Mark S. Johnson Photography

If you’ve ever witnessed the sheer magic of intense beams of light streaming through clouds or a mist-filled forest, then you’ve encountered what I characterize as “God Beams.” These beams are so uncommon that when I encounter them, all I can manage to do is stare in wonder and disbelief. To capture them in a photograph is merely icing on nature’s miraculous cake. For the beams to materialize, there must be dust particles or water vapor in the air. As sun filters through clouds or a forest, the clouds or trees obscure patches of light. The light that finds its way through strikes the dust or water particles in the air and illuminates them to produce brilliant God Beams. The next time that you capture a backlit scene containing clouds or a forest, even if God Beams are not present, don’t worry. It’s possible to use Photoshop to create these delightful rays of light.