Whoa, Jellybean. This is an incredibly ethereal photo with the dark clouds encroaching from the right, the minute spot of sun poking through at the horizon, and those fantastic rays edging around the smaller suspended clouds. There is a specific name for this type of ray but it escapes me at the moment. I downloaded a copy into my Photoshop CS4 and ran numbers in Shadows/Highlights of 10/10/20 for each. It lightened it a little, without washing anything out, so you can actually see the beach but, you know, each one was a strong photo, the one you submitted and the one I played around with, but they conveyed very different atmospheres (not to be punnish) and feelings. If you've got Photoshop you should give it a try, not to replace this one, no need for that, just to satisfy any curiosity you might have. You caught a great one here, bud.

-Nikoneer

Okay, I remembered the name and found some info:

Crepuscular rays, in atmospheric optics, are rays of sunlight that appear to radiate from a single point in the sky. These rays, which stream through gaps in clouds or between other objects, are columns of sunlit air separated by darker cloud-shadowed regions. The name comes from their frequent occurrences during crepuscular hours (those around dawn and dusk), when the contrasts between light and dark are the most obvious. They are near-parallel, but appear to diverge because of linear perspective, exactly the reason that every person who sees a rainbow sees it a bit differently -- they are created by our eyes and our position. Crepuscular rays often occur when objects such as mountain peaks or clouds partially shadow the sun's rays like a cloud cover. Various airborne compounds scatter the sunlight and make these rays visible, due to diffraction, reflection, and scattering. Another form of these rays is commonly called "Jacob's Ladder." (I did remember the name but I cheated with mostly Wikipedia info)

-Nikoneer

The varied formations of the clouds are amazing, especially those closest to you. What a treat this sunset was to observe.

Fantastic shot, the colours are absolutely stunning and the light is very dramatic.
I think it would benefit from a slightly tighter crop as the blackness to the top and right detract a little on what is otherwise a superb image.

A beautiful drama unfolding,an you have a piece of it,Great catch

Spectacular sunset shot, Jelly. They don't get any better than this.

Jimbob

you caught a good good one here, like the comment(s) of Nikoneer, warm color and good clearity:))

Spectacular!!!!!! As softness not usually seen in sunsets but apparent here and striking to the eye! BRAVO!!

What a wonderful world we live on ! Just one word: Amazing !!
Very impressing and Excellent work, Jellybean !
Regards !
John

what a moment you have seen here, thanx you had the camera with you, 10faved immediatly

<º))))><.·´¯`·.<º))))><.·´¯`·.ßeautïful<º))))><.·´¯`·.<º))))><.·´¯`·.

WOW I really love this one! Right place...Right time...Well done! Faved

Wow indeed!! Great photo.. Mich

++Thanks Everyone for your great comments++

Breathtaking Shot !
John

Wow this is really stunning! Great job .... into my faves.

Love your Marco sunset. My home town!!
Great capture. Glad you liked "Emma", my bald eagle.

Superb capture. Faved

Thanks for commenting on Honor. I'm glad you liked it. This is a memorial for the service men and women for all branches of the armed forces that live in the small town I live in in Tennessee.

Fantastic shot! Fav'ed!

Hey there! GUess what? we have some of Gods masterpieces here at the Pacific Ocean in ORegon too!! hehe...He's a good sharer!
So this is magnificent! Thanx for posting it. Love it!! Verena

I'm happy to see it. Yes, it's great.

Hello Jellybean...You have certainly captured a moment in time with this one....The colours and the rays makes this picture a pleasure to view...Well done...All the best to you Jellybean..............................................Mick.

Wow, this sunset is really of God, there's no way something like that couldn't have been made without God. Awesome! :)

Amazing light in the sky! God is always painting the world with beauty and since we weren't there to see it I'm so glad you shared this one.

Absolutely spectaculair!
You captured the moment so well.
Paul

Woo hoo, another beauty. Keep-pah!

Outstanding capture, love it. Tigs

Wow, saw this on home page, it's Fabulous and right into my favs