During a recent afternoon thunderstorm, I was in my office editing, with the blinds closed to minimize stray light on my monitors, and out of the corner of my eye I noticed a glow from outside. I heard it thundering and knew that it had been raining fairly hard for the past hour or so, so I was confused by the sudden brightness. I opened the blinds to see a golden glow of light from between the dark storm clouds.

I grabbed my camera and (not unlike a crazy person) ran outside to capture this odd event. There was a large break in the storm clouds that allowed the setting sun’s rays through.

Known amongst photographers as “godrays”, they are fitting in name. I snapped away for a minute or two, capturing a flock of birds on the left part of one frame.  As quickly as it arrived, the break closed up and disappeared. Moments later, it rained harder than I have seen in a very long time.