Towards the end of May 2026, an unseasonal heatwave came to an explosive end, with some of the most active thunderstorms we’ve seen in a long time. During the build-up to the storms, I managed to capture the best wildlife photograph I’ve ever taken: a barn owl perched on a lamppost in the darkness as lightning forked across the distant sky. This post relives that experience, taking you through how the image came to life.
Above: It’s not often I’m left speechless, but reviewing this incredible moment of lightning erupting across the sky behind a barn owl perched on a lamppost felt surreal. AND it was captured on my doorstep. I think it’s fair to say my luck was well and truly in that night.
The Golden Rule of Wildlife Photography: Expect the Unexpected
The time was around 10 PM on Thursday, 28th May 2026. It was unbearably humid, and after several days of unseasonal heat, the end was in sight. A storm was brewing, and I couldn’t have been any happier. I’m not a fan of summer heat; I find it draining, and I lack the energy to do anything. To escape the heat inside my house, I went and sat on the bench in the front garden, watching the lightning in the distance as the storms grew in intensity.
As we moved deeper into the night, the storm moved closer and closer. Violent rumbles of cracking thunder sent vibrations along the ground, which I felt under my feet. With each passing minute, I could feel the atmosphere building; it honestly felt like a powder keg.
Close to 11 PM, I was gazing off to the west in the direction of the storm when the unmistakable silhouette of an owl caught my eye. It had emerged over a row of tall hawthorn hedges bordering a field in near-total darkness and perched on a distant lamppost. Without hesitation, I jumped up, ran inside and grabbed my camera and my long lens before returning to the front garden.
I didn’t know it at the time, but I was about to capture my wildlife photograph of the year. Scrap that, my wildlife photograph of a lifetime.
Capturing the Photograph of a Lifetime
Instinct had well and truly taken over; I knew exactly what to do without having to stop and think. There wasn’t time to grab my tripod, and my lens collar wasn’t fitted with the Arca Swiss plate, so I needed an alternative solution. I lay my camera on top of my car roof; I know, my genius knows no end. It seemed like a smart idea until I realised the roof sloped and there was little room for flexible composition. It served a purpose; that’s all that matters.
As I powered on my camera, I dialled in settings to best deal with the low light. At 11 PM, it was dark but not quite pitch black. That said, it was dark enough to test my Canon R5’s low-light capability. I settled on ISO 3200, f/5.6, 1.6s. Not ideal, I know, but the benefit of pushing ISO another step just didn’t seem worthwhile. I took a chance on a slower shutter speed to preserve detail.
Once my settings were dialled in, and this took seconds by the way, I looked through my electronic viewfinder and manually focused on the owl in the distance. To my surprise, I realised it was a barn owl! As I finely tuned my focus, I could see it peering down at the grass verge below. This was the best opportunity I had of capturing an acceptably sharp image with such a slow shutter speed.
I fired off five shots in total, each with 1.6-second exposures. Of the five images, one was in sharp focus with limited motion blur. But there was a surprise in the frame. Something I never could have dreamed of. Somewhere in the space of 1.6 seconds, lightning had forked across the sky behind the barn owl.
Reviewing the shots on the rear LCD, I couldn’t believe my eyes; I’d just captured the shot of a lifetime. Most of the wildlife I photograph is planned, with months of fieldcraft and patience. On this particular evening, it was a reminder to expect the unexpected.
Above is an example of one of the five photographs with motion blur caused by the barn owl moving its head during the 1.6-second exposure. I still quite like this photograph, but it’s obviously not as impactful as the lightning erupting in the distance.
Returning to See an Old Friend
The following day, and still on a high, I popped out just before sunset for a bit of a recce with my camera. I had a sneaking suspicion that I knew the barn owl that had perched during the storm. I hadn’t seen him for a few months and presumed he had left to roost with a lucky female. As soon as I arrived at the location (I won’t be disclosing it to protect his privacy), I saw him quartering across the meadow in the distance. He had returned!
I watched from a distance as he hunted with precision. I’ll never tire of watching quartering barn owls; it’s a magical experience guaranteed to leave you covered in goosebumps. Knowing he was active, I set about capturing his beauty over the following weeks. It has been an absolute privilege to watch him hunt in his natural environment.
I won’t go into too much detail about how I photograph barn owls and the fieldcraft I use to observe them ethically. You can read about that in detail in my dedicated guide to ethical barn owl photography. Instead, I’ll leave you with a handful of recent intimate moments that have left me speechless. This male barn owl has earned a special place in my heart, and I’m forever thankful for every opportunity I get to spend time in his precious company.
Recent favourites of a local barn owl
Below: A real heart-in-the-mouth moment as the barn owl landed on a post around 10m away from me. With the help of 3D camouflage and nestling myself in the long grass, I was able to stay hidden and photograph him in all of his beauty. This is my favourite perch shot, illustrating his beautiful natural environment.
Below: A fleeting opportunity in a window of sporadic weather. We were on the very edge of a passing rain shower, which created a surreal atmosphere. The sun was still shining as a short burst of rain fell from the sky. In this moment, the barn owl came to rest on a fence post in the distance, and I managed to capture him as he gazed around his territory.
Below: Another magical moment featuring the barn owl perched after sunset. The light was decreasing by the minute, leaving me shooting handheld at around 1/60th of a second. Against all odds, I captured several shots in sharp focus, including this one of him looking down the column towards me. I think what actually drew his gaze was the movement of a hare running behind me. He continued to perch for a good half an hour, leaving me unable to leave until he left the area.
I’m not complaining, though; half an hour spent watching him lazy hunting is a moment I’ll never forget.
A Summer of Local Nature Photography
As we move into the summer months, my photography activity typically drops off. This year, I’m rearing to go. I’m ready to tackle an exciting few months of local wildlife and landscape photography. One thing I’m looking forward to most is watching the progression of this beautiful barn owl and his family. With a little luck, I’d love the opportunity to meet his young as they begin their fledging process and begin to learn the ropes of hunting over the gorgeous wild meadows.
I’m also lucky enough to have had the pleasure of observing a family of branching tawny owlets. By now, they’ll likely be fledging and quickly gaining their flight ability, meaning they’ll be nearly impossible to spot as they disappear into the depths of the dense woodland canopies, seeking territories of their own. I’ll keep an eye out for any opportune moments, but I won’t be physically looking for them; it’s important to respect their space during this time.
Finally, I’m looking forward to a bit of macro photography and developing my skill set working with microscopic depths of field. My Canon R5 has the ability to focus bracket, a feature I’ve toyed with but haven’t really put to practical use. There’s plenty to look forward to this summer; I just hope we avoid any extended heatwaves, unless they end with opportune thunderstorms!