23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Devgiri Cave Temple, Jawai, India

While exploring Jawai’s ancient cave temple, we were guided into this quiet, sacred space carved into the rock. The air was thick with bees from suspended hives, you can see them drifting across the sky and a hive on the far right. We had to move slowly and stay calm, which created a moment of stillness and deep observation that shaped this photograph.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 04.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Jawai, India
Camera: ILCE-7M3
Copyright: © Jessea St-Louis