Photographer Easelyn Pineda captured an image of two local men spearfishing in rough weather off Laiya beach in the Philippines. The photo, taken on her phone while wading into the water, was later shortlisted in the motion category of the 2026 Sony World Photography Awards.
The image highlights the labor-intensive nature of traditional spearfishing and, for Pineda, symbolizes the resilience of the Filipino spirit. Its recognition by a major international photography competition brings attention to everyday scenes of subsistence and cultural endurance, celebrating unscripted moments of human effort against the elements.