A View over the Folkestone Downs
I made a series of trips last Autumn to photograph this view near Folkestone on the Kent Downs AONB. I was first drawn to this area by the distinctive conical shape of Summerhouse Hill which I’ve shot from every angle over the years and I hoped that by shooting from a bit further back I could show the landscape in greater context.
I first stopped off to explore these hills and to look for a new viewpoint of Summerhouse Hill and the Downs. I liked the way the trees on the nearby hill leads the eye towards Summerhouse Hill, and the Beachborough copse can be seen to the right also. With the right light, I’d hope the autumn colours would come out too so I made plans to visit the next morning.
There was mist in the area the next morning but unfortunately not enough and in the wrong place; as always. Nethertheless the light at sunrise was quite nice, casting a soft pink hue on the downs. Half an hour later the Sun was up and making the closest hill nice and golden.
This was quite a nice result. The early morning sun has risen to hit the closest hill which lights it up nicely and accentuate the colour i the trees. When I got home and reviewed the mornings work I was ahppy and so could think about another angle and which was when I starting the pano planning. I managed to get back a few weeks later. the autumn colours ahd moved on abit in some palces, moving into its prime in others so it wasnt a worry. i shot 5 vertical shots to make the panoramic. it really gives a broad view of the downs and show the interesting landscape here. studying the picture you cant help but see the way man has shaped this landscape and te resiliance despite this. in this pano isa major motorway, the eurotunnel, army training ranges, nuclear power station, wind farm and a radar system..!
there is the m20 motorway, and eurotunnel in the left corner; the land in the foreground is used for army training and cattle grazing, there is a nuclear power station in the background and wind farm, a lot of the trees have been cut leaving the copse to the right, next to the radar on tolsord hill in the right hand corner. And yet,
