Werner Haeni

This striking image of the Milky Way illuminated by a lightning storm was captured by Swiss astrophotographer Werner Haeni at 2:30am from a hidden vantage point above Long Beach, Russell, with Rawhiti in the distance.

A self-taught photographer and regular visitor to Russell, Werner has spent the last decade exploring the night sky through his lens. This particular image was taken during a 30-second exposure—perfectly timed to catch a lightning flash and the vast celestial display in a single frame.