It all started with an unexpected gift from his brother – a brand new DSLR camera which sowed the seeds of a lifelong passion. Isuru Ekanayake’s travel photography journey starts as he discovered a love of photography and travel all thanks to his brother’s most thoughtful gift and ever since early 2012 when he first started exploring the inner workings of his new camera on YouTube and taking it out on a test drive to Wilpattu, he hasn’t been able to put it down.
Having always had an affinity with nature, Isuru says that he has had a deep love of the environment even as a child. “Even as a young child I was the one who would always collect any trash that people left in the places that we visited. I would collect that trash and bring it back to be disposed of correctly,” said Isuru, adding also that “It pains me to see our surroundings dirtied by plastics and other pollutants”.
Eventually, as he grew more and more accustomed to his camera he started really putting it to the test as he began to explore the world of adventure travel, setting off on arduous hikes and camping trips, and capturing all that Sri Lanka had to offer along the way.
With a new found passion for travel and capturing the destinations he visits, Isuru set off on a number of overseas trips visiting five different countries; the UAE, the Netherlands, France, Belgium, and China, and he shared that that was when he truly got into landscape photography.
However, despite all his globetrotting, his most memorable travel experience remains a trip he took within Sri Lanka, an incredibly tough hike that could’ve potentially ended in disaster. “My trip to Yahangala will remain one of the most unforgettable moments in my travel journey,” said Isuru as he shared with us the incredible details of a trip that really could’ve gone one of two ways.
As we are all well aware, Yahangala is a famous hiking area situated in the central highlands of Sri Lanka, and the rock is actually said to be where the great King Ravana was laid to rest after he lost in battle, however leaving aside its historical significance, it is also known to be a challenging trek up the mountain. It is vertical climbing and ideally you should employ some safety equipment in your climb however, as luck would have it, Isuru said that they found themselves in the middle of climbing the steep peak without any safety gear, no ropes or anything in the middle of the rain coming down on them hard and the mist completely hindering their sight. “There was a ditch we had to cross and in our hindered state from the elements it was an incredibly risky climb,” he said, however, they somehow managed to complete it. With only three of the eight friends who travelled to Yahangala actually completing the climb, Isuru shared that he was proud to have done it although he realised that it was quite the risk and decided it was a lesson learned.
He also shared that after that trip, because he couldn’t capture any footage with him needing to utilise quite literally all his limbs to stay on track, he started using a GoPro with a chest mount and a head mount to capture his travels where it is too challenging to use a hand-held camera.
While photography is his primary passion, Isuru has combined his love of documenting his travels and his love of nature in his YouTube channel where he shares content on organic farming, the environment and of course, travel. With consistent content he has amassed a considerable audience and is looking to develop his videos further and work towards educating the public on ethical and sustainable travel while also enjoying your journey to the fullest.
Having always had an affinity with nature, Isuru says that he has had a deep love of the environment even as a child. “Even as a young child I was the one who would always collect any trash that people left in the places that we visited. I would collect that trash and bring it back to be disposed of correctly,” said Isuru, adding also that “It pains me to see our surroundings dirtied by plastics and other pollutants”.
Eventually, as he grew more and more accustomed to his camera he started really putting it to the test as he began to explore the world of adventure travel, setting off on arduous hikes and camping trips, and capturing all that Sri Lanka had to offer along the way.
With a new found passion for travel and capturing the destinations he visits, Isuru set off on a number of overseas trips visiting five different countries; the UAE, the Netherlands, France, Belgium, and China, and he shared that that was when he truly got into landscape photography.
However, despite all his globetrotting, his most memorable travel experience remains a trip he took within Sri Lanka, an incredibly tough hike that could’ve potentially ended in disaster. “My trip to Yahangala will remain one of the most unforgettable moments in my travel journey,” said Isuru as he shared with us the incredible details of a trip that really could’ve gone one of two ways.
As we are all well aware, Yahangala is a famous hiking area situated in the central highlands of Sri Lanka, and the rock is actually said to be where the great King Ravana was laid to rest after he lost in battle, however leaving aside its historical significance, it is also known to be a challenging trek up the mountain. It is vertical climbing and ideally you should employ some safety equipment in your climb however, as luck would have it, Isuru said that they found themselves in the middle of climbing the steep peak without any safety gear, no ropes or anything in the middle of the rain coming down on them hard and the mist completely hindering their sight. “There was a ditch we had to cross and in our hindered state from the elements it was an incredibly risky climb,” he said, however, they somehow managed to complete it. With only three of the eight friends who travelled to Yahangala actually completing the climb, Isuru shared that he was proud to have done it although he realised that it was quite the risk and decided it was a lesson learned.
He also shared that after that trip, because he couldn’t capture any footage with him needing to utilise quite literally all his limbs to stay on track, he started using a GoPro with a chest mount and a head mount to capture his travels where it is too challenging to use a hand-held camera.
While photography is his primary passion, Isuru has combined his love of documenting his travels and his love of nature in his YouTube channel where he shares content on organic farming, the environment and of course, travel. With consistent content he has amassed a considerable audience and is looking to develop his videos further and work towards educating the public on ethical and sustainable travel while also enjoying your journey to the fullest.