Snap decision

"Many of the best pictures I've taken have been due to sheer luck; I just happened to be at the right place at the right time…" says the talented, young photographer Thishya Weragoda, modestly.

"I first got interested in photography when I visited Scotland for my sister's graduation and we decided to take a road trip across U.K. Even though I was using a very basic disposable camera on that trip, I wound up taking quite a few good pictures, at which point I decided to invest in a better camera and take photography a bit more seriously," said Thishya .

Having travelled somewhat extensively throughout Eastern Europe, France, Jordan and Egypt (mostly on trips out while on some study programme or another), Thishya's managed to compile a picture gallery of memoirs of sorts, from which he's handpicked some of his best work to be displayed at his debut exhibition next week; making the central concept of his exhibition of travelling through different cultures quite apt. Having just taken his oaths as a lawyer, he had more flexibility and time to travel and pursue his photography in the past six years he spent as a student, he says.

His exhibition themed 'Sights and Lights' will display the likes of the spectacular Eiffel Tower, the beautiful town of Salzburg and the magnificent Chain Bridge in Budapest all by night. Even if it's a sneak peek of the stone structures carved into rock in Petra – Jordan, 'King Tut' and the ancient pyramids, the exquisite Notre Dame Cathedral, the ominous 'Death Gate' to Auschwitz or a breathtaking view of a temple in silhouette in the heart of Colombo, Thishya has managed to capture the core essence of each destination via a picture or series of pictures. This is what makes his work so special. "I try to make the maximum out of all my travels," he said.

Clouds are a very interesting and at most times, quite an integral part of a picture as it can add so much value to a scene he said. "For instance, I've taken a picture of a statue of a rooster perched on a roof with more roofs in the background. That same picture without clouds would seem just what it is, a bunch of roofs. Clouds give the picture depth and a unique quality that otherwise it wouldn't have," he explained. Light can be an amazing picture enhancer too, he said adding, be it sunlight during the day or lights at night, it can produce the most picturesque setting. "I've sometimes stayed two to three hours in the one spot just waiting for the perfect picture; a habit not appreciated very much with when travelling with my family, " he added laughing.
"Even though travel photography is not very popular here, I thought it was something worth trying out as I've always been more interested in scenery and landscape photography, than wildlife or faces/portraits," he explained. "As I still use film and not digital technology, it's quite a costly hobby, but I get a kick out of seeing what develops. Sometimes I discover that I've accidentally chopped off the best part of a picture, but I take that too as a learning experience and keep going. Because the thrill I get when I've got a good picture more than compensates for it," he said enthusiastically. "I never learnt photography formally," he said adding, "It's been more a case of trial and error," he said with a smile. Behold 'a bird's eye view' of the rest of the world, this July 14-15 at the Gandhara Gallery (Stafford Avenue, Colombo 5), from 10 a.m. - 7.30 p.m.