What follows is a compilation of the best landscape photography during September 2022. Visiting new locations within East Sussex and Kent and a trip to Wiltshire.
Lewes Castle
The first landscape photography shoot of September 2022 was a return to the South Downs near Lewes with views south west onto the Kingston Ridge. It was a sunny September morning and lots of mist and fog in the valley.
After a walk on the South Downs headed into Lewes to check out the castle. More enjoy photographing these ancient buildings within the landscape.
Ruined castles within the landscape make excellent focal points. Within the grounds and the compositions can get too busy and lots of distractions. Being into landscape photography you can become interested in many side subjects, weather, hiking, camping, nature and not least history. A great morning out, highly recommended.
Butts Brow Sunrise
Another return to the South downs and to Butts Brow for a sunrise. East of the south downs and Butts Brow is the nearest location. Having recently photographed some sunrises during August along the east Sussex coast thought Butts Brow would give a good viewpoint.
Was not disappointed by the sunrise from Butts Brow on the south downs. If I could improve the composition it would be to return during summer when the sun is rising over Hastings Rock a Nore there in the distance and using the 400mm lens to fill up the frame. And to be ready and waiting not rushing around.
After sunrise enjoyed a scout of the area and photographing the south downs escarpment during morning golden hour facing west and Folkington Hill. Beautiful morning out on the south downs, glad got out of bed as nearly not happen.
Buxted Deer Park
Was driving past Buxted Park one evening and decided to pull over and have a little scout of the area. Had my camera and a new 50mm lens and wanted to try it out.
I not have long and not dressed for the outdoors. There had been some recent much needed September downpours and the ground was a little muddy. But Buxted deer park in East Sussex has potential especially with the deciduous trees once they turn in late autumn. Its not far from Sheffield Park in Uckfield so could combine the two for a day out with the camera.
Herstmonceux Castle
Visiting and photographing Lewes castle got me thinking of more castles in the East Sussex area. Had done a walk around Herstmonceux a few years previous but not got a shot of the castle. Decided to remedy that and planned a walk around the area using OS Maps. There is free parking in a layby outside the entrance to the castle on Wartling road. Did not think I could enter the grounds until it opened which is 10AM. Scouted out some woodland nearby which could be great during autumn, some mist and dawn side lighting. Then followed the footpath down past the castle.
Opening times refer more to getting inside the castle walls, but the public footpaths will take you right past the front of the castle which is where you want to be to photograph it. The low morning September sun provided some beautiful light on the bricks walls of the castle. Earlier in the morning would have been better had I known. With the moat and not in a ruined state reminded me very much of Bodiam castle also in East Sussex.
Birling Gap Sunrise Moonset
Wanted to get out for the September full moon rise or set. Initially the plan was Beachy Head lighthouse but its quite a hike from the outskirts of Eastbourne. Instead chose Birling gap for a dawn moon set during low tide. You can park up right beside the beach at Birling Gap and the seven sisters cliff face makes a great subject.
There was a lovely purple haze in the sky above reflecting in the pristine sands below giving double the hit. Early morning essential for the sand revealed during low tide to avoid ugly footprints. The full moon setting was too far to the left so initially excluded it to get a better perspective on the sands and the seven sisters.
Panning out to include the moon and the seven sisters cliffs get a lot smaller in the frame. Wide angle shots are more about interest in the foreground. Again at this distance no detail in the moon, just a white dot but does give a dynamic sense of moment.
Finally took some long exposures with the tide covering some foreground rocks. Beautiful September colourful morning at Birling Gap.
Cuckmere Valley Morning Mist
From Birling gap in the distance I could see morning mist rolling out from the river mouth at Cuckmere Haven. After finishing up on the beach decided to drive round to High and Over to check out the viewpoints from there.
One thing that really typifies a September image is morning mist. Its a great view from High and Over of the Cuckmere valley looking south with the sun rising to the left hitting the escarpment and white horse on the right. In fact I wondered if it would have been a better shot from here of the setting moon. Sometimes a sunrise does not need to include the sun only the light generated from it. Sometimes the sun in the image can be overwhelming and distracting.
Ightham Mote Kent
Rather than constantly returning to the same locations, different seasons, times of day and light like a healthy supply of new locations to visit. These are starting to get a little thin on the ground given my current base location of Hastings having been here on and off for 5 years now. It also not help with the current fuel crisis we are all facing, But decided on a return trip to the Kent downs near Sevenoaks to explore the views from one tree hill and then onto Ightham Mote.
Its a good walk over the Kent downs from one hill tree to Ightham mote with a few spots opening up and revealing views south and south east.
Ightham mote manor house is run by national trust. By the time I reached the manor house there was beautiful September morning golden light illuminating the brickwork. Switched to the wide angle lens. To get a multi dimensional aspect of a building it pays to photograph them at an angle showing two sides of the building face as opposed to directly face on which only renders a very one dimensional image. Reflections in the the calm moat water add interest to the composition and fill the frame.
