March 2021 Photography
Into the month of March and the country is still in lockdown. Still managed to get outdoors and capture some cool landscape and seascape photography mostly around East Sussex but with a venture across the border into Kent. March is a transitional month, things begin to change as winter turns into spring. What follows is a compilation of the best locations visited and photographs taken during March 2021.
Beachy Head Sunrise
Made another return to Beachy Head on the coast in East Sussex. This time wanted to capture the lighthouse at sunrise from the clifftop but facing west. Not have an exact composition in mind but would generally be in the area of the RAF Bomber Command Memorial. There is various car parks along Beachy Head Road and not have to pay until after 8AM.
Vertical compositions were more striking than landscape orientation. The clouds overhead were capturing some of the dawn colours.
Waited for the low directional sunlight to break through the clouds and highlight the lighthouse and cliff face of Beachy Head. Was using a new full frame camera for the first time, definitely seeing a difference compared to the Canon 80D crop sensor.
Abbots Wood East Sussex
During the first half of March been having some nice sunny weather and high pressure. For a change and to get ready for spring decided to head inland to some woodland on the low weald Abbots Wood in East Sussex near Polgate.
Using OS Maps on my mobile headed to the weir in the centre of Abbots wood hoping to find some interest. Abbots wood is popular with dog walkers, joggers etc but not much for the landscape photographer. Although there were areas a little off the beaten track that could be good for bluebells during spring, so shall return to check them out.
On the drive home from Abbots wood took some country lanes to include some scouting of the area and stopped off at a little hamlet called Monken Pyn. Managed to capture a shot of some spring daffodils with nesting crows in the background, two elements that are unique to March.
High Weald Sunset
With March well under way and the good weather continuing headed inland to scout the high weald for a sunset. With sunrises now occurring so early switching to sunsets.
Finding a good sunset composition is proving difficult considering where the sun sets compared to where it rises. Often the best shots are side or front lit during golden hour via the low directional light of the sun. So it was with some typical high weald woodland and farmland near Stonegate in East Sussex. More walking and scouting required here.
Fire Hills Sunrise Hastings
This was a first, getting up early for a March sunrise on a work day. The location though was nearby, the Fire Hills in Hastings Country Park near Fairlight.
A vertical orientation was the better shot as only empty space to the sides. Shooting portrait or vertical is made so much more easier with an L-Bracket.
After sunrise, scouted out the location more and found some better compositions. So may return to the Fire Hills one bright sunny morning, was hoping for something more spectacular.
Friston Sunset
End of the week, Friday evening, desperately wanted to get out and attempt another March sunset. Chose an area of the south downs near the edge of Friston. Along some footpaths not walked before. Should provide good views of the March sun setting out over Cuckmere Haven and beyond.
The best foreground interest could find was some dead branches and mole hills that had become part of the landscape. The sunset was lacklustre considering the night before there had been some brilliant skies with mammatus clouds. To increase your chances of getting something special just have to increase the times you get outdoors. Hard to predict.
Hope All Saints Church Romney Marsh Kent
The trouble with staying out the night before for a sunset, makes it more difficult to get up for a sunrise the next day. So had a lay in and decided to try another sunset. Today, something different, across the border into Kent and the ruined church of Hope All Saints on the Romney Marsh.
The biggest problem with photographing Hope All Saints ruined church is its on private land and all the distractions to try and exclude. Bold, I took a walk along the fence and got as close as I could. In this instance just took my camera, hand holding with 24-70 mm lens. What looks like a couple of hawks put in an appearance around the ruins.
St Thomas Becket Church Romney Marsh Kent
You really cant expect great images the first time you visit a new location. This trip into Kent and the churches on the Romney Marsh was more a scout and the hope would capture something good with maybe a sunset. From Hope All Saints took a drive to St Thomas Becket Church also on the Romney Marsh near Fairfield, about 15 minute drive.
Once again the setting sun was hidden behind the clouds. Not having much luck with sunsets so far during March. To compensate some storm clouds with a pink afterglow moved into the background along with some grazing sheep around the grounds of St Thomas Becket church.
The sheep created a problem as the light receded due to the need to avoid any motion blur. Raising the ISO was the only option. As darkness fell two swans swam into the scene. A very photogenic location and shall return.
