Strange looking Sunset

@cperry2 (5608)
Newport, Oregon
March 9, 2020 10:48pm CST
My wife and I went down to one of our favorite spots to watch the ocean, and look for whales. I had my camera along for anything worthy of photographing. The picture above was taken about five minutes after the sunset. To me, it looks like a spotlight shining from below the horizon up into space. I do not think I have ever seen a sunset like this before. I love the colors, but what is the deal with the light shining upwards. Oh, it looked the same with the naked eye as it does in the photo, so this is not some aberration from the camera. Does anybody have any ideas why it looks like that? Edit: Update: Anna @LadyDuck has provided the answer here. This is called a sun pillar or a light pillar. It is a reflection of light on ice crystals in the upper atmosphere. It can be pointed upward or downward. It does not need the sun to be created, bright city lights can also cause them. here is a website that talks about it more:
Sun pillars, or light pillars, are shafts of light extending from the sun or other bright light sources. They're caused by ice crystals drifting in Earth's air.
9 people like this
10 responses
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Mar 20
Can't help you I'm sorry. We have a photo somewhere of where you can see two distinct suns but I can't find it at the moment.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (340216)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Mar 20
@cperry2 I got Vince to send it through to me again - from his computer. I found it earlier then lost it again I've been telling Vince he needs a better filing system for his photos and now it's me having trouble.
1 person likes this
Clint Perry
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
11 Mar 20
@JudyEv If he finds a good one I hope you will share that. I have more than 20,000 photos, probably closer to 40,000 I have one heck of a time finding just one photo from a few years back. I have started labeling the days with where I was, and what I focused on but still, that stuff from just five years ago, OMG I do not want to think about digging through that.
Clint Perry
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
10 Mar 20
That would be interesting to see. Thanks for looking.
1 person likes this
****DANIELLE****
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
12 Apr 20
Thank you @LadyDuck for explaining the situation here. And thank you @cperry2 for sharing this beautiful photo! I don't recall seeing anything like this before but still a beautiful sight to see.
2 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (471459)
• Switzerland
13 Apr 20
You are welcome. I remember that I saw something like this years ago.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (471459)
• Switzerland
13 Apr 20
2 people like this
****DANIELLE****
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
13 Apr 20
@LadyDuck Clever cookie!
1 person likes this
maezee
@maezee (41988)
• United States
10 Mar 20
I have no idea, but it is definitely a good shot you got!
2 people like this
Clint Perry
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
10 Mar 20
Thank you.
marguicha
@marguicha (223107)
• Chile
10 Mar 20
No idea but very beautiful.
2 people like this
Clint Perry
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
10 Mar 20
Thank you.
Angie
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
10 Mar 20
No but its awesome.
2 people like this
Clint Perry
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
10 Mar 20
Thanks, I like the photo, it just seems weird.
Simone
@Janet357 (75646)
•
10 Mar 20
No idea. but i like its yoke-like color.
2 people like this
Clint Perry
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
10 Mar 20
This is the normal color for the thime here. I have a photo I took down in Puerto Valharta several years ago, the colors are more gold and red.
Shavkat
@Shavkat (139937)
• Philippines
10 Mar 20
For me, it's picture-perfect.
1 person likes this
Shavkat
@Shavkat (139937)
• Philippines
11 Mar 20
@cperry2 You're a keen observant. I do think that things around us have beauty.
1 person likes this
Clint Perry
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
10 Mar 20
Thank you. It just seems stange. I've looked over other sunset photos I have taken over the years. there is nothing like that line of light shooting space ward. It just seems weird.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (471459)
• Switzerland
10 Mar 20
This is a beautiful photo and this is called a "sun pillar". Sun pillars form when sunlight reflects off the surfaces of falling ice crystals. Make a search "sun pillars" or "light pillars" you will see many images similar to this one.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (471459)
• Switzerland
11 Mar 20
@cperry2 You are welcome and I am really glad if I have been of some help.
1 person likes this
Clint Perry
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
10 Mar 20
Thank you Anna This has been driving me nuts. And nobody has had any idea until you. I did the search you suggested. It was rather cool here yesterday evening, I suppose up higher out over the water, it was cooler still.
1 person likes this
Clint Perry
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
11 Mar 20
@LadyDuck you were. I appreciate your sharing your knowledge.
1 person likes this
Joanie
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
10 Mar 20
No idea but it is a beautiful phot. Love all types of sunset photos.
2 people like this
Clint Perry
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
10 Mar 20
Thanks, I hope someone can give me some ideas about this.
Belief
@Mensch (292)
• Calcutta, India
10 Mar 20
We get a usual site like this when the sun is setting at our area specially the sea beaches shows the sites like this, the corporate colour of the sun while it is setting.
2 people like this
Clint Perry
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
10 Mar 20
So you are saying this is a common occurrence where you are? I've lived here only five years, and have watched countless sunsets many from that same location. I do not remember seeing anything like it before.