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“For me, the Sussex landscape offers some of the most beautiful and interesting scenery in the UK, yet somehow remains relatively unknown.”
So says the Brighton photographer lloyd lanewhose work is a masterful celebration of the multifaceted scenery of his home county. Sometimes, laneThe 47-year-old focuses on the ferocity of the Sussex coastline, capturing the waves crashing and crashing under stormy skies, but at other times, he lingers on the softer side of Sussex, taking in its misty valleys and forests.
He observes: ‘People are sometimes surprised that some of my photographs of the mist surrounding the rolling hills of the South Downs are from this country, and have mistaken them for Tuscany instead. Above all, I think people are reminded of how beautiful the UK really is.”
After living in London for a while, Lane returned to her native Sussex seven years ago. “I keep finding new things to photograph,” she reveals.
The photographer, who works as a software developer when not shooting landscapes, says Sussex “is a part of the world that never stops giving” and that witnessing its transformation through the changing seasons is “really impressive.”
Below are 15 images from Lane that paint Sussex in a truly spectacular light…
In this powerful shot, a wave crashes against Newhaven Harbour, which sits at the mouth of the River Ouse in East Sussex. Commenting on how he approaches photography of the spectacular Sussex coastline, Lane says: “Generally it’s just waiting for the right weather conditions. I usually look for strong winds of 40+ mph (64 kph), concurrent with a high tide. , so the waves are as close to shore as possible.The sea can be fierce and sneak up when you least expect it, so I use a telephoto lens to zoom in and get closer to the action, while also allowing me to be away from the waves.’ And he adds: “Then it’s about waiting for Mother Nature to do the best she can.”
This atmospheric photograph shows the leaves covering the ground in the Friston Forest in the South Downs National Park.
This beautiful image shows the point ‘where moor meets forest’ on Lavington Common, a stretch of moorland between woodland in West Sussex.
A wave ‘sea monster’ unfurls off the Newhaven coast in this striking image by Lane.
This fascinating shot shows mist creeping across Devil’s Dyke, a V-shaped valley in the South Downs National Park.
This magical image was taken from a lookout on Firle Beacon, a hill in the South Downs. This is one of Lane’s favorite places to “watch a sunrise over the rolling South Downs, preferably with a good dose of mist.” He says, “With early starts, it’s very easy to stay in bed as long as possible, but the best light can start 45 minutes before sunrise.”
A seagull flies past the pier at Brighton’s Victorian palace in this clever shot by Lane.
This lovely image shows a misty morning over the Sussex Weald, an ancient tract of woodland near the East Sussex village of Selmeston.
Misty morning light filters through the trees in West Sussex’s Fittleworth Forest in this dreamy image
A windswept tree is in the foreground of this shot, which looks out towards the East Sussex coast. In the background is the decommissioned Belle Tout Lighthouse, located on Beachy Head
The Cuckmere Valley in East Sussex, one of Lane’s favorite haunts, is “half-shrouded in mist” in this stunning image
Swanborough Hill in East Sussex is the setting for this evocative image of Lane
This richly colored image shows evening light over Hove beach huts in East Sussex.
Mermaid Street, a quaint cobbled lane in the East Sussex town of Rye, is the subject of this image. Lane notes, “On the right hand side is The Mermaid Inn, rumored to be one of the most haunted hotels in the country.”
This vibrant photograph shows the ‘last throes of autumn’ in East Sussex’s Friston Forest.
Commenting on how he finds new landscapes to capture, Lane, pictured, says: ‘I’m grateful to have a patient partner, who is occasionally dragged along by me to help explore new locations, sometimes in exchange for a hearty lunch at a pub”.