It was November 2016 and soon I would be leaving my home in west sussex to work in Gloucestershire. I had a few weeks in November to do some walking and practice some landscape photography around Sussex before moving into the unknown.
November
November comes and temperatures begin to drop, Autumn changes into winter, frosts can become common. In the softer light the last autumn leaves fall to the muddy ground as the winds grow stronger. Still November can be a beautiful month on a crisp clear cool day to go out walking and take landscape photographs.
Severn Sisters, Cuckmere Haven, east Sussex
The Severn sisters in east Sussex links Beachy head, the Birling gap and Cuckmere haven. If you have ever visited this part of the east Sussex coast one visit is just not enough. Early November and its a beautiful day, I leave late to walk the south downs escarpment from the Birling gap to Cuckmere haven hoping to catch a sunset. You dont need a guide or a map for this walk.
Just waiting for the light now as the evening progresses less and less people about which is a good thing for me.
Using a smaller aperture of the above sunset over Cuckmere haven hoping to get a starburst effect of the setting sun on the horizon. Of course a smaller aperture requires a longer exposure. I walk back to the Birling gap in the pitch black, one of the rare moments thankful for a torch in my backpack.
Slaugham, West Sussex
Slaugham in mid Sussex was not far from where I lived in Pease Pottage West Sussex. I got the walk off of IFootpath and one cloudy Saturday morning thought I would give it a whirl as so close.
One good thing about IFootpath it gives lots of local information about the walk that you might not easily find online. Like the above grave of Lord Nelsons sister.
A bit further on is an impressive if forgotten old mill pond. On such a gloomy day in November it can be hard to nail a captivating landscape photograph. But you can always practice composition as above. Wanted to include the boat house to negate the large empty spaces of the reflective water and sky. There was a deer in that field in the background but run off before I could setup.
Bolney, Wykehurst, West Sussex
Continuing with the IFootpath source of walks one bright sunny Sunday morning in November I make my way to Bolney and Wykehurst park in West Sussex.
What I love about the landscape photo above in Wykehurst park is what I love about November, bright crisp sunny mornings with excellent visibility. There is alot less pollution in the atmosphere come late autumn early winter, what helps the sharpness of the picture is no wind and a tripod of course. Bit too much polarisation in the top right corner, dont need to go all the way.
Wykehurst place manor house has featured in many feature films not least the eagle has landed. A beautiful morning spent around Bolney and Wykehurst in Sussex. The sun only lasted a few hours before the clouds and rain moved in. Why its always good to regularly check the weather on a site like the BBC.
Steyning and Chanctonbury ring
Still continuing with IFootpath but pushing further afield I return to the south downs way in west Sussex for one last walk from Steyning to Chanctonbury ring.
I was a little apprehensive on this walk, soon I would be leaving my home in Sussex and moving to Gloucestershire to work for at least the next six months. I didnt know when I would be able to return to walk and photograph the south downs.
One visit to Chanctonbury ring is never enough, the views from up there are astounding but often the light can be tricky.
Moving on
Thats it for my walks and landscape photography in November around Sussex. The month was cut short due to starting a new contract in Gloucestershire. Back to the grind stone in need of refreshing my piggy bank so I can take some more extended breaks. Oh well I would still have the weekends and I would be close to the borders of Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire, new counties of England to explore and practice my landscape photography.