- Sachintha Lakpriya on nature photography
Sachintha Lakpriya has an all consuming wanderlust which has led him to discover his immense appreciation for the art of photography; particularly in the field of travel. Lakpriya spent several years living in India, where there are numerous alluring sights to see.
In conversation with Brunch, he told us that it was while walking down the streets of India that he discovered his passion for photography – the sights were so breathtaking that he felt compelled to take pictures of them. Of course, initially, he had to resort to mobile photography.
“I tried to capture them using my mobile; gradually it became a habit.”
Once he had a taste of how thrilling capturing the perfect image was, he purchased his first camera and took to travelling far and wide in search of the perfect image. He eventually began uploading his work on social media. You can find some of his pictures on his Instagram @sachinthalakpriya.
Lakpriya told us that he is saddened by the fact that he is unable to spend a lot of time in Sri Lanka as he has had to travel abroad for higher studies. So whenever he has vacations, he would immediately jump on a plane and fly back here.
“When I come down here, I travel around Sri Lanka with my friends. That’s how this all started. Since then, I have been travelling wherever possible and pursuing my love for photography,” he told us.
Lakpriya’s talent lies in capturing the very essence of nature. He shared that he loves taking what he calls “natural photos” that depict the hidden beauty that our country has to offer. He wants to share this beauty with the world and those that are not fortunate enough to see it for themselves.
“I try not to use filters to beautify my images, instead, opting for the natural colours of the world,” he told us, adding that sunlight is a great way to spruce up a picture. “No filter can ever compare to the way, for example, a waterfall glistens in the rays of the sun,” he added.
Giving us some behind-the-scenes information on being a photographer, he revealed that when they travel, they can’t always take the exact photos they expect, so they have to adapt to each situation.
“It’s hard to keep your mind free when travelling for so long, so you have to be very patient. That’s the most important skill that a travel photographer must have,” he noted.
Since he has travelled all over Sri Lanka, we asked him where his favourite spot is, and even though he deemed it a tough question, he picked the Knuckles Mountain Range. “I say it’s this place because of how much I like the environment and biodiversity; there is just so much to see and do.”
Talking about why he holds it so close to his heart, he shared that his love of waterfalls had a part to play. “There are many hidden waterfalls like the Dumbara Ella Waterfall, the Duwili and Ella waterfalls, so there are ample opportunities to take pictures.”
When he last visited Knuckles with his friends, he told us that they spent almost three days on this journey and travelled about 45 kilometres inside the forest. Although the journey was tough and exhausting, Lakpriya and his friends were rejuvenated by the stunning views. During this trip was when he was able to capture his favourite picture to date – a shot taken at the Dunbar Ella Waterfall. “It’s a very rare picture that took a lot of work to capture, so I’m very fond of it,” he added. Overall, he told us that the whole trip was great and he would love to visit again soon.
With all of his experience, we asked him if he had any advice to share with aspiring nature photographers. He took the opportunity to highlight the fact that Sri Lanka has so many attractions – all of them unique and some that aren’t found anywhere else in the world. “It is a photographer’s duty to try and discover new places on the island and stay unique.” He also added that finding one’s own style is important, and advised against copying other famous photographers. “Once you find your niche, your photographs will automatically look stunning.”
When talking about his plans for the rest of the year, he shared that once the situation in the country improves, he plans to get back on the road and feed his lust for travelling.
