Wired for the Wild: Innovation, Empathy & the New Age of Wildlife Photography

Nations Trust WNPS Monthly Lecture Wired for the Wild: Innovation, Empathy & the New Age of Wildlife Photography 6 pm, 19 June 2025 | Jasmine Hall, BMICH By Lakshitha Karunarathna

Join internationally acclaimed wildlife photographer and Sony International Brand Ambassador Lakshitha Karunarathna for an inspiring lecture that weaves together art, innovation, and conservation.

With a decade of experience documenting wildlife across continents—from Sri Lanka’s dense forests to Africa’s vast savannahs—Lakshitha will explore how cutting-edge technology, creative field improvisation, and a deep sense of empathy are reshaping modern wildlife photography.

This session delves into the quiet revolution behind the lens: how custom rigs, modified tools, and unconventional techniques allow photographers to move beyond documentation and craft immersive visual narratives that evoke both awe and urgency.

But the heart of this lecture lies in the stories behind the images. Lakshitha presents a compelling portfolio that underscores photography’s growing role as a conservation tool—highlighting real-world issues such as Sri Lanka’s intensifying human-elephant conflict, the devastating effects of waste on endemic species, and the long-term damage of habitat loss.

He’ll also offer insights into how photographers can balance creativity with conservation priorities, approach vulnerable species ethically, and collaborate meaningfully with researchers and policymakers.

A tea taster by trade and a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society—the first Sri Lankan to receive this honour—Lakshitha is celebrated for his evocative, boundary-pushing work. His accolades include Grand Prizes at the Nature’s Best Photography Windland Smith Rice Awards, Africa Photographer of the Year, and Sanctuary Asia Wildlife Awards, among others.

For Lakshitha, the camera is more than a creative tool—it’s a force for education, empathy, and action. This lecture is a rare opportunity to witness the wild through the eyes of a visual storyteller who believes photography can ignite real change.

Free and open to all. Be there to witness the wild, reimagined.