11 Sri Lankan Female Photographers You Should Know

A photographer can capture a fleeting moment that will become history, and each photographer has a unique way of seeing the world. A photographer with a keen eye for detail, placed at the right place at the right moment? Imagine how momentous the outcome would be!

Excitingly, Sri Lanka is gifted with many brilliant female photographers who’ve mastered the art of capturing emotive, decisive and impactful moments. If photography captivates and excites you, here is a list of trailblazing female photographers that you must keep your eye out for and photographs that are most sentimental to them! To make it more intriguing, we also asked each one of them one question.

 

Sandeeshwara Perera

This was taken when I first started in 2019. I was trying out different creative concepts. This photograph is very special to me because it is the first time I retouched a photo all by myself. Back then I didn’t even have a laptop, and I retouched it using my phone. Every time I see this photograph, I’m reminded of how I gave it all even without having anything, and that feeling inspires me to do more.

How would you describe your photography style?

When it comes to my photography style, I would describe it as very feminine and creative. I love experimenting with different lighting and colours. I want to be adventurous with my captures as much as possible. However, I make sure that the subject stands out in my photographs. The background is minimal so that it won’t overpower the subject.

 

Hiranya Malwatte

I take this as one of my biggest achievements. I took this in 2007, during my earliest days. This was a very difficult thing to capture. You can see the motion of the people inside the picture; the dynamic quality of the devotees. The beauty is anybody can slower the shutter and capture movements, but then the people who are moving should make it artistic. Although this capture is totally unplanned, the people made it artistic and gave the mood I wanted it to create. My aim was to capture the shraddha inside the temple, and I believe I did that. I’m actually happy with my achievement. Even to think that I took such a photograph with a very basic camera and little experience makes me feel proud of myself.

What is your favourite subject to photograph? Why?

Personally, I’m very passionate about my roots and heritage. I will take every opportunity to show others the beauty and magnificence of the Sri Lankan heritage. Therefore, my favourite subject to photograph is the Sri Lankan heritage. I know it is a very broad topic, but I love to photograph things and places that resemble my heritage. I love capturing monuments in Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura.

Actually, I do a variety of categories including landscapes and wildlife, but this is my favourite. If I can make another Sri Lankan feel proud of being a Sri Lankan through my photographs, I believe that would be my biggest achievement.

 

Raffaela Fernando

This photograph was taken in 2022. The theme was Cyber punks, one of my personal favourites. I was able to show my lighting techniques. The photograph is really special to me because it was featured in a full-paged article in New York Times The Daily, and in Fabuk London as their top picks. This particular capture was loved here, and it was loved internationally as well.

What is the most unforgettable project you have done?

Every project is memorable in one way or another. But there is one memory that I cherish. That is the experience of working in London. I’m also a fashion designer, and I had a showcase in London Fashion Week. This is not a project, but it is the most unforgettable memory of my entire career. I got to work with very talented and professional photographers who work for Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj and many other idols. I went there as a fashion designer, but I ended up playing my part as a photographer as well. This was both an inspiring and an educational experience for me to become a photographer in a place where people look at art in a different dimension.

 

Shiara Gunasekara

This photograph is my personal favourite. The lighting was good and the natural colours of the photograph just make my heart skip a beat. I have taken this shot right on time, and even the model has done an excellent job. The other reason I hold this photograph as my favourite is that the entire team involved in this project were some of the closest people in my life including the model and the makeup artists.

What is your creative process like when it comes to a project?

I visualise the whole shoot and the exact images I want to take before I even confirm a project. I go a bit crazy with mood boards, but I think the more ideas you have down, the more diverse your end result will be, because you want images that vary in all aspects but show a similar message.

The client is a big part of the process. I like to get to know how their brand started, what it took to get here, what they would do if they were me, among other things. I find a way to tie in the client’s demands and a creative touch to produce work that I am actually proud of.

 

Yadushika Radhakrishnan

This is one of my first photographs. For me, it is a very lucky capture. The photograph went pretty viral on social media for both me and the model. Undoubtedly, this photograph was a pick-up moment for me. This photo reminds me of my capabilities, and yes, definitely energises my passion towards photography.

What is one challenge you had to face in your journey as a photographer?

The biggest challenge for me was figuring out my style. The art of photography is pretty wide and there are many paths to explore. Especially with social media expanding day by day, it’s also hard to stay true to my own style. To find myself and to find how to stick to my style have to be my biggest challenges to date.

 

Ayshcharya Pinto

There isn’t a photo that I can single out as my favourite. But this is definitely up there. This was shot at Kamburugamuwa beach at sunset, and I included it in a miniseries of images showing how temperamental yet beautiful the ocean is during and after a storm. I love that you can tell that the sun is setting by just the reflection. It’s subtle and reminds me that there is beauty even in the tiniest of details.

One thing you wish you knew when you were an aspiring photographer?

Photography started off as a hobby for me with travel photography. This slowly progressed to more commercial work focusing on fashion. There is so much creativity flowing in the art of photography, I love it!

Although nothing could have prepared me for it, I wish I knew how much administration work was involved. When I’m not shooting or editing, a significant amount of time is spent creating rate cards, attending to emails, planning social media content and updating portfolios.

