First weekend of November and its a very wet and windy one, at least on Saturday.   Sunday was a lot better and venture out on a new route on the High Weald, a walk over Tent Hill in east Sussex.

Tent Hill Research

I discovered Tent Hill on Google maps explore. It had a couple of reviews quoting amazing views over the High Weald. I have been searching for great views over the High Weald since I first arrived in east Sussex back in September 2017.  I know they are there, but are proving elusive to pin down.

A route following the 1066 country walk taking me over Tent hill was planned on Ordnance Survey maps online. Tent hill not look too impressive from the perspective of a 2D map, I needed the walk, but not sure if there would be much opportunity for landscape photography.  The plan was to find parking near the church in Catsfield.  Follow the footpaths to Stevens Crouch, then over Tent Hill towards  Penshurst.  Then walk the country lanes back to Catsfield.  Would be over 10 kilometers in total.

No Excuses

The November rain was relentless the day before.  I could hear it coming down all through the night.  In bed I was telling myself, if it stopped, the ground would be too wet and sodden to walk.  Always looking for an excuse to not get out of bed to early.  All the pro landscape photographers will tell you to get out whatever the weather.

Stevens Crouch High Weald Views

I not make dawn, but arrived at the impressive church in Catsfield shortly after 7AM.  It was a still morning after all the rain and wind, and looked like it might be a nice sunny day for a change.  The ground was wet and a little flooded in places, but nothing to stay in bed for and miss.

Before reaching Stevens Crouch there was not much opportunity for any landscape photography but enjoying the early morning walk.  Everything changed on crossing the road at Stevens Crouch and re-joining the hidden footpath there.

Oh wow!  I had not even reached Tent Hill yet.  There was still some mist fast dissipating on the ground.  Mist tends to form where there is water on the ground and clear skies early morning.  I regret not reaching this point on the high weald pre dawn.  But these walks are always about scouting new locations.  I had found my high weald views.  What with the south downs in the background.

I tried using a 3 stop graduated filter over the sky to try and bring out a little more detail as it was a little featureless.  In the end just settled for a polariser with the morning sun at 45%.

High Weald Panoramic

Stilll these shots can be difficult as apart from the field there was no real foreground interest, so would need to go telephoto and get more intimate.  This would feature the autumn colours of the woodland and bring the outline of the south downs closer.

I only had my 15-85mm lens and would have preferred 100mm.  When zooming in at this focal length and with wide sweeping landscape views then panoramic is the way too.  Iv not shot many panoramas, more fingers on one hand, but you get the picture and I am learning.  Auto focus then switch to manual, set the exposure also on manual so nothing changes as you sweep from left to right with an overlap of around 30% keeping the camera level.  This place was beautiful, now the high weald competes with the Chiltern Hills and the Cotswolds as an AONB. Oh, to be in England…

Over Tent Hill

As I continued the walk and made it to the summit of Tent Hill, the best of the morning light had gone along with any mist.  But the views over the high weald never ceased.

Apart from one, what moron gives permission to build a block of flats right in the middle of these wonderful views.  This eye sore created a few problems for possible compositions as it had to be excluded, shame as looks like there is an old church behind.

I spent a couple of hours in this beautiful area on the High Weald in east Sussex.  After all the rain and wind it was a beautiful sunny morning on Tent Hill.  Definitely and area to return with better light.

Just to think I nearly not get out of bed and then not feel optimistic about the 2D map view of this area.  Just goes to show you have to get out and explore and scout these new areas with a good walk.  I would love to pitch a tent on tent hill one evening and catch a sunset and sunrise from this beautiful location.