Sri Lanka’s First Conservation Photography Competition Winners announced 

The winners of the Conservation Photography Competition 2019 conducted by the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) and supported by Wijeya Graphics and Ranveli Resorts were announced recently.

Winners were felicitated at a Gala Dinner hosted by the WNPS.  The competition attracted over 600 entries and the organizers were pleased with the numbers.

A statement from the WNPS said organisers were appreciative of the outcome considering the fact that “Conservation Photography” is a new area of wildlife expertise with, hitherto, most wildlife photographers concentrating on capturing the ‘pretty picture’ rather than on its conservation message.  

The entries were judged by a panel of renowned conservationists cum photographers, L J Mendis Wickramasinghe, Rukshan Jayewardene and Lakshitha Karunarathna.  The ultimate measure of a successful conservation photograph is in creating a tangible focal point for the advancement of the conservation of a species or habitat.  

Conservation Photography has become an important medium of engagement and of education, by perfectly illustrating, even by shock and horror, why there is an urgent need for change, and the bleak future that humanity would face if it did not.  Its powerful pictures show how unrestrained human activity and unplanned development impacts the environment, wildlife, the wilderness and the general health of the planet.  If nothing is done about it, and soon, these may also prove to be the final pictorial records of species that once maintained the vital checks and balances that kept the Earth and its systems in equilibrium.  

Conservation Photography can also show places and instances where humankind has shown foresight and reason to protect the environment and all its creatures so that future generations will have them to marvel at, and benefit by their continued existence.

The financial support given by Wijeya Graphics has been vital to the WNPS in conducting this inaugural 2019 Conservation Photography Competition which, it hopes, will become an annual event.

One of the main objectives of the competition is to attract young photographers, in particular, to stimulate their minds to the very real dangers posed by the destruction of habitat, of the environment and especially the creatures that depend on it for their survivial.

3rd Place Mobile Category_Yasith Manula – Thirst
2nd Place Mobile Category, Lakshani Perera – Atop of Sripada
Winner Mobile Category, Sandya Shantharam, Protect Forests don’t let it burn

3rd Place Professional Category_ Sumith Bandara_Frame on the neck
2nd Place Professional Category_Sudheera Bandara_Destination
Winner Professional Category_Dumindu Padeniya_Destruction & Addiction
 

Winner Mobile Category Sandya Shantharam receiving her certificate
from Shah Bulathsinhala Managing Director Wijeya Graphics

Winner in the Professional Category Dumindu Padeniya

Shah Bulathsinhala, Managing Director, Wijeya Graphics stressing a point to Saba