It can be a lot if you work alone, but I’m enjoying the process!

 

Buddhilini De Soyza

This image of the swimming cheetahs was captured in the Maasai Mara in January 2020. It is special to me for several reasons. We have followed this coalition of five male cheetahs for several years. Being able to witness and photograph such a unique and once-in-a-lifetime sighting was really special. This image was highly commended at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, the Oscars in the wildlife world.

More importantly, this image is special to me because I believe it to be a timely reminder of the detrimental effects of human induced climate change. The rains in the Mara at that time of the year were unseasonal and the Maasai elders had never seen such bad flooding in their lifetime. If human induced climate change is left unchecked, it becomes an additional threat to animals such as cheetahs that already face many threats in the wild due to human activities.

What makes a good photo stand out from the rest?

I think for me, the most important aspect of a good photograph is its storytelling abilities. Of course, the image should be technically sound and have a compelling composition, but if it doesn’t tell a story, then it falls flat in my opinion. As humans, we are drawn to emotions. Images that capture displays of emotion are timeless. These images speak to us and make us wonder what’s happening or what the subject is thinking. Apart from this, capturing a unique moment or even an everyday moment from a unique perspective makes an image stand out from the rest, as does using unique lighting and colour as well as contrasting objects and concepts.

 

Aamina Nizar

Primarily, I’m a commercial photographer. And I didn’t intend to shoot while on pilgrimage in Mecca. However, after the major rituals were completed, there was an opportunity to pursue something personal. Most images of the Ka’abah (black box) tend to be static. But, in this image, I was able to bring attention to the swirling sea of humanity, circling the Ka’abah, united in purpose, love, and faith.

What is the most rewarding thing about being a photographer?

It’s almost like being part of the process of curating how humans visualize the world. As photographers, we are able to draw attention to objects and parts of our world that could get overlooked. The most rewarding thing about being a photographer is that I get the opportunity to bring so many elements together and make society see them in a new light.

 

Jeevani Fernando

Challenging societal norms, 28-year-old *Sinnakannu lives by herself in Thevipuram, Mullaitivu of Northern Sri Lanka. She is used to taking care of herself. As a child soldier at 15 years, Sinnakannu was critically injured during a face-to-face confrontation with the military in 2009. A targeted hand grenade tore through her rear and exited through her abdomen, saved only by quick access to a nearby hospital. Her life was stitched back, but her chance to bear a child was forever undone.

Her new home, where a warm ‘Kitty’ and a warmer kettle is always at hand, is now her paradise where she grows hibiscus and marigolds to colour her surroundings. Being the owner of a home gives her purpose and poise in the eyes of her community. At 15 years, she had no idea if there was a tomorrow, but having survived life’s harshest challenges, she looks forward to a peaceful future. This photograph is very special because everything about this photo inspires and motivates me.

How has becoming a photographer changed your life?

Documenting life has made me humble and hungry. I fall on my knees listening to brave and resilient individuals like Sinnakannu.

How do I even begin to frame a memory, a moment, a mood of that magnitude? My hands shake with the weight of information that an image and its story embodies. I walk into homes and hearts, and they stay with me. Every single meeting, every single click is an exchange of self and the other. I’m always left hungry to capture more stories, more people and more places out there because life is full of heroism in the most unlikely places most times. I wish to stay humble and hungry.

 

 Zuzana Stankova

This image is special to me as it represents an exhilarating moment in my career. It was taken during the Mercedes Benz fashion week in Colombo, Sri Lanka. This was an international fashion event where I participated both as a model and as part of the media team, photographing the backstage. It was a captivating experience in my career as I had the opportunity to express myself as a model as well as a photographer. This image was taken amidst the chaos of the backstage practices. It showcases the dramatic settings behind every fashion show, representing the chaos that lies under all the beauty.

Why did you choose to pursue a career in photography?

I grew up surrounded by fabrics, fashion magazines, photography, and art, as my mother used to be a fashion design teacher and my dad is a photographer. With the inspiration I received from my parents, it did not take long until I got my first camera and explored the world of fashion photography, a career inspired by my upbringing. And just like that, my passion for photography soon became a big part of my career.

 

Maria roots

Every inch of this photo is filled with happiness. I remember taking this shot while the parents were talking about the childhood of the bride. The posture of the subjects and their expressions always make me feel good. There were a lot of emotions going on at that moment, and I’m grateful to myself for taking this shot at that moment. As photographers, we get the opportunity to grasp moments that would tell an incredible story, and this is proof of that.

What does photography mean to you?

Becoming a photographer gave me so many things to cherish. I was able to travel around the country, capturing valuable memories of various people. That experience itself encourages me to pursue this art. Photography is not just a simple career but a living, breathing art. There are so many things to explore, so many things to learn in photography. I believe there’s more for me to learn and unveil in my journey as a photographer.

 

Honorary Mentions:

Yamuni Rashmika
Lizz Fernando
Manike Van Der Poorten
Vera Kazantseva
Sharni Jayawardena
Anu Amarakoon
Alefiya Akbarally
Sadhina Abeysooriya

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