August 2024 has been a month of dynamic weather and breath-taking landscapes, offering countless opportunities to capture the beauty of the changing seasons. From the dramatic storm clouds over Butts Brow to the vibrant fields of sunflowers and poppies near Woodingdean, each location presented its own unique challenges and rewards. My camera and I journeyed through misty mornings and golden sunsets, always in pursuit of the perfect shot.

The highlight of the month was undoubtedly my time spent in Ashdown Forest, where the heather was in full bloom, transforming the landscape into a sea of purple. Whether battling the elements or waiting patiently for the light to be just right, this month’s adventures have not only sharpened my skills but also deepened my appreciation for the natural beauty that surrounds us. Join me as I reflect on these August days, full of discovery, challenges, and the simple joys of landscape photography.

Butts Brow Storm

August 2024 started with thunderstorms during daylight hours. I heard it from my home over the high weald near Robertsbridge. But analysing its trajectory using weather apps like Windy I decided to head to Butts Brow on the south downs.

On top of Butts Brow some impressive storm clouds over the high weald and the east Sussex countryside. I was excited about capturing my first streaks of lightning during daylight hours.

I continued to study the weather apps. It now looks like the main storm was going to miss this corner of the South Downs. I decided the odds were against me and packed up. I should have headed to where the storm was happening rather than where I predicted it would occur. The midges had a feast on the hillside. Now using a new repellent called Smidge which is highly recommended.

Woodingdean Sunflowers

Being a member of social media photography groups on Facebook can be a great source of current events. You can find out what is happening and where in your local area. This was the case with a sunflower field. It was on the outskirts of Woodingdean on the south downs just outside Brighton, East Sussex.

I arrived at the sunflowers field one misty August morning to scout it out. A nice display of sunflower facing the rising sun if it were not obscured by clouds. Had to work with the telegraph pole running through the field and the morning mist simplifies the background.

Woodingdean Poppies

After exploring the Woodingdean sunflowers. Turned round and headed east to where I had earlier shot the Phacelia in July. On Butts Brow, I met a couple of fellow landscape photographers. They told me the Phacelia fields were now full of poppies.

Poppies everywhere between Woodingdean and Rottingdean a few weeks earlier there were none. They were a little pass their peak, wish I had visited a week or two earlier. So lesson here is poppies are not exclusive to the month of June. Fields of poppies can ‘pop’ up into August.

The best poppy compositions I found were down in the valley facing north. This positioning would not include the sun during sunset or sunrise. But maybe morning side light would work well.

Agility

There was a strong wind down in the valley, I was hand holding using a high ISO. I would rather have the agility of handholding and a high ISO of 1000. It is better than the rigidity of a tripod and an ISO of 100. There are so many possible compositions with these types of landscapes. You need to experiment by getting down low and up high. To help frame the composition I can lean ahead and bend at the knees using live view.

Woodingdean Poppies Return

I returned to the Woodingdean poppies the next morning. It was not quite dawn. I arrived a few hours earlier than the day before. The early morning light was not as good as the day before.

Was using a tripod this time and the wide angle lens 16-35mm. Getting in closer to the poppy flower heads which were facing the right way. Again, getting too low though starts to cut out the midground. This morning the sky was not so interesting. The white fluffy cumulus clouds in a blue sky works well. They blend beautifully with a field of poppies stretching out into the background.

I scouted out the poppy fields between Woodingdean and Rottingdean on the south downs. I checked out other possible compositions. The valley shot was my favourite.

Warren Hill Hay Bales

Postings on social media photography groups were the inspiration for this trip. Decided to visit Warren Hill on the south downs near Beachy Head. Nothing more typical of August than hay bales and the summer harvest.

I did a recce this morning starting at Wilmington Hill. Then I went onto Cuckmere Country Park. I passed Birling Gap and Beachy Head. Finally, I arrived at Warren Hill, my ultimate destination. There were no hay bales at the other locations. I should have headed straight to Warren Hill. The morning light was quite dramatic, and I missed the best of it.

The hay bales are in a private field and the compositions around the edge are not optimal. In the field provides an interesting background including Belle Tout lighthouse, the coast and some gentle rolling hills. Its a big field and there are 100s of hay bales. Finding the best composition was like being in a maze. Waiting for the right light required some patience. It also involved lining up the hay bales to include some separation between them and depth.

Beachy Head Foggy Sunrise

The weather apps had been predicting mist and fog for a few days and they were spot on. I returned to Warren Hill. I hoped to capture the hay bales down to Belle Tout lighthouse in more dramatic light and conditions. But the fog was too thick and no visibility. It would not clear for a few hours so change of plan.

Headed to Beachy Head to hopefully capture the sunrise through the mist and fog facing east. Given the conditions would have been better to head to Beachy Head earlier but now I know.

Ashdown Forest Heather

This August, I embarked on a captivating journey through the heather-clad landscapes of Ashdown Forest, where the vibrant purple hues of blooming heather transformed the heathland into a photographer’s paradise. Over several days, I explored this enchanting landscape, each visit revealing new perspectives and compositions. From the ethereal morning mists to the golden hour’s warm embrace, the lone Scots pines stood as striking focal points against the sweeping views of the Weald, creating scenes that were both breath-taking and serene.

One particularly memorable moment was capturing the first rays of sunrise over a sea of heather, where the soft light painted the landscape in warm, ethereal tones. My quest for the perfect shot led me to the hidden corners of the forest, where I found peace and inspiration in the natural beauty surrounding me. Despite challenges like losing gear and navigating tricky light conditions, these experiences were both rewarding and creatively inspiring, deepening my connection to this historic landscape.

End of August

That wraps up August 2024, now looking forward to September and the coming of Autumn. The long hot days of summer come to an end although the heat can continue into September. Not a fan of the heat. What follows is a bullet point list of tips from being outdoors with the camera during August 2024.

• Head to where the storm is happening rather than where you anticipate it will be heading.
• If your going to sit in long grass waiting for some event apply plenty of Smidge.
• Keep up to date with what is being posted on social media photography groups for new locations to visit.
• Fields of Poppies can occur in early August not just the month of June.
• When there are many possible compositions may be better to remain agile handholding the camera with a higher ISO when low light.
• With fields of crops changing perspective getting down low, up high using live view can reveal more quickly the best compositions
• With flowers try to get the flower head facing you for more visual impact
• When photographing hay bales try to include some close and others further away for more Depth
• When photographing hay bales try to keep each bale separate so they do not overlap.
• With any wide angle shots want them to converge on something interesting in the background.
• Be aware of the colour shifts that occur during different times of the day especially around golden hour when photographing heather.
• If zooming in to condense a scene be aware of potential focus blur in your image. Compensate by focusing on the subject, focus stacking or check the hyperfocal distance.
• When scouting for a focal point try to isolate lone trees on the horizon with only sky behind and the tree not overlapping with anything.