23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Light Upon the Soul

This photograph captures a spontaneous moment inside a church in Kutaisi, Georgia, where a beam of sunlight pierced through the architectural opening and illuminated a person standing quietly. The image reflects the intersection of spirituality and natural light, evoking a sense of contemplation, inner peace, and silent revelation. Rather than staging the scene, I observed and waited for the light to find its way onto the subject, revealing a moment of grace.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 08.2024
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Kutaisi, Georgia
Copyright: © Nanncie Zhu