Volumetric Light / God Rays

Watch as an animation →

Volumetric Light / God Rays (Result of the AI changing the photo from the lighting name alone)

In plain words

Beams of light show up in smoke or dust, adding a sacred, dreamy feel and depth.

When to use it

Forest, cathedral, warehouse and stage shots, the moment a product appears.

Example videos

Volumetric Lighting 101: Add Dimension to Your Cinematography — Explainer: See how making light beams visible in smoke and haze adds depth to the frame.

Cinematography Hack: Using Haze & Fog — Explainer: See the difference when haze and fog are sprayed and window light shows up as beams.

AI Filmmaking: The Ultimate Guide to Cinematic Lighting (20 Prompts) — AI: See beams of light and dust floating in the air in an AI-made god-rays scene.

Will AI handle it well?

Public AI example available — Veo 'volumetric lighting', Kling 'subtle god rays'

One-click prompt

Volumetric light rays through forest haze, visible god rays and floating dust particles, a deer steps into a clearing in a misty pine forest at sunrise, locked-off camera, 50mm lens, golden beams cutting through cold blue shadows, sacred dreamy mood, 6-second shot.

Tell the AI like this

volumetric light rays through the forest haze, visible god rays, dust particles

See it in real films and ads

Wikipedia — Crepuscular rays

AI-made examples

Kling AI Prompt Guide

Recommended for scenes like these

Sci-Fi: Overwhelming Scale Fantasy: World Reveal Noir: Interrogation in the Shadows Blade Runner — Hades Landscape Opening

Techniques that pair well

Extreme Wide Shot (EWS)Slow Reveal Silhouette 65mm / IMAX Frame Within a Frame

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