[Artistic] Submission 143295 – LARRYN RAE

Let me introduce you to Light Pillars! This is the first time that this rare phenomenon has ever been captured in New Zealand! I hiked up to around 2000m to the Remarkable's lookout where I was planning to catch the milkyway core setting over the mountains of Queenstown. While I was waiting, some heavy cloud came in thick and fast and obscured my view. In my quick frustration, I was suddenly stunned when I saw these pillars of light suddenly appear. Knowing exactly what they were, I immediately stopped what I was doing and changed lenses to my widest angle, knowing I may only have minutes to try rattle of a panorama. I chucked the 14 mm on and true to the pure panic and adrenaline, it was all over in around 10 minutes! Light Pillars occur mainly in the northern hemisphere when temperatures suddenly drop to typically below -10ºc. Combined with this rapid cooling, you get these pillars forming from strong light sources below ie cities, where the light reflects off the rapidly cooled ice crystals that have formed due to that sudden drop in temperature. I couldn't believe my luck! I was shaking in panic and with adrenaline as I captured the panorama. I never thought I would ever see, nor did I think it was ever possible to capture this in New Zealand but here we are!