Rare image of vanishing century-old technique celebrated in photography contest – captured with an 8-year-old DSLR

A person kneels on sandy ground next to a large white pelican, with a peaceful river and distant huts in the background.

This striking image by French photographer Guillaume Petermann just received Merit recognition in AAP Magazine #53: Travels. Captured on Lake Manchar in Sindh Province, Pakistan, the photograph documents one of the world's most extraordinary and endangered fishing traditions.

This rare tradition highlights a vanishing way of life between humans and nature, a bond that has endured for centuries, and shows its cultural significance. What makes this merit-winning image so compelling is the quiet authority Petermann captured. There's no spectacle – only trust, ritual, and a deep understanding of the natural world.