Behind The Lens

By Gazala Anver

Browsing through the internet, I came across a link to National Geographic’s annual worldwide photo contest. Naturally, the pictures were all striking and enough to inspire anyone, not just photo enthusiasts. One picture that made me stop, while I drank in all the details and the sheer luck of having caught such a moment was that of Lalith Ekanayake, who happens to be a Sri Lankan photographer. Tracking him down, it was discovered that Ekanayake is not only a photographer, but also the Medical Director for the Navy
Speaking to Review Plus, Ekanayake went into detail as to how his interest in arts led him to buy his first reel camera while studying medicine. 15 years down the line, his photo was selected for one of the biggest worldwide photo contests, the National Geographic Photo Contest: something that is not just a personal achievement but something that draws international attention to Sri Lanka’s diverse wildlife. Taken at the Yala National Park, Ekanayake describes the picture as having been taken in a fraction of a second. Set against the light, this picture clearly posed a unique challenge. A grown cub leopard is seen jumping from one branch to another, and capturing such a moment, with the right balance of light and exposure, takes a skilled photographer. Going through his portfolio on www.lalithphotography.com, it is evident that he doesn’t lack the skill.
“I never thought it would get in. It is a huge competition, the most competitive photo competition in the world. I was thrilled when I saw my photo was selected. It is a real achievement for not just me, but also Sri Lanka and the Yala National Park.”
Ekanayaka also spoke of how unfortunate it is that leopard poaching is still prevalent in the country. The problem, he said, is because within the park, despite having a number of rules, there is no discipline. “Recently a leopard was knocked down by a vehicle. This ideally should not happen at all in a National Park. I have been to other National Parks around the world, and the discipline and the rules are so tight there. The Department of Wildlife Conservation alone cannot handle this. Our first priority should be towards conservation, and then tourism and money.”
He explained how wildlife parks are a result of millions of years of evolution, and cannot be built artificially. “What we destroy will never come back. Conservation should be the highest priority. Rich countries have the money, but they can’t build such parks. They make sanctuaries instead, but wildlife parks are something we are blessed with, and something we should protect.”
Below are some of the pictures Ekanayake has taken in Sri Lankan, and around the world, reproduced with permission.

VB Top Right: This picture was selected for the National Geographic Photo Contest.
Second picture top right: Taken at the Maasai Mara National Park, Kenya.
Top left: Photographer, Lalith Ekanayake. Bottom right and left: Taken at the Yala National Park..