Introduction

Morning mist was predicted a few days ahead on the weather apps and this was confirmed the evening before on the south east BBC news weather. The plan was to visit Wilmington Hill on the south downs. So alarm was set for 4:30AM and I managed to drag myself out of bed at that unsociable hour.

Preparation

The weather predictions from both apps and the South East BBC News had aligned, and my journey began from Hastings to Wilmington just after 5 AM. The seemingly clear skies in Hastings were deceptive. As I approached the South Downs, a thick layer of mist enveloped the landscape. This region of East Sussex, nestled between the Cuckmere and Ouse valleys, is known for its misty mornings, thanks to the abundant rivers.

Weather Conditions

Misty mornings are a frequent occurrence during the September transition from summer to autumn. They require cool, clear, and calm nights that extend into the early morning hours. The mist can be particularly thick where there is a lot of water.

Visualisation

I’ve frequented Wilmington Hill for many photography sessions, mostly capturing its western vistas during sunset. However, I had always yearned to witness the magic of dawn and sunrise from this location, shooting east with the sun at my back. The distinctive brow and ridge of Bo Peep, leading down to Alfriston, had caught my eye. My vision was to capture the brow of Bo Peep shrouded in morning mist, illuminated by the rising sun behind me.

On Location

Arriving at the Long Man and Priory car park, I was greeted by the iconic Long Man of Wilmington as dawn began to break behind me. I didn’t have a precise shooting spot in mind; I would let the conditions on the ground guide me.

Rushing around the escarpment of Wilmington Hill, with just 10 minutes until sunrise, I found myself amidst thick morning mist, leading up to the brow of Bo Peep hill.

Camera Settings

My trusty 70-200mm lens was mounted on a tripod as I began. I opted for aperture priority, set the base ISO to 100, selected f/8, and used a 2-second timer. With almost no wind, I turned off Image Stabilization on the lens. The auto white balance seemed accurate on the screen. My composition focused on the brow of Bo Peep, adhering to the rule of thirds, rising from the morning mist into the pastel pink dawn skies.

Occasionally, flocks of birds, seagulls, and geese flew by. To capture these, I switched to custom settings, using a shutter priority of 1/500. These shots would later be blended in post-processing using layers in Photoshop. The birds added a dynamic element to the scene, breaking up the layers of thick morning mist.

Misty Morning Magic

The rising morning sun hadn’t quite reached the brow of Bo Peep as I had hoped. Low clouds to the east meant it rose further south, behind Wilmington Hill. It took almost an hour after sunrise for the hill and ridge to be bathed in sunlight.

As the sun rose higher the morning mist quicky evaporated and the shoot was over. Time to return to the carpark below with a couple of keepers.

Conclusion

Overall, the misty morning shoot went well, though it didn’t quite achieve the visual impact I had envisioned. The drama of the sky and mist was more pronounced to the east, where the sun was breaking through.

However, that direction lacked a clear focal point and a strong subject. This experience has given me valuable insights into this unique viewpoint, time of day, and season. I look forward to more misty morning adventures in the East Sussex South Downs.