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| Sunday, 15 December 2002 |
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by Vimukthi Fernando Enthralling! A blend of action and colour in perfect harmony. Catching that precise moment... and making it memorable. The whole wild-world, poised on the panels! Leopards and birds dominating the show. A young man lean and tall, dressed in a simple cotton shirt and trousers stands beside... with a cheerful smile. He is Rukshan Jayewardene, wildlife photographer, conservationist, and, archaeologist by profession. Moving amongst hundred and five fascinating photographs - action strikes the eye instantly. How does he capture so much action? "Preparedness" is the key according to this photographer. "You never know what you see in the next bend. I drive around Yala expecting to see leopards at every corner," says Rukshan. That is the level of preparedness, which won him a Highly Commended Award at the 'B G Wildlife Photographer of the Year' organised by the BBC Wildlife magazine. His photograph of the "Hawk-eagle Grappling with a Land-monitor" vied with 18,500 entries from 60 countries. The same preparedness also secured him his favourite, amongst 105 photographs on show, at Botswana, South Africa in September 2002. "It was mid day with the sun shining down brilliantly when we came across these two full grown male warthogs drawing blood from each other. Though the light was blinding, I wanted to capture it in my camera. And, it was happening so very quickly. When I clicked they were actually colliding and within 1/1400 of a second they had already separated. The guide who was with me, said that he had seen such a happening only once in the span of 20 years as a Game Ranger. It is a rare sight and a very satisfying picture," Rukshan points out. And the leopard photographs, in various poses at a range of sites, starting from that of a playful juvenile peeping from the bush for a quick photo session to those of full grown males and females courting at 'Koti Gala' are the result of the "influence of two friends Dr. Ravi Samarasinghe and Jehan Kumara, involved in a leopard project in Yala," says Rukshan. His collaboration on a book on the Sri Lankan Leopard, assisting his friends, had sharpened his focus on leopards. Yala, has become one of his favourite 'leisure spots' since wildlife photography became a serious hobby dominating most of his time from about 1996. For his "most productive photography sessions come from Yala," where "the animals are more habitual and used to people." A landmark in the culmination of his childhood interests, his premiere? wildlife photography exhibition (in Sri Lanka) held at the British Council Auditorium was "to create awareness and to gain better appreciation for wildlife... Sri Lankan photographs at this exhibition are in no way representative of the rich and varied bio diversity of this island... It is a modern miracle to have over 13% of forests as wildlife protected areas in such a small country like ours," says Rukshan Wildlife photographers also have a lofty share in conservation for most of this rich bio-diversity of the country is "not photo documented." Sri Lanka has been "complacent with the photography of this nature for a long time,' he laments. Wildlife photographers should "strive for international standards, and not just comply and be satisfied with national standards if it is poor." Competitions such as 'The Nature Photographer of the Year' inaugurated last year, he sees as a "good move towards raising photographic standards." Rukshan sees the potential of the younger generation of photographers in furthering the cause of conservation. But, what 'valuable tips' can he give to amateurs? The first and the most essential "just go out and do it" comes the instant reply, for no amount of theory would help, if one does not go out to the field. Also, lack of high-tech equipment should not be a cause hampering wildlife photography. "It does not really matter what equipment is used, it is not the equipment that makes a photographer" he explains. However, "get the fundamentals right and never compromise standards" says Rukshan. A helpful hint for amateurs would be to think "slow film and fast lenses. "Strive for excellence and as you go on you will achieve it," says Rukshan. It seems to be true for his own interest in wildlife photography springs from childhood. "I am my worst critic" says this photographer with a smile and according to his photographic standards only the photographs taken from 2000, had been good enough to exhibit. And the result, truly worth all the trouble. And why not give an opportunity for the masses outside Colombo, enjoy his photographs? "If there is a sponsor to meet the production cost, I am willing to take the exhibition around the country." Something beyond the ordinary... "To be the overall winner, a leopard image has to be something special. Something beyond the ordinary. This image stood out. The leopard is in quiet thoughtful repose. The composition's main elements are simple, uncluttered, drawing the viewer to the leopard's facial expression. Warm evening lighting illuminates it beautifully. The background is almost surreal...A lighting director could not have set up a more dramatic background for a cover shoot" said the competition chairperson, as P.A. Kirtisinghe bagged the prize of Rs. 100,000 for his leopard image. Kirtisinghe's leopard photograph won the first place vying with over 1600 images, sent in for the 'Nature Photographer of the Year 2002' competition. The Nature Photographer competition jointly sponsored by Jetwing, HSBC and Hayleys Fujifilms started in 2001, with the four objectives of creating environmental awareness through photography, raising standards of environmental photography, creating high profile international competition and publicising Sri Lanka through environmental photography. Participants vied for the first place in five categories, namely, Mammals, Birds, Other Wildlife, Plant Life and Landscapes. An overall winner was selected from the category as the Nature Photographer of the year and those entrants under 21 years of age were eligible for the prize for the Young Nature Photographer. Prizes for the four categories were offered this year with the exception of the Plant Life category where the panel of judges comprising renown wildlife photographers, environmental activists and artists deemed the entries as unsatisfactory, of their standards set for the competition. The winners are P.A. Kirtisinghe - Mammals, Chitral Jayatilake - Birds, Marius Burger - Other Wildlife and Padma Imbuldeniya - Landscapes. Amodha Kannangara was selected as the Young Nature Photographer for his graphic capturing of the tigers in Bandavgarh Nature Reserve, India. |
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