Sun pillar, 10 minutes after sunset. The phenomenon is caused by reflection of the light by horizontally oriented tiny ice crystals. It lasted a few minutes only, and when I went a few yards further to the point where the base of the solar pillar was not covered by the building, the intensity of the dropped drastically.
"Unlike a light beam, a light pillar is not physically located above or below the light source. Its appearance as a vertical line is an optical illusion, resulting from the collective reflection off the ice crystals; but only those that are in the common vertical plane, direct the light rays towards the observer" (Wikipedia). A diagram in the Wikipedia illustrates the physical explanation very well.

Nikon Coolpix P950

cropped