THIS stunning rainbow trout is literally a fish out of water after being snapped making a spectacular leap out of a lake.

The beautiful, mottled fish was photographed in mid-flight with the light filtering through its translucent tail and the clear water of the lake bubbling beneath it.

The image was captured by chance by amateur wildlife photographer and civil engineer Jamie MacArthur, 54.

He had visited the fishery in Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands to photograph local ospreys diving in for food.

Jamie, from Doncaster, Yorkshire, said: “I was on my third day of four trying to capture ospreys when I noticed the trout leaping from the water.

“I was a bit bored so thought I would have a go at trying to capture one.”

It’s thought trout leap from the water to capture flies in the air, and sometimes to get rid of lice.