What follows is a compilation of locations visited and the best landscape photography during the month of March 2023.
Wet Weather
Since returning from Majorca mid February the weather has been very cold wet and overcast. Also on return from Majorca got a bad cold so was not well for nearly two weeks. Also during this time under pressure with work to get something finished as contract ends end of March. Consequently not been outdoors as much end of February and during March.
Tilburstow Hill Surrey
Before getting into March will just give a brief overview of a location visited in Surrey the day before my flight to Majorca in early February. As stayed in hotel at Gatwick night before so left early to scout out Tilburstow Hill close to the Surrey Hills and North Downs.
Its a nice walk around Tilburstow Hill with great views across Surrey and the North Downs. Some beautiful countryside and very peaceful. A telephoto wide angle hand held featuring mature trees during winter captures the scene.
Cuckmere Haven Dawn
After all the bad weather studying the apps looked like there was going to be a break in the thick clouds during dawn and the morning. This would coincide with low tide so decided to make a return to Cuckmere Haven hopefully to get back in front of the dramatic cliffs of the seven sisters. Had a visualisation in mind and thought I could walk to the desired location from the free carpark at Seaford. I rose at 4AM but still arrived late at Cuckmere Haven as dawn was kicking off.
To then also find that the Cuckmere river runs too deep down to the sea to cross over. Just had to shoot from the path that no longer runs down to the beach due to a collapse. So have to walk round. The other parking locations to get to the Seven Sisters are Birling Gap but that’s a long walk over the steep undulating cliffs or the country park car park which not open until sunrise. The dawn sky was magnificent, the composition a little busy. If could have got in front of those cliffs could have been a very dramatic image. With skies like this you want to double the effect with reflections and still pools of water.
NewTimber Hill Sunset
Had a visualisation in mind, that of the sun setting behind a large winter deciduous tree still stripped of it leaves. Using google maps plotted a route over the high weald then into West Sussex and the south downs.
Stopped off under Ditchling beacon. Caught a dramatic sunset at the foot of Ditchling beacon in March many years ago when first got into landscape photography. Scouted out a few new footpaths in the area and discovered some potential locations. But decided to carry on and make a return to Newtimber hill and Poynings.
Made a return to the same location on Newtimber hill and waited for golden hour to begin. This time the low side light was catching Poynings church. At the same time low cloud was coming in over Devils Dyke and the south downs clinging to the ridge. Unfortunately in front of Poynings church are some ugly modern farm storage buildings that had to be excluded limiting how the composition could be framed.
Aperture Priority
Was using the 70-200mm lens on aperture priority. I am making the switch from constantly shooting in manual to aperture priority. Setting auto ISO and a minimum shutter speed of say 250/1 with the 200mm lens. Was consistently getting sharp images properly exposed hand holding. It means only really have to consider exposure compensation when shooting and not shutter speed with a minimum set. With everything beyond infinity even at 200mm not have to worry about depth of field or focus range and could shoot with a wide open aperture or the lens sweet spot.
Panoramic Shooting
Was shooting panos hand holding with the above settings and getting good images. The clinging rolling clouds over the south downs was very atmospheric and a rare event. I got a little fixated on my current position and Poynings church, should have moved in parallel with the ridge and then would not have had to do panos. Finally I got the tripod out and set the ISO at 100. Also used a levelling base for a pano which made a big difference in terms of cropping. It can be a challenge getting the right aspect ratio with a panoramic. The composition can look a little elongated, need more practice but does overcome any lens limitations.
Always better to use a tripod especially if stationary will result in a higher quality image. But with aperture priority hand holding not a lot in it. Not get my original visualisation but a spectacular March evening on the south downs in west Sussex. I live now for these moments.
NewTimber Hill Return
The following weekend made another return to Newtimber hill. This time to scout out more the location and come back up the east side of the hill. If nothing else would be a good hike and I needed that. Parked up in a small layby opposite Devils Dyke then walked down to Poynings church and then onto Newtimber church. Could not include the churches in any compositions that included the south downs. Then up the very wet and sticky muddy path of Round hill towards Wolstonbury Hill. Have done Woltstonbury Hill before so carried onto Pycombe then up Cow Down. True to its name Cow Down has many grazing cows. Its does provide some good views south with the A23 winding below. The weather was bad, very windy and some strong showers, had to get the Gore-Tex out. Winter has not yet let go of its icy grip, spring is overdue.
On the east facing side of Newtimber hill towards West Hill provides some good views of Jack and Jill the Clayton Windmills. Maxing out with the 70-200mm les was not enough. 400mm lens would be a lot better here. Checking Photopills the sun would rise above those windmills. closeup lots of cars parked in front of Jill. Hopefully not early in the morning. On the east escarpment of Newtimber hill is some mature deciduous trees if a little stunted in height.
Decided to wait around for sunset to get my visualisation had started out with the weekend before. Unfortunately the sun disappeared behind some low clouds. Also could not get good separation of the tree from other nearby shrubs.
End of March
Work contract came to an end last day of March 2023. Was hoping to do a winter sunset tree from Roundway Hill in Wiltshire when I returned for the last day. But not to be, poor weather. Its been the wettest March in over 40 years. Not capture any daffodils so typical of the month of March. Often daffodils grow in urban areas by the side of the road. Would be good to find a clump with epic landscape behind. Lots of free time for the next couple of months at least. Have some loose plans on road trips and some travel. Roll on April and Spring.
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Check out the best landscape photography 2023 gallery