Seeing as this is local to us (and by local, I mean a 25-minute drive away), I should really make more effort to visit with the camera. Ashdown Forest is an ancient area of open heathland, the largest area of open-access land in the South East. It was created as a medieval hunting forest, soon after the Norman conquest and remained popular with the monarchy and nobility until Tudor times. That included Henry VIII, who had a nearby hunting lodge for when he visited Anne Boleyn at Hever Castle. I have always found the use of the word “forest” an odd choice, as these days there are hardly any trees.
I decided to visit on the spur of the moment a few weeks ago. I had been doing housework all morning and by mid-afternoon, I needed a rest. My husband was working from home, so I left him to keep our 11 cats company while I went upstairs to lay on the bed. Five minutes later, I got to thinking the sky was clear and the sunset might be promising. With not a lot of time to spare, I wondered where I would be able to drive in time. Ashdown sprang to mind, so I literally grabbed my rucksack and tripod and was out of the door without even changing my clothes or brushing my hair.
I had a mind to photograph a view I had captured a few years earlier, but pulling into the tiny car park, I realised the sun would vanish behind a hill way before sunset. There are many more parking areas close by, but I was running out of time. Two minutes later I parked up further round the valley and thankfully there was a lone tree about 100 yards away. Setting up in record time, I was able to capture the image featured above.
A couple of weeks ago I decided to try the location again. I had been watching lovely fluffy clouds whizz by all day and I thought it would be nice to try a long exposure with the tree in the distance. Everything looked perfect as I left home, but on the drive, the clouds vanished leaving a layer of haze in the west. Clearly, a long exposure was no longer an option, so I wandered around for a bit in search of inspiration. I found it in a muddy puddle and by setting up very close to the ground, I was able to capture the reflection of the sky on the surface.
Steve Cullum
23 Dec 2019Two really good shots again and thank you for sharing them. Both are frame-worthy, especially the first one with the sun burst. Keep up the good work and here’s to 2020.
Zooey
23 Dec 2019Thank you Steve. Sadly we have pretty much run out of walls, but I appreciate the thought. And yes… here’s to a brand new year. I can’t wait 🙂
Sid
24 Dec 2019Wow! Stunning photos! I do love the second one: lawn, muddy poodle, reflecting water, and solitude! My world 😉
Have a great, joyful, fantastic Merry Christmas 💕🌟
Sid
Zooey
26 Dec 2019Thank you Sid. I certainly had solitude there. I would dearly love to go back, but I will have to wait until the rain stops. I hope you had a fabulous Christmas 🙂