This was a very lucky shot. On my way to work early one morning, I noticed this vertical shaft of light,
seemingly shooting up into the sky. Didn't know what it was - had never seen this before. I found out
later it was a sun pillar which is a vertical shaft of light extending upward or downward from the sun
and typically seen during sunrise or sunset. Sun pillars form when sunlight reflects off the surfaces
of falling ice crystals associated with thin, high-level clouds. I understand it is a rare sight to see.