Vienna International Photo Award 2026

When the nets are hoisted at dawn, the fishermen toss out by-catch, much to the delight of the whale sharks. This congregation of whale sharks also attract tourists. In particular, scuba divers who immerse themselves in this rare experience of swimming side by side with these gentle giants.

The fishermen also toss the baitfish at the scuba divers to bring the whale sharks closer. It creates chaos in the water, where whale shark and divers no longer mind any boundaries of space. The scuba divers bring with them tourism revenue for the fishermen, giving the latter a reason to protect the sharks.

I’m pleased that this image received a placing in the 2026 Vienna International Photo Award.