Landscapes
Google “landscape” and you are greeted with pictures of mountains, lakes with mountains, lakes with autumnal trees and mountains.
There are no mountains in Sussex. The South Downs are a chain of chalk hills that make great cliffs and are adorned with the occasional horse or giant.
Sussex has many ancient woodlands with diverse fauna and flora. The chaos of trunks, branches and leaves is challenging to photograph.
A mist can help. Or a shaft of light that picks out a random selection of woodland. A splash of contrast in hue.
Dawn mist at Silbury Hill
A morning mist around Silbury Hill in Wiltshire.
Manmade. This is thought to be the largest Neolithic construction in the UK.
Nikon D850 35mm F-13 1/80 secs iso 400
Alfriston clergy house
This fairly modest building was the first property obtained by the National Trust.
Topiary echoes the form of the roof.
Nikon D850 85mm F-8 1/200 secs iso 125
Morning mist at Silbury Hill
A morning mist around Silbury Hill in Wiltshire.
Manmade. This is thought to be the largest Neolithic construction in the UK.
Nikon D850 35mm F-10 1/80 secs iso 400
Pett Level - low tide
This is what Pett Level looks like when the tide is out.
With a low mist obscuring the morning sun, it reminds me of images of First World War battlefields.
Nikon Df 50mm F-16 5 secs iso 100
Cuckmere vines
The well-ordered vineyards of the Rathfinny winery give a great sense of perspective.
Nikon D850 35mm F-16 1/320 secs iso 500
Belle Tout Lighthouse
Storm clouds over the lighthouse. This lighthouse has already been moved back from the rapidly crumbling edge of the cliff. Judging by the large cracks forming, it might have to be moved again. Or be lost to the sea.
The lighthouse was replaced by Beachy Head lighthouse and is now rented to brave tourists.
Nikon Df 85mm F-20 1/500 secs iso 200
Pett Level - maintained
A tractor carrying out maintenance on the sea wall with interesting cloud formations.
The tide is out.
Nikon D850 35mm F-16 1/180 secs iso 160
A river flows
The river Lyn flows out into the Bristol Channel just before dawn.
A long exposure gives the water a milky quality.
Nikon D850 50mm F-22 47 secs iso 80
Red roofed hut
This is a bit of a landmark at Rye Harbour.
Constructed in the 1930’s as a private beach hut. I have never seen it being used, but it always has a fresh coat of paint.
Nikon D850 50mm F-18 1/320 secs iso 250
Pillbox
There are a couple of very well-preserved pillboxes at the entrance to Rye Harbour.
This one was catching the evening light with stormy clouds in the background.
Nikon D850 50mm F-22 1/320 secs iso 250
Dionysus in nuttery
Among the ferns at Sissinghurst gardens stands Dionysus. Greek god of harvest and fertility.
Spring time.
Nikon D850 85mm F-5.6 1/125 secs iso 400
Sheep by Avebury stone
These sheep were relaxing in the shade of one of the stones of the stone circle at Avebury.
Nikon D850 85mm F-9 1/200 secs iso 200
Pine canopies
Three pine canopies meet above the High Wood outside Battle. Named after the Battle of Hastings.
Nikon D850 85mm F-10 1/125 secs iso 125
Moat lilies
These lilies float in the moat of Scotney Castle.
Valley of the river Bewl, Kent.
Nikon D850 85mm F-18 1/160 secs iso 320
Dartmoor pony
The Dartmoor ponies by Beachy Head are quite used to visitors. I think this one was getting a little annoyed at me.
Nikon D850 85mm F-22 1/160 secs iso 160
Grannery
Trees blossom in front of the granary at Sissinghurst Castle Gardens, home of Vita Sackville-West.
Nikon Df 85mm F-20 1/200 secs iso 100
Three oast cowls
The oast houses in Kent were used for drying hops for use in the brewing of beer.
The cowls rotate with the wind and help keep the hops dry while maintaining airflow.
Great Dixter garden, Kent.
Nikon Df 105mm F-16 1/500 secs iso 640
Topiary
The amazing topiary in the gardens of Great Dixter is a testament to the skill of the team of gardeners at this Kent garden.
Nikon D850 200mm F-8 1/400 secs iso 250
Dartmoor ponies
This group of ponies were relaxing next to Beachy Head. They are wild animals, but very tame.
Nikon D850 200mm F-8 1/400 secs iso 250
Church on marsh
St Thomas Becket church at Fairfield stands on Romney Marsh. Photographed on a stormy day with impressive clouds, sheep graze in the forground.
Nikon D850 35mm F-22 1/320 secs iso 250
Young buck on path
This was taken at Knowle Park, Kent. When planning this trip, I was envisaging tracking wild deer through woodland. The deer turned out to be very tame. This one was just nonchalantly walking along a path, looking slightly bored.
Nikon D850 200mm F-5.6 1/1600 secs iso 640
Slate bed on beach
The beach at Kilve is a geololist’s dream. This slate bed had fractured in a wave form.
Nikon D850 200mm F-8 1/400 secs iso 250
Lynmouth Harbour
Moored boats in Lynmouth harbour with locals and tourists looking on.
Nikon D850 85mm F-11 1/250 secs iso 250
Lynmouth Tower
A beacon on Lynmouth Harbour tower is silhouetted in the sunrise.
Nikon D850 35mm F-22 1/13 secs iso 200
Lynmouth Harbour
Sunrise on midsummer, from my journey across Exmoor. This was from Lynmouth Harbour.
Nikon D850 85mm F-22 1/8 secs iso 80
Beachy Head
The lighthouse at Beachy Head peaks out.
Built on the beach to replace the Belle Tout lighthouse, it has avoided problems of cliff erosion.
Nikon D850 200mm F-11 1/500 secs iso 200
Vita’s magnolia
This impressive magnolia was planted at Sissinghurst Castle gardens by Vita Sackville-West about 90 years ago.
It is dying in parts, but I think that adds to the beauty.
Nikon D850 85mm F-11 1/800 secs iso 200