Panduka de Silva Photography

12/06/2026

Twilight at St Kilda
As twilight settles over the bayside suburb of St Kilda, the giant Ferris wheel adjacent to Luna Park Melbourne comes alive with colour against the fading glow of the evening sky.
Framed by towering palm trees in silhouette, the illuminated wheel forms a striking contrast to the deepening blues and warm hues of sunset. Long associated with leisure and recreation, the St Kilda foreshore remains one of Melbourne’s most popular destinations, where locals and visitors gather to enjoy the beach, cafés, and iconic attractions that have become part of the city's character.
Canon EOS R6; ISO 6400; f9.0 @ 1/160 – 16mm Focal length, EF16-35mm f2.8L IS ll USM lens lens

04/06/2026

Under a restless sky
Near the Pitipana Bridge, a multi-day fishing vessel lies in semi-silhouette against a dramatic morning sky after returning from the deep waters of the Indian Ocean. These larger vessels often remain at sea for several days at a time, preserving their catch in layers of ice before returning to the busy fish markets along the lagoon. Anchored in the early hours beside Negombo Lagoon, the boat bears the quiet evidence of labour, endurance, and livelihood tied closely to Sri Lanka’s coastal fishing communities.
The darkened outline of the vessel against the textured sky lends the scene a rugged and timeless quality; reflecting the uncertainty of the sea and the resilience of those who depend upon it.

Canon EOS R6; ISO 100; f5.0 @ 1/5000– 17mm at EF16-35mm f2.8L IS ll USM lens

31/05/2026

Tradition meets the smartphone
At dawn in Pettah, a natami sits quietly on the steps near the old Dutch Museum, waiting beside a row of stationary hand carts for the day’s first customer. For generations, these labourers have formed part of the commercial lifeblood of Pettah—moving heavy goods through its crowded streets for modest wages and under physically demanding conditions, yet within this traditional scene, a subtle contrast emerges: while the hand carts remain unchanged, the worker scrolls through a smartphone, momentarily connected to a modern world beyond the hardship of manual labour.

Canon EOS R6; ISO 400; f2.8 @ 1/160 – 200mm EF70-200mm f2.8L IS ll USM lens

26/05/2026

Music at the tram stop
On the busy streets of the CBD in Melbourne, a young busker performs beside a tram stop, against the backdrop of passing trams - guitar in hand and voice rising above the movement of the city.
Street performances such as these are a familiar part of urban life across Victoria, where musicians transform pavements and street corners into informal stages. For passersby, the music offers a brief pause within the rush of the day; for the performer, it is both artistic expression and a means of earning a livelihood.
Against the backdrop of passing trams and constant movement, the scene reflects the vibrant and human character of the city’s public spaces.

Canon EOS R6; ISO 100; f2.8 @ 1/160 – 80mm EF70-200mm f2.8L IS ll USM lens

11/05/2026

Against the light of the alleyway
In the pre-dawn darkness of Pettah, a roadside vendor arranges his wares beneath the dim glow of artificial light, preparing for another day in the city’s commercial heart. Rendered almost entirely in silhouette, the figure moves quietly beside a makeshift roadside stall, while a stray dog watches attentively nearby. Above them, a sign pointing toward a public toilet glows against the darkness, drawing the eye toward an illuminated alleyway that cuts through the sleeping street;
the scene reflects the unnoticed routines that begin long before the crowds arrive—moments where labour, survival, and companionship quietly shape the waking city.
Canon EOS R6; ISO 12800; f6.3 @ 1/100 – 200mm Focal length, EF70-200mm f2.8L IS ll USM lens

06/05/2026

Autumn’s trace
While walking through the quieter outskirts of Melbourne, a single fallen maple leaf rests upon a weathered wooden bench. Set against the textured grain of aged timber, the leaf becomes a striking marker of seasonal change as nature leaves its imprint, transforming an ordinary scene into one of stillness, contrast, and passing time.
Canon EOS R6; ISO 640; f8.0 @ 1/125 – 88mm focal length, 1.8m EF70-200mm f2.8L IS ll USM lens

27/04/2026

Faith through endurance
During a ritual procession at Mayurapathy Sri Badrakali Amman Kovil, a Hindu devotee participates in an act of intense spiritual commitment with hooks that pierce the skin of his back, attached to ropes held by another believer, as part of a traditional expression of penance and devotion. Surrounded by onlookers and fellow worshippers, the ritual unfolds publicly—an enduring cultural practice where faith is demonstrated through physical endurance and surrender. Observed during temple festivals and vows of thanksgiving, such acts carry deep symbolic meaning, reflecting personal sacrifice, discipline, and a profound connection to belief.
Canon EOS 5D MkIV; ISO 1600; f4.5 @ 1/160 – 16mm at 1.1 M distance EF16-35mm f2.8L IS ll USM lens
6°52'56.4"N 79°52'08.5"E

22/04/2026

Labour in Reflection
Along a rain-soaked street in Pettah, as a natami pulls a heavily loaded handcart, its contents shielded under plastic sheets from the persistent drizzle. With measured, deliberate steps, he navigates through puddles and uneven ground, the strain of the load evident in his posture. Reflected in the water beneath him, his image doubles—echoing the physical burden of labour that continues regardless of weather or condition. In Sri Lanka’s busiest commercial hub, such scenes are commonplace—where manual work remains essential, often performed under harsh environments that demand endurance, while quietly carrying long-term physical tolls.
Canon EOS 5D MkIV; ISO 400; f5.0 @ 1/60 – 30mm Focal length, EF16-35mm f2.8L IS ll USM lens

17/04/2026

Flames of renewal
During the time of the Sinhalese and Tamil New Year, temples across the island draw devotees of all ages, gathering in quiet reverence to mark renewal and reflection … at Kande Viharaya, hands reach in unison to light oil lamps, each small flame kindled with care. The act, simple yet deeply symbolic, represents the dispelling of darkness, the welcoming of prosperity; the sharing of blessings for the year ahead and in this moment, tradition is not only observed, but lived—through gesture, flame, and the quiet presence of devotion.

Canon EOS MkIV; ISO 320 f9.0 @ 1/100 – 70mm focal length at 1.3m, EF70-200mm f2.8L IS ll USM lens

14/04/2026