Miss Sri Lanka in Europe 2015

Miss Sri Lanka in Europe 2015 

1st runners up - Keesha ( UK)

Photography By - Himarsha Chathura Ukwatta

Live it up

A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders 

and accomplish miracles

Welcome to Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is one of the prevalent tourist destinations on this planet. Few places in the world can offer the traveller such a remarkable combination of stunning landscapes, pristine beaches, captivating cultural heritage and unique experiences within such a compact location.  Within a mere area of  65,610 kilometres lie 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 1,330 kilometres of coastline - much of it pristine beach - 15 national parks showcasing an abundance of wildlife, nearly 500,000 acres of lush tea estates, 250 acres of botanical gardens, 350 waterfalls, 25,000 water bodies, to a culture that extends back to over 2,500 years. The idea of the project is to cover main attractions from each category using creative aerial videography technics in order to deliver immaculate view to the audience within curtain time period.

Young, Wild and Free

Presenting a selection of images from my recent photoshoot at the renowned "Lister Park," one of Bradford's iconic green spaces. I invite you to share your thoughts through comments, and I sincerely appreciate your feedback in advance. Thank you for taking the time to explore these photographs.

Confused

Driven by my deep passion for photography, I embarked on a journey of creative exploration within the confines of a professional photo studio. Harnessing the resources offered by my university's own studio, I enlisted the collaboration of some friends who willingly stepped into the role of models for my experimental endeavors.

Within the studio's controlled environment, I orchestrated my compositions using an arrangement of three primary flash lights. On occasion, I incorporated an additional two flashes to augment the lighting dynamics. For this particular image, I strategically positioned four flash lights: one to the left, another to the right, a third above, and a fourth directed toward the lower right corner. This configuration was aimed at casting a distinct shadow from the chair, as clearly evident in the image.

Leveraging a generous aperture, I managed to maintain a broad expanse of focus within the frame. Though the exact shutter speed escapes my memory, it resided within the range of 200 to 250. As for the ISO, a setting of 100 was selected.

The image presented here stands unaltered from its original state, with the sole exception of my signature discreetly added using Photoshop. No further modifications were applied.

I christened this captivating creation "Confused," a title that echoes my intention of capturing a countenance of bewilderment from the subject during the moment of capture.

Speed

This recent snapshot captures a moment in motion. As you've likely discerned, this isn't a static image; it was captured as the subject was in motion. These types of shots pose a challenge to capture effectively. To freeze the action, I employed a high-speed shutter and a wide aperture with an ISO setting of 100. The weather conditions were in my favor – a radiant sunny day provided ample light, granting me the flexibility to adjust my camera settings at will. Favorable lighting conditions serve as a boon for photographers seeking to achieve high-quality results.

As previously mentioned, the use of a high-speed shutter was instrumental in capturing the crispness of this photograph. Employing this technique was pivotal in attaining the desired outcome. Additionally, I harnessed a specialized effect to maintain focus on the primary subject. The Canon 7D boasts a feature known as "AI Servo" – a function tailored for tracking moving objects and rendering them distinctly clear in focus. Employing this option across multiple shots yielded satisfactory results, with most of them retaining sharp focus.

Notably, this image hasn't been subjected to any alterations through Photoshop. What you're viewing is the authentic image with its original colors, unadulterated by any post-processing. This serves as a testament to the significance of lighting in photography, highlighting how optimal illumination profoundly impacts the outcome of a photograph.

Fireflies

This marks my inaugural foray into nocturnal photography. With my trusty Canon 7D in hand, I embarked on this venture for the purpose of a photography competition that stipulated a landscape-oriented submission. A gratifying detail is that my engagement with Photoshop for this endeavor was confined solely to affixing my name, a fact that brings me considerable satisfaction.

The palette of colors within this image holds a particular allure. The warm yellow hues faithfully replicate the natural glow of streetlights, elevating the overall visual appeal. In the process of capturing this scene, I undertook numerous experiments with settings. My initial attempt involved employing a slow shutter speed, yielding satisfactory results though not on par with the outcome presented here.

A novel feature of the Canon 7D, the "bulb" mode, captured my attention and prompted my exploration. Utilizing this mode necessitates the use of a remote shutter controller, and the scene requires stabilization via a tripod. The "bulb" mode permits the shutter to remain open for a duration of choice, facilitating enhanced light absorption. This feature proves invaluable when capturing images under low-light conditions, with stability being paramount to evade blurriness.

For this particular shot, the "bulb" mode was engaged, and I held the shutter open for approximately 30 seconds. Recollections point to an ISO setting of 100 and a narrow aperture, a strategic choice that enabled the expansive field of focus evident in the image. This selection was crucial in accommodating the multitude of details that grace the scene.

The image stands christened as "Fireflies," an apt moniker for the myriad luminous specks that conjure images of these delicate insects. To those familiar with Bradford, the locale depicted here should resonate as a recognizable site.

Anticipate further rendezvous where I unveil additional captures akin to this one.

A new power code

The image depicted above was crafted with a specific purpose: to serve as the product cover for my brother's latest creation. Being a businessman, he had recently unveiled a new power cord and entrusted me with the task of designing its cover. This undertaking posed a formidable challenge due to the tight timeframe of just two days, as the product was slated for imminent release into the market.

My approach began with meticulously acquiring precise measurements and gathering essential details required for the design. I procured the official logo emblematic of our products and, armed with these essentials, set out to accomplish the task using the capabilities of Photoshop.

The subsequent phase involved procuring pertinent images associated with the logo, adeptly excising their backgrounds and storing them in the PNG file format. The choice of PNG was paramount in preserving the images devoid of any background interference—a crucial consideration in the realm of design.

With all the requisite resources at hand, I embarked on translating my nascent design concept into a tangible creation through a meticulously structured step-by-step approach. As the design took form, it closely aligned with my initial vision. Nonetheless, upon my brother's scrutiny, he proposed a few minor adjustments that would further refine the design. These tweaks were promptly executed, leading to his satisfaction with the outcome.

The culmination of these efforts saw my brother's product successfully launched into the market, commencing its journey of sales and distribution. I find immense pride in having contributed to his endeavor by leveraging my creative talents to craft the design. It's gratifying to realize that countless individuals will bear witness to the product of my artistic endeavor.