Crepuscular Rays

PeterD-2009 · July 20, 2009

These are formed by shadows in the low cloud with moist air in between. The sun is still high and the 'rays' are therefore coming down to the ground. A similar effect takes place when the sun is low. In this case, the 'rays' spread out in the sky.
A thunderstorm was approaching. Taken from Southmoor, looking across the Langstone harbour at Portsmouth. The sunbeams are actually coming down in Portsmouth Harbour (the other side of Portsmouth). This has created a silhoette effect. The hills behind and to the left are on the Isle of Wight.

Hope you like this. Comments/critique are welcome

ian408 · July 20, 2009

Some photographers refer to these as "god beams". What ever they're called, they produce a wonderful effect.

PeterD-2009 · July 21, 2009

ian408 wrote:

Some photographers refer to these as "god beams". What ever they're called, they produce a wonderful effect.

Thanks Ian. I have heard them called that too.

schmoo · July 21, 2009

Hi Peter, great catch! You have lots of great textures here, with the clouds, the soft light beams and the ripples in the water. Thanks for sharing this!

dlplumer · July 21, 2009

Very nice capture Peter

Dan

Nikolai · July 21, 2009

Lovely shot!

Correct spelling is crepUscular, though

PeterD-2009 · July 21, 2009

schmoo wrote:

Hi Peter, great catch! You have lots of great textures here, with the clouds, the soft light beams and the ripples in the water. Thanks for sharing this!

Thank you for your kind comments. I see these quite often (the UK is well known for its wet weather off the Atlantic) but this is the first time I have tried to capture the effect.

PeterD-2009 · July 21, 2009

dlplumer wrote:

Very nice capture Peter

Dan

Thank you Dan for viewing and your comment.

PeterD-2009 · July 21, 2009

Nikolai wrote:

Lovely shot!
Correct spelling is crepUscular, though

Oops. Thanks for the correction

and your kind comment:D .

schmoo · July 21, 2009

PeterD-2009 wrote:

Oops. Thanks for the correction and your kind comment:D .

I missed that, myself! I fixed the thread title for you.

PeterD-2009 · July 21, 2009

schmoo wrote:

I missed that, myself! I fixed the thread title for you.

Thank you

thapamd · July 22, 2009

Fantastic light, Peter! I love it when rays shine down like this from the sky above. It's like the Big Guy is happy with us.

PeterD-2009 · July 22, 2009

thapamd wrote:

Fantastic light, Peter! I love it when rays shine down like this from the sky above. It's like the Big Guy is happy with us.

Thanks for your comments. I think that is why they are also called Gods rays. I am not too sure that He is happy with us but at least it gives us hope.