Battle High Weald Walk
Sometimes its just nice to remove the pressure of capturing a great composition. To just go out for a walk in the sunshine, take a compact camera along and include some scouting. So it was a sunny Sunday morning in mid March where took some new footpaths over the high weald starting from Battle.
Followed the footpaths down to Beech Mill Farm. From Beech Mill there is much high weald woodland to explore leading up to Netherfield. Now I would love to live in that house on the hill.
Hope Gap Sunset
Another attempt at a sunset, but back down to the coast and a return to Hope Gap at Seaford Head close to Cuckmere Haven. The angle was better at Hope Gap as could include the chalk cliffs of Seaford Head with the setting sun.
With low tide there is lots of seaweed which would just create a large dark area of empty space. So searched for some rock pools to include in the composition. The best moment was when the light from the setting sun was still catching the seaweed and cliff face. Had to take multiple exposures and blend using HDR in Lightroom. Problems with facing the sun is sunflare. I could not effectively shoot with the sun behind me of the Seven Sisters due to long shadows cast.
Long after the sun had set the sky turned orange with some deep reds. Switched to my 200mm lens and got some shots of the Rampion wind farm off the east Sussex coast.
Wadhurst High Weald Woodland
Mostly another grey March day ahead for the official first day of spring, so no need to get up for dawn. Still like to get out early though arriving at the location by 7AM latest to miss the crowds and maybe catch the morning light. Decided on a hike and scout around the high weald woodland from Wadhurst down to Bewl Water.
Switched to the 70-200mm telephoto lens in the field. Early morning and the hedgerows and trees were alive with birds. Actually got a shot of a woodpecker. Learnt quite a bit about the 70-200mm lens and got more comfortable with it handholding. Problem with autofocus though so simply switched to manual
But what really stood out that day were crops of wild Daffodils in woodland near Bewl Water. Had to switch back to wide angle 16-35mm lens and focus stack to capture the daffodils. Problem was there was some wind so had to open up aperture and raise ISO to get an acceptable shutter speed.
Camber Sands Moonset Sunrise
That time of the month again towards the end of March when there is a full moon setting around sunrise. Initially the plan was to goto Beachy head but turned around and chose Camber Sands instead. No time to spare on the beach at Camber Sands, 2 minutes later the moon had faded behind the sand dunes.
You can park up at Broomhill sands for free and take a walk down to Camber and the sand dunes. Not have to wait long for the sun to rise to the east.
The sun rising further to the east than expected. To the right can just make out Dungeness power station. Really wanted to be amongst the sand dunes for both the moonset and sunrise, especially with the moon this low. As often with sunrise do not arrive with enough time to spare. But scouted a good location for when the spectacle happens again.
Seven Sisters Sunset
Last weekend of March and getting itchy feet that afternoon having already been out early for a sunset at Camber Sands. Was visualising a sunset from the cliff edge just up from Birling Gap rather than down on the beach. Trying to predict the weather conditions with a new app called Windy. Impressed but cant rely on it 100%. Just got to get up and get outside.
From using Photopills could see the sun was now beginning to set further west as the days get longer. In fact, the clocks spring forward tonight. The plan was to find a location where the composition included the cliff face of the Seven Sisters and the setting sun. The sunset was not all that though, made a brief appearance then disappeared behind some low clouds. High tide could be better.
The Mountain, Fairlight Sunrise
A lunchtime walk revealed the mountain viewpoint in Fairlight as a potential for a sunrise shoot. Its not far from home so not had to rise too early and what with the clocks going forward. This time arrived with plenty of time, but even within a small area was still searching around for the best composition.
On approach had the midrange 24-70mm lens attached, zero wind. To avoid empty space in the foreground would need to max out at 70mm, so switched to the 70-200mm telephoto and got intimate with the sunrise. Auto bracketed 3 shots 2 stops apart and merged using Lightroom HDR. The last dawn of March. Love dawn, so serene and peaceful.
March Summary
Current work contract terminates the end of March. Very likely to be renewed. But what landscape photographer or person who loves the outdoors wants to work? One reason is money. And money can buy photography equipment. I finally moved to full frame with a Canon 5D Mk4. Now not buy new, got it second hand, half price on Ebay from a reputable dealer with a shutter count just over 20K.