Crepuscular rays - sunbeams to most of us - can be caught by a camera, mostly just after sunrise and just before sunset (hence the name). Many photographers will loiter for what seems an age to capture the right light and techniques used are known variously as The Golden Hour, Chiaroscura and the Rembrandt effect - all of which those little (or large) sunbeams can help. Here in a remarkable series of images, take in the beauty of those rays.
http://quazen.com/arts/photography/incredible-crepuscular-rays-sunbeams-caught-on-camera/
(image credit: Flickr user Pear Biter)
From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by taliesyn30.
Only thing missing in the sun beams is a curled up cat.
I always assumed sunbeams were just a bad rendering effect that showed up in CG and games, not something that showed up in actual photos.