Volumetric Light

An effect where light hits tiny particles floating in the air, like smoke, fog or dust, so its path shows up as beams or shafts. It is also called god rays. Without particles in the air, the beams cannot be seen, so it is usually paired with light fog or haze.

The scene seen at an angle from above. The orange marker shows the sun’s direction. A low morning sun shines toward the camera from beyond the buildings behind the bunny.

Camera view. A low sun shows behind the buildings, and beams of light pour through the gaps between them, passing around the bunny and reaching toward the camera.

How it feels

Atmosphere
Depth
Sacred
Mystery
Lyrical

When to use it

Morning sun filtering through a forest
Light coming through a window or blinds
A smoky club, factory or cathedral
A foggy train platform

In the movies

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) · Source: Rotten Tomatoes Coming Soon (YouTube) · Original video

Not to be confused with

Lens Flare: A flare is a pattern made by light reflecting inside the lens; volumetric light is beams visible in the air.
Haze: Haze is the ingredient that makes beams visible; volumetric light is the beams you see as a result.
Backlight / Rim Light: Backlight is the position of a light shining from behind the person. Without fog in the air, there are no visible beams even with backlight.

Prompt

Keyword

volumetric lighting, god rays

Descriptive

Volumetric light. Thin haze in the air turns the light from the window into visible shafts behind the subject.

Try these combinations

Wide shot + god rays: a misty forest at dawn
Wide shot of a misty forest at dawn, morning light shafts piercing through fog, subtle god rays, gentle atmospheric haze
Medium shot + volumetric: light beams in a train station
Medium shot of a lone figure in an old train station, volumetric lighting creating visible light rays through the high windows, train exhaust drifting through the beams