God’s Rays

It’s that straight shaft of light that emanates from the clouds to the ground.  They’re known as the sun’s crepuscular rays; they’re also known as “God’s Rays.”

Background.

Last Wednesday, as I headed home to my apartment in the Town/Village, I saw a storm brewing to the north.  The clouds were black and angry.  But from the south, the sun was still shining.  And there were periods where the sun zipped behind a cloud… only to peek out.

And there, in the light, were the crepuscular rays.

I gotta get this.  As I arrived at my apartment, I parked my car, ran into the house and looked for my cameras.  And the first one I grabbed – was my Rolleiflex.

Throwing a roll of ISO 50 Fuji Velvia into the camera, I quickly ran outside and focused on the crepuscular rays as they pierced the clouds.  Setting – F/22, 1:250 shutter speed.

“Hey,” my neighbor shouted to me.  “What’cha doing?”

I pointed up.  “I want to get a picture of this.”

“Okay,” he said.  “Hey.”

“Yes?”

“Is that a Rolleiflex camera?”

It never fails.

Yesterday, I got the roll developed at McGreevy Pro Lab.  Got a great comment from Joe at McGreevy Pro Lab: “Chuck, this is Fuji Velvia 50.  They didn’t have Fuji Velvia 50 in 1974…”  Ha ha ha.

Anyway, the first couple of shots weren’t great, my f-stop was too small (f/22), but once I opened the throat on the Rollei up to at least f/11, I got this…

And then, when I increased the exposure time a smidge… I got this.

This is good.  Now the next time I try to shoot crepuscular “God’s Rays” photography, I hope that the shaft of light cascades down upon something memorable – a church steeple, for example.

Each photo taken is a learning experience, and one builds upon what was previously achieved.

And judging from these “quickie” photos… I’m on the right track.