Cuckoo Trail Polegate to Heathfield
It was a Sunday and a cloudy cool September day. Good day to scout another new location closer to home. This morning chose to do a bike ride along the Cuckoo trail in East Sussex from Polegate to Heathfield and back. Its better to park up at the Polegate end as its mostly a gradual ascent to Heathfield passing through Hailsham, Hellingly and Horam.
The main thing to photograph along the Cuckoo trail is tree tunnels, bridges and old railway relics. Obviously these type of compositions greatly benefit from some good light maybe some morning mist and fog. Its a good ride though on your bike well worth the effort.
Stonehenge Sunset
Its a long drive from Hastings to Amesbury in Wiltshire. Too much for there and back in one day. So decided to book a hotel and drive up the day before. Was in two minds if to bring my photography gear with me. Decided to throw it in the back of the car. On the way to Wiltshire was overcast but coming down the M3 and A303 the sky was clearing to the west and a sunset at Stonehenge looked promising.
It was the eve of the autumn equinox, without stopping headed straight for Stonehenge. From my previous trips to Stonehenge I knew where the best sunset composition would be from. The initial problem were people and security guards walking into the compositions within and outside the magnificent sarsen stones. Chose to ignore them and keep shooting. Fully extended tripod using the 70-200mm lens manually bracketing two shots. I did want a Sunstar through the hole in the rocks but not materialise at F/16 and 160mm. Think this is better with wide angle lens, small aperture and ideally a prime lens.
One shot to expose the stones, another to expose for the colourful dusk sky. Had a lot of shots to go through, often the sky shot was free of people and then suddenly they appeared in the shot exposes for the shadows. Still a few shots were workable although my cleaning skills in photoshop took a step in the right direction.
Salisbury Cathedral in the mist
After the Stonehenge sunset shoot had a lovely meal in the hotel, proper chef and a few beers. Not a bad nights sleep. I had more brought my photo gear expecting a dawn shoot. The weather apps had predicted nothing spectacular. Still at 6AM pulled the curtains aside and they could not have been more wrong. Lucky though my room was facing east, a red dawn with thick mist on the ground. Rushed around to get ready, had to get outdoors, did not know where at that moment, but there were some footpaths close to the hotel. Sunrise was not until 7AM in this part of the country and this time of year.
From a previous road trip to Wiltshire I knew Old Sarum was nearby and the ramparts provided a good viewpoint over Salisbury Cathedral. Got in the car and headed for Old Sarum. Luckily there are two free parking spaces just at the foot of Old Sarum, Headed up onto the ramparts, setup the tripod and the 70-200mm lens focusing on the spire of Salisbury cathedral. I just missed a flock of geese flying into the frame. At this moment thought it would only get better with the sun rising in the left of the frame catching the spire of the cathedral. Like this was going to be a repeat of that misty morning at Winchester cathedral.
It not happen! thick mist moved in from the right of the frame completely hiding the cathedral and the sun was extinguished by some hazy clouds. Basically became a frame of just mist! Waited until around 8AM when the morning mist began to clear but the colour had gone from the sky and the sun was a lot higher now. Had to leave, had to go to work. Shame when work gets in the way of a good landscape photography shoot. But makes travelling to work a lot more interesting. Previous trips and scouting had paid off here.
Hastings Castle West Hill
Have wanted a good composition that included Hastings castle for a while now. Always thought would need to get into the castle grounds to achieve this with it open only between 11-5. Not exactly the best light this time of year and no doubt lots of visitors. Scouted out nearby west hill and amazed to find the Hastings lookout viewpoint.
Not a bad composition from this location on west hill. But would still like to get one from inside the castle grounds. Sunset later in the year would be good here too. Being close to residential areas the area does attract all sorts of people later in the day. There is paid parking on the roads nearby.
Cliff End Pett Level Beach
Finally an early morning late September walk along Pett Level beach at low tide. This time walked in the westward direction pass Cliff End toward Hastings. Usually head east along the beach towards Winchelsea and Rye. Again racking my brains on where to go, not up for a long drive. Looking out the door pre dawn no mist and no clouds so not expecting much, but took my camera gear anyway.
There was a couple of clouds in the sky catching the pre dawn colours. A bird in flight makes such a good additional element in any composition that has a lot of sky. Shooting handheld even in low light. Focusing on infinity F8-F5.6 on the cliff face pushing up the ISO to 400 to get a fast enough shutter speed. Again with good cameras and lenses they can produce quality images in such conditions hand holding. Just a lack of time to get out the tripod. Those vibrant colours in the clouds at dawn only last a few minutes at most before they begin to fade.
End Of September
September was another good month getting out and about with the camera. Lots of scouting of new locations and repeat visits to others. The weather is cooling down now, the heater going on rather than the fans and air conditioners. Like most landscape photographers looking forward to the autumn colours. End of September and most of the trees are still pretty much green. Roll on October 2022.
From now on for each months landscape photography review post will include a gallery of all the photos featured in the post plus lots more. Doing this is preference to posting links to google photos. Enjoy.
Check out the September 2022 landscape photography gallery.
Check out the East Sussex landscape photography gallery
Check out the Kent landscape photography gallery
Check out the Wiltshire landscape photography gallery