An early July afternoon decided to scout out a new location on the South Downs in West Sussex. Was going to take a hike up Newtimber hill near Poynings and check out the views, perhaps hang around until golden hour and sunset.
Discovering NewTimber Hill
Through June had visited a few locations on the south downs near Brighton, notably the poppies on Ditchling road, Titch hill in west Sussex, the Chattri memorial and Clayton burial ground. Consequently had done some study of OS maps in the immediate area. Noticed between Devils Dyke and Wolstonbury Hill on the South Downs was Newtimber hill that had not explored before.
Checking OS maps the view from Newtimber hill should be good with the complete ridge line of the south downs from Devils Dyke to Chanctonbury ring and beyond coming into view. With early July the sun should set to the north west saturating the hill range in golden light come the evening. That was the plan.
Newtimber Hill Arrival
Had been watching sunsets in the north west from home thinking needed to get out for one. At this time of year sunsets occur late around 9:15pm not really getting dark until 10pm. Likely you are going to need to sacrifice dinnertime to catch one. The July afternoon I head out towards Poynings in West Sussex it gets really overcast, thick grey cloud like it is going to rain. Still the forecast was around 7pm it would begin to break up. If not, at least I could scout out Newtimber hill and checkout the views and compositions possible. These trips though are a big investment in time and money and like to take photos and tell a story.
Parking Saddlescombe
It not show on OS Maps or google but directly opposite Saddlescombe farm on the Saddlescombe Road is a small free car park. Its opposite the national trust summer down that leads up to Devils Dyke. The road can be busy and might take you a couple of attempts to spot it. Weekends it gets full but weekdays almost empty. So parked up, crossed the road into the driveway of Saddlescombe farm and took my first venture up Newtimber hill under overcast skies.
Newtimer Hill viewpoint
The walk takes you first over North hill then onto the escarpment of new timber hill with amazing views west of the south downs including Devils Dyke and beyond.
Found a good composition lower down on the escarpment of Newtimber Hill overlooking the church of Poynings and the south downs beyond. Beams of sunlight were breaking through the cloud cover creating pools of light on the ridge of hills stretching out to the west. To think I nearly not bother due to the cloud cover.
Camera Settings
Lot of contrast at this time of day between the sky and ground. Nothing in the foreground except for some long grass that needed to trim to stop intruding into the edge of the frame creating a distraction. Rather than use a GND filter over the sky just bracketed two stops apart and merge HDR. Aperture of F11 focusing on the church or the distance ridge line.
As the afternoon progressed the cloud cover began to disperse more allowing beams of golden sunlight to break through and bring the landscape to life. Switched compositions and began to take panoramics.
Golden Hour Light
In hindsight think I preferred the first composition with Poynings church through the gap in the trees. Really wanted a beam or pool of light to hit the church tower emphasising it as a focal or anchor point. With composition and settings set, was now just a matter of sitting on Newtimber hill and watching the light change into Golden hour and then sunset.
Amazingly was sat there for hours but the time flew past and not see one other person. The light was beautiful – Classic landscape photography. There are a couple of minutes during golden hour that the light is at its peak, think the image above captures that. The blue sky colour compliments the golden hues on the landscape. Later in the year the sun will set further to the south so should see it falling behind Chantonbury hill there in the distance. The sun would rise behind the shooting location early morning low golden light hitting the hills, imagine mist in the valley, a moon setting…
Sunset Bug Attack
This shoot on the south downs in west Sussex was all about the golden hour and side light hitting the ridge of hills from Devils Dyke to Chanctonbury ring with Newtimber hill providing the viewpoint or composition. I did take a photograph of the setting sun but not much in the composition but the sun setting behind some low clouds.
After which packed away and headed back through the long grass to the carpark. As I walked through the long grass, big hairy buzzing bugs flew at me from out the grass. Very disorientating and could not wait to get out of there frantically swinging my arms. Back at the car, realised I had lost my glasses. Oh well, need a new pair anyway. But think I got my July shot of the month.
Newtimer hill near Poynings on the south downs in West Sussex is a fantastic location to walk and for landscape photography. Still a lot more to cover in the area for another day.
Check out the West Sussex Landscape Photography gallery