Sunset pillar over the Old Harbour, Boston, MA December 15, '08. Imaged by Richard Hall ©Richard Hall, shown with permission.

Large wobbly plate shaped ice crystals in the clouds created the pillar by glinting sunlight from their hexagonal faces towards the eye and camera. Although pillars appear to be upward shining beams, they are not - the 'beam' is the glints of millions of crystals.