May 2021 for the most part was wet and cool, more like what we should have had through April. The bluebells bloomed late and spent a lot of May in woodland on the High Weald. What follows is a compilation of the best landscape photography during the month of May 2021.

Telham Hill Bluebells

The first trip of May was a return to the woodlands almost to the day on Telham Hill High Weald East Sussex.

Compared to a year ago, things were different in the woodland. This time last year the wild garlic was in full bloom. This year the wild garlic was only just beginning to bloom.

This year I scouted the full woodland on Telham Hill. At one end the woodland was private and fenced off. Woodland this time of year is so enchanting. You have a good month during April and May to photograph spring woodlands and bluebells at their best.

Abbots Wood Bluebells Arlington

During May the scouting of woodland continued to capture my best bluebells shot so far. On the low weald near Arlington, Abbots Wood is suppose to be good for Bluebells.

I did find a good patch of woodland near Abbots wood with carpets of bluebells. This area I intended to return to in better light. Nearby is Arlington bluebell walks. I scouted the edge of this woodland but is private and have to pay to go inside. Its very popular during May and on weekends with over 500 visitors a day. Better to visit during the week.

Bluebell Hill Kent

I got up late one morning and really needed to get outside and outdoors. I decided to go on a drive into Kent and scout out a few new areas.

The first location I stopped off at was Castle Hill viewpoint near Brenchley in Kent. Not realising I have been here before. Castle Hill viewpoint is where the High Weald ends. May is a good month for photographing Rapeseed fields.

I then continued onto Bluebell hill on the North downs in Kent. This is a popular area as near some major towns. The footpaths are well trodden. Had a good walk along the Kent downs but not capture anything spectacular.

Vinehall Wood High Weald

The May bluebell hunt continues. There was more woodland to scout close to home so took a visit to Vinehall Wood on the high weald. I have briefly covered this area before and noted it was good for Bluebells.

It was a wet day in May. Capturing a good bluebell shot was proving hard and challenging. Switched to telephoto with raindrops on the bluebells bulbs.

I could only find patches of bluebells in Vinehall woods. Some nice areas of woodland with beech trees and open areas rather than the usual chaos woodland presents. I had an image in mind. Carpets of bluebells rich in colour, in amongst mature woodland and a sunstar breaking through the trees. Seen many like this online and wanted something similar of my own.

Return to Vinehall Wood

I returned to Vinehall wood the next morning to cover an area of woodland not walked before. Found a spot of woodland and managed to get the sunstar effect through the tall trees. But the sun lower in the sky would have been better.

But the patches of bluebells on the woodland floor were not enough. Really wanted a carpet and strong splash of blue and lilac. So pushed further into the forest.

A little off the beaten track the bluebells were getting thicker and took a panoramic. Further along I more or less found what I was looking for. Thick carpet of bluebell woodland.

Although the light is not brilliant, Actually got a better shot with my mobile phone. A good composition is so much better with good light.

Made a note to return to this spot. Another element I wanted to include in my ultimate bluebell shot was some early morning mist. But the bluebell compositions were getting better, the elements coming together. All this woodland scouting was beginning to pay off. I had one or two more weeks to try and capture the bluebells in their prime.

Bluebell Sunset Abbots Wood

Made a return mid May to that patch of bluebell woodland in Abbots wood. Hopefully I would find a composition with a carpet of bluebells and the sun setting through the trees.

And finally I think I found it. Carpets of bluebells on the woodland floor, the sunset through the trees, even a fallen tree trunk in the foreground. Now this was technically challenging as multiple exposures for the panoramic, multiple exposure for the high dynamic range of light and another set of exposures due to needing to focus stack. All then blended post processing using a combination of Lightroom and Photoshop. Happy with the result, the only element missing is some morning mist. Felt now had got my bluebell image and had a poster image for May 2021.

Darwell high weald woodland

May continues and maybe I could find more woodland bluebell compositions on the High Weald in East Sussex. Made a return to Darwell wood. It was another one of those wet and windy days in May but with some breaking sunlight through the clouds. Sometimes you can get spectacular lighting conditions during these weather conditions including rainbows, not the time to stay home.

The green colours of spring are so vibrant and lush. One problem with May is sunrise is so early now and sunset late. Was having a problem getting out during the best lighting conditions, so just went out whenever.

During this hike through Darwell happened across the temple in Brightling park which I have visited before. Its private land so needed the telephoto to steal a shot with those spots of sunlight through the clouds catching the temple roof.

Mountfield high weald woodland

The end of May is approaching, May is a transitional month, soon spring will give way to summer. The bluebell season is coming to end, there cant be more than a week left to get another good composition of bluebell woodland. I return to high weald woodland near Mountfield, again been to Mountfield before, the plan was to scout areas of the forests not covered on previous walks.

Ventured a little into private woodland and found a few good compositions, one of which included some wild garlic which was now also in full bloom. I waited patiently here for some sunlight to break through the clouds and trees to highlight the flowers on the ground.

Newhaven Lighthouse stormy seas

Then for something different, it was a very stormy day in May, too windy for bluebells. For a first, headed out in the storm to Newhaven lighthouse. Hoping to catch the waves crashing into the sea wall and lighthouse. Newhaven lighthouse makes a great subject with the stormy waters creating lots of drama.

Quite a few other seascape photographers on the beach on the ground at Newhaven when I arrived. I joined them fixing the 70-200mm lens. The tide was coming in now and thought the high waters would create more drama. High shutter speed was required, bit like sports photography.

Wanted to try different compositions, so climbed up the cliff a little to capture a shot from there. I like the way it shows the path within the seawall leading to the lighthouse, but not sure about the horizon being above the lighthouse and cutting through it halfway.

Stuck around just before sunset hoping to catch some low golden light catching the crests of the crashing waves. What I not realise at the time with less light my shutter speed was a lot slower now and was getting motion blur in the water even at 150/1 sec. But like the effect. Too windy for a tripod, but maybe could have used as an aid to hand-holding. Looking forward to the next storm. Wearing the right clothing is essential. Iv seen some photos during storms of Newhaven lighthouse taken during low tide where they were able to walk out further and get Seaford head in the background behind the lighthouse. Would like to try that next time.

Wolstonbury Hill sunset south downs

Visited Wolstonbury Hill in West Sussex a few years ago now. Have always wanted to return, on a different month and time of day. Was visiting relatives close by so to kill two birds with one stone took my camera gear and planned an end of May sunset shoot from Wolstonbury hill on the south downs.

Not far from the hustle and bustle of the A23 you can be the only soul on top of Wolstonbury hill enjoying the views all around. Composition was a little difficult as down in the bottom right is a chalk quarry and wanted to exclude from the frame.

Behind me the sun was setting to the west. Changed from wide angle to telephoto to capture the sun setting behind the low clouds. Not much in the way of foreground interest though. Made the mistake of packing away my camera gear during blue hour. On the walk back could have got the shape of Wolstonbury hill in the foreground and the sun setting on its crest. But that’s the way it goes, on each trip you discover new compositions worth making a repeat visit for.