About myself

I am a writer and photographer. I started doing both around the same time, in the early eighties. I tried to make a living from photography (not successful) and worked briefly as a photojournalist. Since 1996, I've made a living as a journalist. In addition, I have written several novels. Around that time, I began my own documentary photography project, photographing the changing face of Colombo and ways of life. After being inactive for the past five years, I'm back to photography again now in 2011.

Since many Sri Lankans discard their old analog cameras, this is an attempt to change that trend. Hence the title, Retroheliographers. But things have changed. I began using compact digital cameras (such as an early Canon 3.8 megapixel camera Sony Cybershot) but my mainstay was still an SLR. After my colour film processing lab closed down years ago, I bought an old Nikon D90 and got serious about digital photography. I now have a Canon 5D MarkIII and Canon 600D.

I'd like to resume film photography as an art form, but circumstances don't allow this right now. But I'm keeping my Canon FTb and Asahi Pentax Spotmatic SLRs and Fed 5b rangerfinder in working order, and will get back to it when things are right.

It's a pleasure to be using old manual lenses with the two DSLRs! 

It's hard to explain why I stuck with photography amidst so many difficulties. I have also accumulated a body of photographic work that looks better with age. Places change, people change, you need to record these changes. This is what I love doing. I'm into my fourth decade in photography, and I believe I have at least two more to go!

Stay with me.