This is a Member-Led Event with a maximum of 8 participants. The location is guided by Howard Klein LRPS who has visited the area on many occasions, in a variety of sea/weather conditions.

This eastern end of Sussex’s South Downs National Park is a great location for photography, with big views of The Seven Sisters between Birling Gap and Cuckmere Haven; and a view to Beachy Head lighthouse when the tide is out. The solid chalk rock base and loose powders can make milky seas, the foreshore rocks are browns / greens / whites and the cliffs can be bright white. The exposed foreshore at low tide offers additional foreground interest and possibilities for intimate images. This event is timed to take advantage of a very low tide (0.39m) at 8:29 am, after a full moon. 

Meet: at Birling Gap NT Car Park, BN20 0AB at 07:30.

The event starts 1¼ hours after sun-rise - should anyone wish to arrive very early pre-event, sunrise is at 6:15 am. You may wish to use an app or web to see the exact sun-rise and choose a location, e.g. Hope Gap / Cuckmere Haven (East Side), near Seaford; but allow time then to drive to Birling Gap. 

Finish is at 11:00. Participants may decide to remain, individually, after the event ends - as the tide rises (high tide 14:18) and/or to explore other nearby sea locations or to walk locally. The Leader can advise on local options to those staying post-event.

Parking: £6 for more than 2 hours, payable by cash at the machine or by phone using free WiFi outside the café (local mobile coverage Is limited). Parking is free for NT members, motorcycles and Blue Badge holders.

Toilets: there are public toilets available, but possibly not open until 10:00.

Terrain: the shoreline can be slippery at low tide, so please take extra care. Also, incoming tides can advance unevenly, so attendees are advised to take care with the changing conditions. Do not go near cliff face, given the rock-fall risk.

What to wear: suitable outdoor clothing for the weather, including waterproof jacket (just in case). Good quality footwear is required.

Food & drink: the café does not open until 10:00, so you may wish to bring your own food & drink (we may be up to 15-20 minutes away from the café).

What to bring: a standard zoom and/or wide-angle lens(es) given the extreme low-tide; there maybe opportunities for a longer zoom. A tripod, ideally with a remote shutter release, is advised. Filters may be useful: neutral density, grey grads, polariser.

Advice: This is a member-lead event, simply to introduce you to a location, with no professional guidance. If you have a technical query, the leader or fellow participants might be able to help.

Terms for RPS Landscape Group Events:

Carbon offsets

Tickets for events that involve travelling include a £2 carbon offset charge that will be paid to a carefully researched and selected offsetting partner.

Cancellation by You:

If you wish to cancel your booking PLEASE let the event leader / organiser know with as much notice as possible. If nothing else, this can avoid them delaying the start of the event while they wait for you.

If you have paid for an event, please note that this fee/ticket price is non-refundable unless we are able to sell your place to somebody else. You are welcome to sell your place yourself but, again, PLEASE notify the event leader / organiser in advance of any change.

Cancellation by us:

Event leaders are asked to make plans for alternative activities or locations in the case of poor weather and, in most cases, events will proceed despite poor weather unless, in the view of the event leader, the weather will lead to unacceptable safety risks or very little chance of successful photography. It is inevitable, however, that occasionally an event will be cancelled for this or another reason beyond the RPS’s control.

Occasionally an event may also be cancelled owing to lack of bookings. So if you wish to attend an event, don’t leave it till the last minute to book as it may be too late.

If an event is cancelled we will give you as much notice as we are able and any payment by you to the RPS in respect of the event offered as a full refund. In the case of events cancelled because of lack of interest we will aim to give at least three weeks’ notice wherever possible.

Please note we are NOT able to refund any associated or consequential costs including but not limited to travel, accommodation, insurance premium or other costs incurred by you in order to attend the event.

Responsibility:

You are responsible for your own health and safety and must appraise your own strength, fitness and mobility; and be prepared for the terrain, changing weather conditions etc. The event leader is NOT responsible for your safety, welfare or attendant medical conditions. Strictly the event leader is there to introduce you to a location.

You are responsible for your equipment etc at all times; use suitable bags for carrying it.

Car-sharing lifts with fellow participants, or the event leader, is at your own risk. Those offering car-sharing lifts may only do so provided that they have suitable insurance cover. 

Liability for any accident, injury, medical condition, loss or damage to property, inappropriate behaviour, dress, equipment and third party liability is accepted by you when signing up for the event. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Royal Photographic Society from all claims of whatsoever nature.

Insurance:

You are advised to consider having insurance to cover: event cancellation by you or by us, accident, medical, personal equipment and public liability.

In particular you should also consider, in the case of high cost events, the likelihood and consequences of you having to cancel or not attend at the last minute because of accident, medical or other unforeseeable circumstances.

Using your data:

Your personal details (name, telephone number and email address) will be provided to the leader of the event or workshop you have booked in order to enable them to:

• send you joining instructions for the event
• contact you at short notice in case of any emergency or last-minute change to the event.

If you do not want your details to be shared with the event leader please cancel your booking immediately. You will not be eligible for a refund as this information was provided on the web page where you made your booking.

Thank you

RPS Landscape Group Committee