Photography Guide to Sri Lanka: Best Spots for Capturing Stunning Photos
Sri Lanka is definitely a colourful, lively and fascinating country; which means there is a lot of great photographing material. Monuments centuries old, beautiful sandy shorelines, huge tracts of land and an extremely distinct ethnicity, really Sri Lanka has it all. wherever your destination in Sri Lanka is, you’ll find yourself showered with warm smiles, favourable backdrops and engaging subjects. After you sit for a few hours at any local tea shop you become family and there is never a shortage of colourful characters or tales to tell.
When planning to go on a photo tour in Sri Lanka it is advisable to have a good itinerary. Find out when it is advisable to visit each place taking into consideration the weather, light or even the number of people around. Do not forget to keep all the photography equipment like the camera, lenses, the tripod and the spare batteries. Moreover, learn a few rules that exist in different cultures about photography in places of worship and natural parks along with other attractions.
Let’s take a sneak around the best spots for capturing stunning photos in the landscapes, wildlife and cultural sites of Sri Lanka.
The best locations for landscape photography
Actually it is a fascinating country with culture and scenic characteristics such as rain forests, mountains, tea fields, and beautiful sandy coast. Here are some of the places that every photographer should visit while taking landscape photographs;
Ella: With outlooks to emerald green valleys, tea gardens and falling waterfalls, there is no chance to tire of the scenery in Ella.
Sigiriya: Visit the Sigiriya Rock Fortress and be amazed with the spectacular view of the green countryside, the forests and the entrance – Lion’s Paw Gate.
Mirissa Beach: Situated in Sri Lanka, Mirissa Beach with its golden sand,coconut trees and the blue sea is ideal for shooting vibrant sunset and beach pictures.
Capturing Cultural Heritage
Culturally, Sri Lanka is a blend of futuristic modernity and historic landmarks including the temples, colonial buildings and customs. Don’t miss the chance to photograph.
Temple of the Tooth Relic, Kandy: Bring home the majesty of this spiritual Buddhist shrine especially during the Cesla, perahera festival where the sacred tooth relic is out on procession.
Galle Fort: Explore the sun-kissed city of Galle with its very surviving colonial era architecture, churches and small cafes with excellent shots along the cobbled streets of the Galle Fort which is a UNESCO world heritage site.
Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa: See the recognized historical cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa with wonderful archaeological resource assets, royal palaces, colossal stupas, and well – carved stone sculptures.
Capturing Wildlife Photography
Sri Lanka possesses a rich Bio-diversity and possesses numerous wildlife species like Elephant, Leopards, Birds and Sea Creatures. Capture unforgettable moments in:
Yala National Park: Go for a wildlife viewing in Yala National Park and take beautiful pictures of wild lives in action; leopards, Sloth bears, Elephants and numerous bird species.
Wilpattu National Park: Take a wild photography tour of the largest park in Sri Lanka and capture shots of the wild beasts such as elephants, leopards, spotted deer and large crocodiles in the presence of dense forests and serene lakes.
Sri Lanka trains can be an exciting location too for photography. And so it is with trains in Sri Lanka because the tourists get to take awesome photos. The colourful walls of the train station as the train departs, the people on board, not forgetting the beautiful places through which one passes; make it a perfect subject for any travel photographer, who wishes to depict the Sri Lankan culture.
If you are able to get 3rd class accommodation then stay around the door compartment as you prepare to have one of the most exciting times throughout your journey.
Tips for travel photography in Sri Lanka
Golden Hour: While travelling it is advisable to capture as many photographs as possible during the sunset and sunrise since the light emitted is relatively soft and warm compared to that during midday.
Respect Local Culture: In all instances take permission before taking pictures of peoples, particularly those living in rural areas and in sacred places. This is very important, especially when taking photos of peoples’ temples and when photographing ceremonies.
Backup Your Photos: The following are some safety measures you should employ so that you are confident your photographs are secure: The photographs and images can be saved on cloud services or in portable hard disks to avoid losing the hard earned memories.
More specifically, photography is not just a process of freeze-framing an image; of capturing a moment; it’s about capturing and sharing moments. Every single photograph taken in Sri Lanka reveals the charm of the country in terms of its geographic features and ethnography and the friendliness of the people. While discovering the expanses of the areas, the richness of the local life, and the wild fauna, your camera will be the best companion, showing you memories which will remain with you even after the trip. Therefore, with good planning, creativity and passion towards beauty in order to capture it on camera, the photography experiences in Sri Lanka will be an amazing experience.
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