The photographer and entrepreneur from Pinar Mikely Arencibia Pantoja managed to capture an extraordinary image on Tuesday, August 25, during a thunderstorm in Pinar del Río: a visual coincidence of a ray of light in a violet setting and a reddish vertical band descending from the clouds, which is one of the most striking weather photographs recently shared on Cuban social networks.
The author himself described the moment on Facebook with equal parts enthusiasm and relief: "I just took this image that only stayed in front of my camera lens for a second. I've been trying to 'capture the fight' for days and... the pitcher goes to the well so often...".
Arencibia also acknowledged the risk involved in the capture: "And despite all the danger inherent in the event, it remains a stunning spectacle of nature, and that is why I wanted to share it."
The photograph depicts a stormy sky with dark gray cumulonimbus clouds, seen from a residential area of the city. In the foreground, there are low house rooftops, palm trees, electric cables, and a telecommunications antenna. Against this everyday urban landscape, a lightning bolt illuminates the scene with an intense purple hue, while a column of light in shades of orange, red, and yellow descends vertically from the clouds to the horizon.
The image quickly transcended the profile of its author. Rubén Capote, a Cuban meteorologist based in Tampa and head of Meteorology at Telemundo 49, shared it on his own Facebook profile with a strong assessment: "There are photos and photos, and this is one that stands out... Spectacular, taken this afternoon in Pinar del Río, Cuba," attributing the authorship to "Mikely Arencibia."
Arencibia publicly thanked the gesture of the renowned professional: "I have just received the blessed news that Ruben Capote, Head of Meteorology at Telemundo, posted on his profile the photo I took during the storm this Tuesday, August 25, in Pinar del Río. I just want to express my gratitude for such kindness."
Rubén Capote graduated with honors in Meteorology from the Higher Institute of Technologies and Applied Sciences (InSTEC) in Cuba and worked on the island as a specialist in environmental and technological risk management and analysis before emigrating. In 2018, he joined Telemundo 49 Tampa as a meteorologist, and since November 2022, he has been serving as the Chief Meteorologist of the station, which is part of NBCUniversal Local. His background adds an additional scientific-professional weight to the image.
The image seems to capture a thunderstorm at sunset, with a visible lightning bolt and intense illumination of the clouds, along with a potential curtain of precipitation. The spectacular reddish vertical band may be associated with rain lit by the slanting sunlight, while the lightning helps illuminate the storm. However, a single photograph does not allow for a definitive determination of the optical mechanism responsible for the luminous column.
The official forecasts for August 24 and 25 had already predicted showers and thunderstorms in Pinar del Río, with the possibility of being strong in some areas; an opportunity that Arencibia Pantoja was able to exploit very efficiently.
Pinar del Río, the westernmost province of Cuba, experiences high convective activity during the summer, from May to October. This is not the first time that a storm in the region has generated striking images: in August 2025, Havana photographer Miguel Kosta went viral with images of a lightning strike over Vedado during a nighttime storm, illustrating the growing interest among Cubans in documenting these atmospheric phenomena.
Arencibia Pantoja is known on social media for his critical posts about the daily reality of the island. In recent weeks, his reflections on the scarcity and blackouts in Cuba have generated comments and reactions among his followers. This time, however, it was nature —and his keen eye— that provided him with the image of the moment.
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