Matt Tomkins felt the charge sawing on the air and knew the lightning was right above him.

The Canberra photographer has been chasing storms out of the capital and into "the middle of nowhere" for more than five years. But last night the biggest storm he's ever seen in the ACT unfolded right outside his front door.

Canberra storm-chaser and photographer Matt Tomkins captured this stunning shot from his house as the storm rolled in from over the Brindabellas overnight. Credit:Matt Tomkins Photography

"I couldn't believe it, it was insane. I saw the lightning rolling in slowly over the Brindabellas, and then it was on top of me," he said.

Retreating to his garage, Mr Tomkins captured the bolts striking the field across the road from his house in Dunlop.