For Pete's Sake

Royals photographer captured image of KC skyline reflected in clouds above The K

Kansas City Royals grounds crew members drag a tarp onto the field during a rain delay in the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Kauffman Stadium on April 26, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri.
Kansas City Royals grounds crew members drag a tarp onto the field during a rain delay in the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Kauffman Stadium on April 26, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. Getty Images
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways

AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.

Read our AI Policy.


  • Royals photographer Jason Hanna captured downtown KC reflected in clouds above the K.
  • Hanna wrote the downtown skyline 'casts on to high level clouds' above the K.
  • An X user said the dark bands were likely crepuscular shadow rays from low sunset light.

One-third of the Royals’ 2026 season is over and, unfortunately, there haven’t been many bright spots.

Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. is going to be in the American League Most Valuable Player conversation, and starting pitcher Michael Wacha is on pace to be picked for the All-Star Game.

And Jason Hanna is doing great things, too.

Hanna is the Royals’ team photographer, so he’s not contributing on the field. But Hanna has gotten some great pictures, starting with that epic shot of closer Lucas Erceg in April.

“It was really pure luck,” Hanna told me at the time.

Hanna used the “L” word again as he shared quite possibly the most unique photo ever taken at Kauffman Stadium.

“The shadow of downtown KC casts on to high level clouds above the K,” Hanna wrote on X. “One of the coolest pictures I think I’ve gotten lucky enough to take at the K. Especially with where we will be moving to. So cool.”

I’m not sure luck was involved, but it is an incredible shot.

“One of the most amazing photos I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot of photos during my lifetime!” a fan wrote.

Another shared this: “My god this is an amazing shot.”

“It is a stunning photo. Amazing alone,” a fan wrote. “Unreal with what’s going on with the Royals. There was no luck involved. A talented person was in the right place.”

This summed it up well: “This is one of the coolest pictures of the K I have ever seen!!!”

Another X user shared how that image was possible, writing: “Those dark bands are likely crepuscular shadow rays created as low angle sunset light from the west is partially blocked by the downtown KC skyline.”

This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 10:56 AM.

Pete Grathoff
The Kansas City Star
From covering the World Series to the World Cup, Pete Grathoff has done a little bit of everything since joining The Kansas City Star in 1997.
Sports Pass is your ticket to Kansas City sports
#ReadLocal

Get in-depth, sideline coverage of Kansas City area sports - only $1 a month

VIEW OFFER