Heavy tropical rain sweeps across the limestone cliffs of Cadlao Island as the southwest monsoon sets in. This karst landscape, forested down to the water’s edge, harbors rich biodiversity both on land and beneath the sea. In the local Cuyonon language, Cadlao means “laughter” or “smile” – a name that belies the island’s brooding beauty and ecological weight.

Katherine Jack is a British photographer who has lived and worked in Palawan, Philippines, since 2004. Her work follows the everyday connections between people and the sea — and the marine life that supports them both. In one of the world’s most biodiverse yet understudied marine regions, she photographs slowly, with natural light and deep respect for her surroundings. Her images have appeared in The New York Times, The Telegraph, and Corriere della Sera, and have been exhibited in the Philippines, UK, US, and the Netherlands. She works with scientists and conservationists, and joined the iLCP Emerging League in 2022.