Where to Photograph in East Sussex
The first step to getting that perfect landscape photograph is knowing the best locations. This part of the site is intended to give those of you who perhaps don't know East Sussex very well a few ideas as to where you could photograph as well as a few tips as to the best time of day and year.
More pictures taken at these locations and at others in Sussex can be seen in the Sussex Landscape and Susex Seascape Galleries.
(1)The Ashdown Forest between Nutley and Forest Row. The forest is a mixture of heath and woodland supporting a diverse collection of wildlife and forna. One a typical day you could expect to see numerous types of deer, fox, badger, birds and dog walkers! The best time of day is dawn as the forest is at high altitude relative to the surrounding area giving huge panoramic views. Don't be afraid of heading up there in poor weather either as this photograph taken on a freezing foggy winter's morning testifies.
(2)The River Ouse meanders through the Sussex Weald until it reaches Barcombe, just outside Lewes. The historic Barcombe Mills is a complex set of weirs and sluices used to control flows in the Ouse. The best time of year to capture great photographs at Barcombe is from Autumn through until Spring due to the huge volumes of water flowing. Combine this with a dawn or dusk shoot and the combination of all that water and the warm sunlight will produce some excellent images.
(3)Newhaven harbour, it's piers and beaches are an attraction for anglers whilst the historic cliff top Newhaven Fort is very much a tourist attraction and provides numerous photographic opportunities. As the harbour arm pictured here protrudes well out into the English Channel it's an ideal place to capture examples of extreme weather. To see the worst weather the channel can offer, winter is the best time of year to photograph at this locale. Combine this with a dusk or dawn shoot and some amazing moving water photographs are possible, but don't forget to protect your camera gear from the salt spray - it's a camera killer!
(4)The Seven Sisters Country Park is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty containing awe inspiring scenery as well as rare wildlife and forna. Again there's something to interest all photographers here. The main attractions for the landscape photographer are either the River Cuckmere and it's meandering ox-bow lakes or the Seven Sisters themselves - the seven chalk cliffs east of the river extending to Beachy Head at Eastbourne. This is another location for all year round photography however given the orientation of the cliffs it's a good place for dusk photography as the sun sets opposite the cliffs giving them a wonderful orange glow.
(5)Seaford Bay and Seaford Head provide opportunities for all photographers whether you're into landscapes, seascapes, still life, wildlife or macro, there's something for everyone. For me though the chalk cliffs and the extremes of weather that the location attracts make for outstanding landscape photographs. This is a location for photographing all year round but try to avoid peak summer when the sun is high in the sky as stark washed out photos can result. Beware though, if photographing in high winds from the cliff edge, it's easy to get blown over!
I hope that this guide has given you a few ideas for new locations for landscape and coastal photography in East Sussex. More pictures taken at these locations and at others in Sussex can be seen in the
Sussex Landscape and
Sussex Seascape Galleries.
