El Tecolote

An Immigrant Came to San Francisco for Work. One Injury Changed Everything

Pablo Unzueta

The opening image is a large, black and white gif of a straight-faced man with a scraggly beard. At first, he’s looking away. Then he looks forward, seemingly staring, for several seconds. 

The image, along with the rest of the photographs and narrative, do something that doesn’t happen often: It centers a day laborer. 

In this case, Pablo Unzueta’s photographs and story for El Tecolote tell the story of Jacento B., a day laborer in San Francisco. Or, as Unzueta explained, Jacento is among the ranks of “men who wait on street corners for painting, demolition or landscaping jobs. They are the unseen backbone of the city’s economy, taking on its most dangerous and least protected work.”

Jacento survived a major accident while helping to move heavy equipment. He lost his left leg. He almost lost his life. 

More black and white photos, some static and some gifs, show Jacento navigating his home on crutches or sitting streetside, panhandling. There are pictures of him at physical therapy and sitting on a cot with his prosthetic leg.

“This entry is a beautiful example of the power of visual journalism to connect readers with the stories of the people around them,” a judge said. “Not only were the videos and photographs themselves of high quality, but the presentation of the visuals was stunning. The visuals in this story truly elevated the piece to the next level, drawing out the humanity behind the writing. Great work!”

Read the Winning Work

An Immigrant Came to San Francisco for Work. One Injury Changed Everything Aug. 14, 2025