Come October and starting to think about woodland and those autumn colours. October got off to a good start with a road trip to Somerset. This was then followed by some autumn walks over the High Weald. What follows is a compilation of the best landscape photography during October 2021.

October Road Trip Somerset

October 2021 and my work contract got extended for 3 months until Christmas. But took a 2 week break which was to include a photography road trip to Somerset.

Although October this road trip was less about autumn and more about the Mendip Hills, Exmoor, Somerset coast and the Quantock Hills. Love doing these road trips, exploring now counties and locations. Such a great way to fill your time especially if it includes landscape photography. In normal times would have likely gone abroad. The Covid pandemic has taught me can have a great time much closer to home.

October Butterflies High Weald

Good thing with not working, when the weather is fine mid week you can get outside as opposed to being bound to your desktop. There was some fine weather during October 2021.

Took a few local walks over the High Weald in East Sussex just to stretch the legs. Took my compact camera with me just in case an opportunity should present itself. To my surprise, autumn butterflies were out enjoying the late warm sunshine too.

Brightling High Weald Scout

As October progressed wanted to scout more the woodlands of the High Weald in East Sussex. Was hoping to catch those autumn colours. Although for 2021 autumn seems to have come late, still the woodland trees were very green.

Had planned this walk from Brightling into woodlands in Burwash using OS Maps online. Although covered these locations before thought this particular path I had not. But on location realised had visited before.

Mostly a dull overcast October day. For a few moments the sun popped out behind the clouds lighting up the trees and landscape, this made all the difference. When scouting carrying full kit is not ideal as want to be agile and lightweight, but at the same time want to be able to take a quality landscape photo if the opportunity presents itself.

Burwash October Colours

Returned to Burwash to scout more of the woodland in this location. Some of the more picturesque woodland can be found on the high weald around Burwash. No doubt Rudyard Kipling enjoyed taking walks here.

If you can fill the Unforgiving minute

Another very overcast and dull October day, no light. At the end of the scout came across a pond with lots of autumn colours, that was the best composition of the day. Although the high weald is a designated AONB I find it hard to photograph and frame good compositions. But do enjoys walks there.

Witherenden Hill, East Sussex

Witherenden Hill north of Burwash looked an interesting area of the high weald to scout. It would include hiking through some woodland not been to before as well as including a trig point.

Another dull overcast October day, no light. This time I had gone lightweight just taking my compact camera with me. A few compositions did open up but with no light they not work. Problem with the compact camera not have much on the telephoto end of the fixed lens. Some of the best high weald landscape photos are more intimate, at the higher end of the telephoto lens end. Walking through Batts wood a deer crossed my path, the only composition worth sharing from that day. These scouting trips though are always productive, as always on my todo list until I have done them.

Sissinghurst Castle, Kent

Been meaning to do this walk around Sissinghurst castle in Kent for a few years now. Not until mid morning did the rain stop, the clouds clear and some October sunshine breakthrough. Just after this I arrived in Frittenden to park and begin my scout from there.

The AA walking guide suggested the landscape was dotted with Oast houses. Right out of Frittenden had to get my camera out. I learnt my lesson from my previous October autumn scouting trips over the High Weald. I had come up with a compromise regarding my camera kit to carry when scouting a new location.

Rather than 60L backpack, canon 5D MK4 and holy trinity of lenses, went back to carrying 32L backpack with canon 80D and single zoom 18-200mm lens, even my travel tripod. This setup gives me a full focal range and good quality images and so much lighter. It also means get to put this equipment to good use. Got some good shots at the telephoto end of the lens, this is the time to switch on image stabilisation rather than at the wide angle end.

High Weald Landscape Trail Goudhurst

Again studying OS maps online the high weald landscape trail from Cranbrook to Goudhurst looked like an interesting location to scout. I have visited Goudhurst before and is one of the better areas of the high weald. Another wet overcast October morning, but sunny spells late morning to midday, so I arrived in Cranbrook free car park around this time.

About half way between Cranbrook and Goudhurst, some compositions presented themselves. The church at Goudhurst perched on top of the high weald hill with some dramatic cumulus clouds. You often get clouds like this during weather transitions so good to get outside. Again with my scouting setup could get in and take a wide angle telephoto aka panoramic.

Would say those trees have not peaked yet regarding their autumn colours. The midday sun was lighting up the church and landscape like a treat. Stopped off in Goudhurst for a pint before walking back to Cranbrook where the light had gone and the hill thrown into shadow.

End of October

Writing this up and its the last day of October, the clocks have gone back and its a wet overcast very windy day. Days like this good to have a website, watch some youtube videos on landscape autumn photography etc. Roll on November…