebells and beech trees catching the golden sunlight as the sun began to set to the west north.

Again just handholding with the 70-200mm lens that I was using exclusively. At the telephoto end the scene gets compressed and the bluebells look thicker. Wide angle not work for me with these woodland scenes, I want to fill the frame 100% with interest. Another essential element to seek out is the dark background, cutting out the sky as the brightest parts will become distractions. I would like to return to this location and get it more technically correct, problem is with a telephoto lens is depth of field is small if not beyond infinity. With strong winds and low light under the forest canopy requires a faster shutter speed. After this distraction it was a physical slog to get to the first location that I missed the best light by a few minutes! Oh well would just have to return again to Kings Wood. I should have just stayed put and worked the scene and got the tripod out.

Third Visit Kings Wood Bluebells

Decided to return for a third visits to Kings wood on the Kent downs this time no distractions with a specific composition in mind. When I go out in this context is often when I get the best landscape photographs.

Setup with the tripod with the 70-200mm lens around 100mm and the sun setting to the right of the frame. Was just a game of patience now waiting for the best light to hit the scene. Again very windy which is not ideal for shooting foliage the light was popping in and out as the sun skipped between clouds. Impossible to focus stack with the light constantly changing and the foliage moving. To capture the best light fitted a shutter release rather than using a 2 second delay, so could observe the scene and just press the shutter release when the light looked good without disturbing the camera setup. Consequently focus was set on the main tree and overhanging branch on the right with a small aperture of F11 but a higher ISO.

A vertical composition worked better cutting out some of the busy sides and elongating the beech tree trunks catching the last of the golden hour light. Love the path meandering through the scene taking you deep into the bluebell forest very enchanting. With the hilly countryside and looking down into a valley it rises the other side cutting out any bright distracting sky. A minute before and the scene was a little bright a minute later and it fell into shadow. Being on the side of a hill there was still 30 minutes to sunset but shows the importance of light and timing.

Kings Wood Return

A wonderful weekend exploring the bluebells of Kings wood on the Kent downs, a beautiful location for hiking and photography. Next year’s bluebell season the plan is to stay in the location for a long weekend and get the best out of sunrise.