How did your interest in wildlife arise?
Looking back, wildlife has always been woven into my life. Growing up in Sri Lanka, nature wasn’t something I visited; it was simply there. Birds, insects, and lizards lived alongside us in my everyday surroundings.
Knowing that leopards, sloth bears, elephants, and monkeys lived not far away gave me a deep sense of connection to the wild. Raised so close to these animals, I felt wildlife was not separate from people, but something we shared space with.
For more than twenty years, I have lived in Arizona with my family. It is the opposite of Sri Lanka’s tropical climate as Arizona is dry and arid. Still, the landscape presents great opportunities and inspiration for a wildlife photographer.
How do you describe your journey as a photographer and a person?
My journey really began after my first trip to the Maasai Mara in 2023. I was traveling with incredibly talented photographers, and I was the only one carrying an iPhone. Watching how they worked – their patience, their eye for detail, and the stories they told through their images – was deeply inspiring. On this trip I found myself wondering why they spent so long looking at one bird, but now I understand them better. I want to wait to capture every detail.
The experience inspired me to buy my first camera and start learning seriously. Since then, photography has become part of my personal journey too: learning to slow down, observe more carefully, and see the world with greater intention. I find that there’s a connection between the finer details in the photos I take and my career as a dentist. In both, I appreciate the details – whether that be in the moving target of a bird, or in keeping a child calm during a pediatric dental procedure.
I’m still at the beginning, but every step of my photography journey feels meaningful
What is your view on Wildlife Conservation? How can we, as wildlife photographers, help to protect Mother Nature?
I believe wildlife conservation begins with awareness, respect, and responsibility. Photographers have the privilege of witnessing moments that many people will never experience, and with that comes a responsibility to represent nature honestly and ethically.
Our images can create emotional connections and inspire people to care about species and ecosystems they may never see in person. For example, I feel a connection to the family values that I see in elephants, who are matriarchal in nature and mothers raise their young alongside their grandmothers and other family members. As photographers, our photos can spark curiosity in others and foster that same feeling of empathy.
Beyond creating beautiful images, we can help by keeping a respectful distance, avoiding disturbance, and prioritizing the well-being of wildlife over the photograph. We can also use our platforms, no matter how small, to share stories that highlight conservation issues and celebrate coexistence among people and nature.
For me, photography is not just about capturing wildlife, but also about fostering respect, care, and protection for the world we share. Without protecting wildlife, the world would lose more than just species – it would lose balance, beauty, and meaning. Ecosystems would begin to collapse. Forests would fall silent. Landscapes would feel emptier. Most hauntingly, future generations would grow up in a world where wild animals exist only in stories and photographs.
Wildlife reminds us that we are part of something much larger than ourselves. If we fail to protect it, we risk losing that connection to nature and part of who we are.
Can you give our readers the best wildlife photography tips?
Always put the animal’s well-being first. Learn to observe behavior, be patient, and work with the light you are given. Focus on learning and developing your own perspective first. Your mind’s eye should always come before the lens. I would tell curious photographers not to get hung up on the gear that they have or don’t have.
In a world driven by likes and instant validation, it’s easy to get caught up in chasing images rather than experiences. Wildlife photography can quickly become about collecting moments for social media instead of truly witnessing them. I have found the most gratification from taking the photo for myself first and not creating a social media feed. Social media creates pressure for making the next best post. When that happens, we risk missing the deeper connection that being in nature offers.
Stepping back from the pressure to constantly capture and share allows us to be more present, patient, and respectful. Not every powerful moment needs to be photographed, and not every image needs to be posted. When we focus less on algorithms and more on authenticity, our work becomes more meaningful to ourselves and to others— and our relationship with wildlife more honest.
Remember that the experience of being in the wild is just as important as the image you take. It is important to respect the environment and photograph with your sense of conscience and ethics at the forefront.
What plans do you have in the future related to Wildlife Photography?
I hope to continue learning and growing as a wildlife photographer, exploring new habitats and species, and improving my skills with each trip. I want to tell stories that go beyond beautiful images — stories that highlight the importance of conservation and the delicate balance of nature.
In July, I am traveling to Laikipia in Kenya to photograph an ultra-rare and captivating black leopard named Giza. She is such a deep shade of black that only certain angles and light reveal her spots. I am excited to share some space with Giza and to take a moment to appreciate her beauty. As much as I hope to capture an amazing image of her, I am more excited about the feeling of being in her company.
Ultimately, I hope my work inspires others to care about the natural world and see themselves as part of, not separate from, the wild.
Tell us something about the gear you use and how it helped in your photographic journey.
I currently use a Canon EOS R5 Mark II and a Canon EOS R6 Mark II, paired mainly with the 100–500mm and 24–105mm lenses. For me, this has been an ideal setup as a beginner — versatile, reliable, and flexible enough to handle everything from wide environmental shots to distant wildlife encounters.
Using this gear has allowed me to focus on learning composition, light, and animal behavior without feeling limited. For certain trips, I have rented the 600mm f/4 and the 400mm f/2.8 lenses for distance and low light conditions. These lenses gave me valuable experience working with professional-level glass and understanding what’s possible, even in less than ideal circumstances.
My next step in this journey is to invest in the 400mm f/2.8 lens, as it aligns with how I see my photography evolving. Wildlife presents itself at dawn and at dusk, and this lens will assist me in capturing images in lower light settings. I am excited about using the gear I’m acquiring and my accumulated knowledge to grow by learning to take more challenging photographs of wildlife in its varied forms.
