poverty – Son of the Morning Light

Enslaved in Slave Island #14

February 23, 2023February 23, 2023 David BlackerLeave a comment

https://sonofthemorninglight.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/1u9a3167e2.jpg — Iresha Wijesinghe, lab assistant at the National STD/AIDS Control Programme (NSACP) clinic tending to needle users in Slave Island. Shot on assignment for Panos Pictures and The Global Fund, in January 2022.

^{• 50mm • f/1.4 • 1/250 • ISO200 • 5DMkIV & EF 50/1.4 courtesy Canon/Metropolitan}

Enslaved in Slave Island #13

February 15, 2023February 15, 2023 David BlackerLeave a comment

One an NSACP* outreach volunteer, the other a single father; both lifelong friends, and recovering addicts. Wekanda Housing Scheme, Stewart Street, Slave Island. *Shot on assignment for Panos Pictures and The Global Fund*, *in January 2022.*

^{• 70mm • f/4 • 1/400 • ISO800 • 5DMkIV & EF 24-105/f4L courtesy Canon/Metropolitan}

^{*The National STD/AIDS Control Programme is a Sri Lankan Health Ministry initiative to coordinate the country’s response to sexually transmitted diseases.}

Enslaved in Slave Island #12

February 8, 2023February 8, 2023 David BlackerLeave a comment

https://sonofthemorninglight.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/1u9a2610.jpg — *A recovering addict in the Wekanda Housing Scheme, Stewart Street, Slave Island. *Shot on assignment for Panos Pictures and The Global Fund*, in January 2022.*

^{• 50mm • f/1.4 • 1/1250 • ISO400 • 5DMkIV & EF 50/1.4, courtesy Canon/Metropolitan}

Enslaved in Slave Island #10

December 20, 2022 David BlackerLeave a comment

https://sonofthemorninglight.files.wordpress.com/2022/12/1u9a2517b.jpg — *Current and recovering addicts in the Wekanda Housing Scheme, on Stewart Street; participating in a National STD/AIDS Control Programme (NSACP) outreach project in *Slave Island*.* *Shot on assignment for Panos Pictures and The Global Fund, in January 2022.*

^{• 60mm • f/4 • 1/800 • ISO100 • Canon 5DMkIV & EF 24-105/f4L, courtesy Canon/Metropolitan}

Enslaved in Slave Island #9

October 14, 2022October 14, 2022 David BlackerLeave a comment

https://sonofthemorninglight.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/1u9a2622.jpg — Recovering addict, Wekanda Housing Scheme, Stewart Street, Slave Island. *Shot on assignment for Panos Pictures and The Global Fund, in January 2022.*

^{• 50mm • f/1.4 • 1/2000 • ISO400 • Canon 5DMkIV & EF 50/1.4, courtesy Canon/Metropolitan.}

“Those Days when We were Young…”

September 28, 2022September 28, 2022 David BlackerLeave a comment

https://sonofthemorninglight.files.wordpress.com/2022/09/img_1548e2.jpg — Thus begins the familiar tale often heard when older people lament the prices of things today. But in a Sri Lanka staggering under an economic disaster unknown in modern history, skyrocketing inflation has made the ‘Good Ol’ Days’ seem like just yesterday. In this April 2018 picture, shot for a J Walter Thompson market study, salted prawns at the FOSE Market, in Pettah, Colombo’s main market district, go for just Rs100 (about 65 US cents at the time) for 100g. Today, the rupee price of this is almost seven times higher (though still just under $2, due to the nose-diving rupee).

^{• 105mm • f/4 • 1/50 • ISO400 •}

Enslaved in Slave Island #8

September 26, 2022September 25, 2022 David BlackerLeave a comment

https://sonofthemorninglight.files.wordpress.com/2022/09/1u9a2461.jpg — Journalist Aanya Piyari Wipulasena interviews a needle user on *Stewart Street, in Slave Island*. With her are an outreach team from the National STD/AIDS Control Programme (NSACP). Shot on assignment for Panos Pictures and The Global Fund, in January 2022.

^{• 24mm • f/4 • 1/320 • ISO800 • Canon 5DMkIV & EF 24-105/f4L, courtesy Canon/Metropolitan.}

COVID wasn’t the Only Disease

September 20, 2022February 1, 2023 David BlackerLeave a comment

https://sonofthemorninglight.files.wordpress.com/2022/09/1u9a3437.jpg — *A patient thrusts his arm through an anti-COVID screen for a blood test. STD Clinic, Mahamodara Hospital, Galle. Shot on assignment *for Panos Pictures and The Global Fund, in January* 2022.*

^{• 24mm • f/4 • 1/80 • ISO1600 • Canon 5DMkIV & EF 24-105/f4L, courtesy Canon/Metropolitan}

Enslaved in Slave Island #7

September 15, 2022January 27, 2023 David BlackerLeave a comment

https://sonofthemorninglight.files.wordpress.com/2022/09/1u9a3193.jpg — *Shaniya Elayan*, *programme coordinator, at the National STD/AIDS Control Programme (NSACP) clinic tending to needle users in Slave Island. Shot on assignment for Panos Pictures and The Global Fund, in January 2022.*

^{• 50mm • f/1.4 • 1/250 • ISO200 • 5DMkIV & EF 50/1.4, courtesy Canon/Metropolitan.}

Trading the Exotic

September 6, 2022September 6, 2022 David BlackerLeave a comment

https://sonofthemorninglight.files.wordpress.com/2022/09/1u9a3920.jpg — *Tharindu* was introduced to me as a former beach boy, now volunteering for the* *National STD/AIDS Control Programme (NSACP)* in Hikkaduwa, helping to educate other male sex workers on staying safe. While the obvious attraction of the trade is monetary, with many beach boys hoping to strike it big by marrying a westerner and emigrating, or being bought property locally, a less acknowledged factor is the easy availability of sex with exotic foreigners. The latter can be as addictive as the money, and at the time the photograph was taken it was unclear whether Tharindu had completely given up working the beach. Shot on assignment for Panos Pictures and The Global Fund in *January 2022.*

^{• 50mm • f/1.4 • 1/640 • ISO100 • 5DMkIV & EF 50/1.4, courtesy Canon/Metropolitan.}

_{*Name changed.}