Wildlife photography is rarely as simple as arriving, taking a few photos, and heading home. Sometimes the most memorable days are the ones that test you — the early starts, the unpredictable weather, the tired legs, and the moments you never could have planned for.

This day was definitely one of those.

On the 2nd of June 2026, I set off before sunrise with one thing in mind: wildlife photography. Little did I know I would end the day soaked through, lost in thick fog, and with a brand-new chapter added to my Wildlight project.

A Very Early Start — Ospreys at Aviemore

The day started very early… maybe a little too early.

My alarm went off just before 3am, ready to travel to Gordon’s Hide at Aviemore to photograph ospreys. I arrived around 4:15am feeling absolutely shattered, but also incredibly excited. Photographing ospreys is always something I look forward to — there is something so special about watching these incredible birds.

The morning was slow, but successful. Wildlife photography often involves a lot of patience, waiting, and hoping that nature decides to cooperate. Eventually, the ospreys appeared, and I managed to capture some images that made the early alarm absolutely worth it.

After finishing around 10am, I met up with my good friend Ian, who had been guiding that morning. We had already planned to continue the adventure and head towards RSPB Scotland Troup Head to photograph the gannets.

Ian kindly took over the driving, which I was very grateful for — especially as I wasn’t overly confident with the route, and after a 3am start, my brain definitely wasn’t working at full speed!

Into the Fog — Heading to Troup Head

As we got closer to Troup Head, the fog became thicker and thicker.

The sea mist rolled in so heavily that visibility became extremely difficult, and the roads disappeared into a wall of white. I was very glad Ian was driving because conditions were challenging, but there was also something exciting about it. The landscape completely transformed.

We were both tired from the early morning, but the excitement of seeing the gannets kept us going.

I had already been imagining this kind of scene for my Wildlight project — the idea of gannets appearing through the mist, almost ghost-like, emerging from the atmosphere around them.

When we arrived, we walked out across the farmer’s fields following the track towards the cliffs. It wasn’t long before we could hear and see the gannets.

Even before seeing them clearly, you could smell them and hear the colony. They are such incredible birds — powerful, graceful, and completely adapted to their dramatic coastal environment.

Creating Wildlight: From the Mist

Walking along the cliffs, we found a spot to settle down and watch the birds.

Being close to the cliff edge definitely made me nervous (while always making sure we stayed safe), but it was also an incredible place to be. The fog would move in and out, hiding and revealing the landscape. At times, you almost forgot just how high up you were — until the mist cleared and you suddenly saw the sea below.

I spent the whole time photographing with my Canon 400mm RF f/2.8, occasionally adding my 2x converter for some closer shots.

The images became the next sub-project within my Wildlight series:

Wildlight: From the Mist

This body of work focuses on the Northern Gannets of Troup Head, photographed during a day of persistent rain and dense sea fog. I wanted to embrace the feeling of the birds appearing through the mist — flying within it, almost becoming part of the landscape around them.

The high-key black and white approach helped me capture that feeling of mystery and atmosphere, stripping everything back to the movement, shape, and presence of the birds.

Wildlight: From the Mist: https://www.sgtphotos.co.uk/wildlight-from-the-mist

Wildlife Photography Is Better Shared

One of the things I love about wildlife photography is that, although it can often be a very solitary hobby, the best days are sometimes the ones shared with someone else.

Sitting on the cliff for hours photographing wildlife, waiting, watching, and chatting makes the time pass so quickly. Having Ian there made the whole experience even more enjoyable — lots of laughs, good conversation, and someone to share the excitement with when the gannets appeared.

Ian is an incredible guide and photographer, and I’m really grateful for his company on this adventure. He runs wildlife guiding experiences, and I would highly recommend checking out his work.

INS Wildlife Photography: https://www.inswildlifephotographyandguiding.co.uk

The Rain Finally Won…

Eventually, the weather decided it had tested us enough.

The heavens opened, and the rain started pouring down — and unfortunately, it wasn’t stopping anytime soon.

I quickly realised I had definitely not dressed appropriately for the conditions. A classic mistake in Scottish weather! By the time we started walking back, I was soaked through to the core.

Thankfully, my camera equipment was protected. The wildlife watching supplies I had recently picked up from Ffordes Photographic came in extremely handy, keeping my Canon R3 and 400mm lens protected from the heavy rain.

My Shimoda bag also did an incredible job. Everything inside stayed completely dry despite the conditions, which was a huge relief.

The Unexpected Wildlife Encounter

The walk back was probably the most memorable part of the day.

The fog was so thick, and the rain was so heavy, that we became slightly disorientated on the path. We thought we had taken the wrong route, turned around, and started heading back the other way.

Around 20 minutes into walking, I heard something moving beside me.

I stopped and looked through the bushes and saw something big and grey just a few feet away.

At first, I thought it was a dog — which would have been quite strange considering we were in the middle of nowhere beside the cliffs.

Then I realised…

It was a badger.

We locked eyes for a moment, and as soon as it noticed me watching, it disappeared back into the undergrowth.

I was amazed. Although, after being awake since before 3am and walking through heavy rain, my ability to communicate clearly had completely disappeared. I was trying to point it out to Ian while failing to get the words out!

Eventually, I managed to explain that I had just seen a badger — a pretty special daytime encounter.

A Day I Won’t Forget

Eventually we found the correct path back, made it to the van, and got everything packed away.

At that point, I was soaked, my boots were full of water, and I think we were both ready for some warmth. We got the heating on and started the journey back.

Unfortunately, Ian discovered that the rain had managed to get into his phone, which sadly stopped working. After everything, we decided the best plan was simply to head straight back to Aviemore.

It was a very long, tiring day — my boots took days to dry, and I had to rewash and reproof almost everything I owned.

But honestly?

It was completely worth it.

The weather challenged us, the conditions were difficult, and the journey was exhausting, but those are often the days that create the strongest memories.

I came home with images I love, a new Wildlight story, and a day full of adventure, laughs, and unexpected moments.

Sometimes the best photographs come from the days that don’t go exactly to plan.