Every now and then, we may be graced by witnessing one of these beautiful creatures crossing the road in front of us or seeing it in the fields at the side as we drive. We are lucky if any encounter lasts more than a few seconds, nether mind minutes.

Sometimes, we know about a Barnie which frequents an area that show regularly but only on rare occasions do they come close enough to give us any chance of obtaining good images of them.

It is a real boon when you manage to locate a Barnie that is "comfortable" with the presence of photographers, even more so when there are more than one Owl willing to play along. Factor in some decent sunny weather and you can get some really nice images....

First of all, it helps if your subject can keep awake while you photograph them :))

Even getting them to look up would be helpful in getting some decent shots...

However, with Owls like these, its not long before they start to play ball...

Quartering fields as they do gives the photographer an opportunity to photograph them from different angles.

Managing exposure can be troublesome as they turn into and out of the sun....keeping the detail in the whites is paramount to achieving good images.

Barn Owls are really photogenic. You have to put the time in, as with all wildlife......but the rewards can be great.

Occasionally, if you are really lucky, they might actually catch something....resulting in "real" environmental images that put the animal in context with the environment in which they, and their prey, exist.

Sometimes the late sun and a natural but nicely out of focus background can give a really pleasing effect, as below.

If only every animal would be so obliging....