Canon Ambassador Jonas Classon is among Europe's most celebrated young bird photographers. With one of the most spectacular wildlife shots of 2020 to his name, he has established an enviable reputation in a competitive field.

His drive to capture the character and personality of an animal when he fires the shutter has earned him worldwide recognition. "Photographing birds has always been my main goal, and it's been a long and slow process to get where I am today," Jonas explains. "I'm living my dream now."

Jonas has focused on bird photography since 2016. In spring 2019, he captured what he describes as his best photo yet: the spectacular Night Hunter (above right). This striking image of a great grey owl won the Animals in their Environment category at the Siena International Photo Awards 2020.

"I actually kept that picture a secret for a year and a half because I knew it was special," Jonas says. "I knew it was my best picture ever. The owl is truly showing its character. It almost looks like an illustration, and that mix of artificial light and moonlight really makes it unique.

"I tracked that bird for 40 days – we were like buddies by the end. Great grey owls are so charismatic and mysterious. There's not a single moment I have spent with one that I can't remember."

With the release of his book, Svart Album, and work on display in a Swedish exhibition centre, Jonas's dream to share his love of nature with the world is now a reality. "When I was ill, the birds were my way out of hospital. It was like a small chink of light in a dark time," he says.

"It opened up a new world for me, and since then I have wanted to inspire others to get out into nature because there's so much to experience and discover."

What are the key elements of successful wildlife photography?

"To be a part of nature and really get to know the subject you're photographing. You need to try to get close, not just physically, but also by learning the animal's behaviour. Spend time trying to tell their story. For me, it's about the individual bird I'm photographing, not the species, because they can all be so different."


What's the biggest challenge when photographing birds?

"You need enough time to become a part of that bird's world. If you can spend time with your subject, you can get the shot. Sometimes it happens suddenly, but most of my pictures take so much time and preparation, and those are the ones that I remember."


Where did you draw inspiration from for your Night Hunter shot?

"One of my first wildlife encounters was with a great grey owl. I was so passionate about that bird as it's captivating to watch and has amazing hunting skills. I spent every morning and night trying to learn its behaviour and hunting routines. That can change from one owl to another, so you just need to watch them closely. By the end, I could set an alarm on my phone and know what the owl was going to be doing."


What's next for you? Which ambitions remain unfulfilled?

"I have so many ambitions! The great grey owl picture was part of a wider project, which I'm still working on. In one way, it's a lifelong project because I won't ever stop photographing birds – they're so cool! Some photographers have pictures of hundreds of different species, but that's not what drives me. I like to find a strong character that inspires me to tell its story. That could be king penguins in the Falklands or another species of owl – it's all about finding birds that have stories to tell."

Jonas Classon