Landscape Photography during the month of November mostly consisted of Seascapes along the East Sussex coast and some walks inland over the High Weald to try and capture the last of the Autumn colours. What follows is a compilation of the best landscape photography during November.
November Transition
November is a transitional month, a transition from autumn to winter. It can be wet and gloomy with fog. Towards the end of November there can be a drop in temperature requiring a change in clothing. Days are shorter, sunrises much later and sunsets earlier.
Working Full Time
During November I am now working full time, so could not get out as much as I would like especially when there is a break or change in the weather. But working during the week, makes you value your weekends more and make more effort to get outside. Landscape Photography is an expensive hobby too and love new gear.
Hastings Red Dawn
With working full time, some mornings I was getting up early to just get out walking. Early November the forecast was fog and decided to head to a woodland park with my compact camera. On the drive there, the dawn sky was on fire so continued to the coast where there would be a clear view of the spectacle.
Rushing around on the seafront of Hastings missed the best of the brilliant red sky. Camera was on the wrong settings but still managed to capture the brilliant colours.
Mary Stanford Boathouse Dawn
Was hoping for a repeat of that red dawn sky when I visited Rye to photograph some seascapes with the Mary Stanford boathouse being the main focal point.
A few rookie compositional mistakes made that morning in November on the coast of Rye. But it was a beautiful morning, lots of sunshine after sunrise and a nice walk along the vast beach during low tide.
Bewl Water Scout
It was a foggy November morning when decided to do a bike scout around the perimeter of Bewl Water reservoir on the border of East Sussex and Kent. Lots of exercise and lots of compositions shooting on my compact camera.
Been doing lots more scouting using my compact camera, lightweight backpack and mountain bike. Bewl Wood near Wadhurst was a place would like to return.
Darwell Wood High Weald
Needed to get out for a scouting walk one wet weekend afternoon in November. There was a break in the weather and Darwell Wood on the High Weald in East Sussex looked interesting on OS Maps.
Darwell is a nice woodland area high on a hill. A few viewpoints open up but not do them justice and should have shot panoramic. Still it was a good walk and scout and will return to cover more of the area.
On the drive back, predicted a rainbow due to the mix of sunshine and rain. Sure enough it happened and pulled over by Netherfield. The rainbow disappeared but captured some dramatic light.
Peacehaven Cliffs
Mid November and a first visit to Peacehaven for some seascape photography along the cliffs to Newhaven. The weather forecast was wind rain and clouds but with a few breaks, potentially giving rise to some dramatic light.
A scout along the cliffs but took along full photography kit including new Benro Mach 3 tripod. Amazing I have not visited this part of the east Sussex coast before. Took a drive to Seaford after and scouted Seaford Head.
Southborough, Castle Hill Kent
Another area on the High Weald on my todo list to scout was Castle Hill in Kent beside the A21. After studying OS Maps online, nearest parking was at Southborough Common. It was a thick foggy morning end of November, visibility low. Scouting a new location can often result in little reward for lots of effort. With full kit, I should have at least got camera out as can always take some hand held shots when compositions present themselves. But took many with mobile phone which you can see on Google Photos.
On arrival at Castle Hill its mostly private land with some threatening signs to keep off. I followed the footpaths round past Castle Hill wood. And then under the cover of thick fog trespassed onto private land to check out the views. There used to be a ancient fort here.
Even when compositions dont present themselves you learn lots by just being outside and observing the weather conditions. It was spooky in Castle Hill wood, you knew not many people have ventured this far. Any moment a moody landowner would suddenly appear and manhandle me! But potentially there are some great views here north over the Kent and North downs. I should have waited. The sun was breaking through and then it not take long for the fog to evaporate.
Back on Southborough common I actually got my camera out for the first time to capture the last days of Autumn over the high weald woodland. The fog had completely gone now and realised I had missed the best conditions potentially concealed within Castle Wood. But now knew what to expect if I should return.
Seaford Head to Hope Gap
Dragged myself out of bed the last days of November for a first visit to Seaford Head to capture a sunrise, just in time. The weather forecast was fog but on arrival the conditions on the coast were perfect for a dawn sunrise.
After sunrise was over took a hike towards Cuckmere haven to then discover Hope Gap. Again first time walked this area. Light was not optimal on arrival at Hope Gap but intend to dedicate a trip here during sunrise at low tide.
Bexhill Sunrise
On the very last day of November I visited Bexhill beachfront for a dawn walk taking in a sunrise. Took along my compact camera in case any good compositions this time of morning became present. The moon was setting to the west before sunrise and there was some dramatic cloud formations in the purple skies above.
I took one or two shots with my compact to then realise the card was full. So just thought oh well practice taking some compositions with the mobile phone. At the time it not even occur to me to just free up some space on the memory card, it had all been previously backed up. Such a rookie mistake with such good morning light.
End Of November
Can get some dramatic skies during November both at sunrise and sunset. With sunrise much later can either get up later or travel a lot further. Would have liked to have got out for some sunsets but working around this time during the week was not possible. The autumn colours can be extremely vivid in woodland during November with fog adding atmosphere. November is a great month for landscape and seascape photography.