Photographer braves freezing conditions to capture spectacular rare phenomenon

Photographer Dimitri Goderdzishvili has braved temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees Celcius to capture a rare natural phenomenon known as "light pillars" in Bakuriani in Georgia.

Light pillars are a natural optical illusion in which long, vertical lines of light appear to be thrown by an earth-bound light source, and only appear when that light reflects off tiny ice crystals suspended in the earth's atmosphere on a still night.

Goderdzishvili says he first learned about the phenomenon on Facebook, but was disappointed to find the atmospheric event only happens on rare occasions in northern countries.

"So, when I saw it with my own eyes, it was really breathtaking," he tells 9Elsewhere.

Goderdzishvili said he and his twin brother stumbled upon the extremely rare phenomenon at a small ski resort in his native Georgia in February.

He says this photo of the two of them enjoying the view is his favourite from the series, because he wouldn't have been able to capture it at all without his brother's help.

You can see more of Goderdzishvili's work on Facebook or Flickr.