on assignment – Son of the Morning Light

Planning for Disease

March 23, 2023March 22, 2023 David BlackerLeave a comment

https://sonofthemorninglight.files.wordpress.com/2023/03/1u9a4462.jpg — Nadika Fernandopulle, a project manager of the Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka; shot at the National STD/AIDS Control Programme, de Saram Place, Maradana, on assignment for *Panos Pictures and The Global Fund, in January* 2022.

^{• 50mm • f/1.6 • 1/640 • ISO500 • 5DMkIV & EF 50/1.4 courtesy Canon/Metropolitan}

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}

COVID wasn’t the Only Disease #3

February 2, 2023February 1, 2023 David BlackerLeave a comment

https://sonofthemorninglight.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/1u9a3332e2.jpg — *Buddhika Lakmal*, *a National STD/AIDS Control Programme* (NSACP) outreach worker, poses in full PPE outside his Slave Island clinic, in January 2022. NSACP mobile teams continued to operate throughout the pandemic, and Buddhika is about to head out to nearby Stewart Street to take blood samples, and hand out HIV self-tests, needles, condoms, and educational literature to heroin addicts. *Shot on assignment for Panos Pictures and The Global Fund*.

^{• 105mm • f/4 • 1/500 • ISO125 • 5DMkIV & EF 24-105/f4L courtesy Canon/Metropolitan}

Behind the Beach #3

January 26, 2023 David BlackerLeave a comment

https://sonofthemorninglight.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/1u9a4122.jpg — A National STD/AIDS Control Programme (NSACP) outreach worker conducts a mobile clinic for beach boys in the Sri Lankan tourist town of Hikkaduwa, registering sex workers, conducting blood tests, and handing out condoms and educational literature. *Shot on assignment for Panos Pictures and The Global Fund*, in January 2022.

^{• 47mm • f/4 • 1/4000 • ISO800 • 5DMkIV & EF 24-105/f4L courtesy Canon/Metropolitan}

Enslaved in Slave Island #11

January 25, 2023January 25, 2023 David BlackerLeave a comment

https://sonofthemorninglight.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/1u9a2634.jpg — PA Fernando, an outreach worker with the *National STD/AIDS Control Programme* (NSACP). *Shot on* *Stewart Street, Slave Island, for Panos Pictures and The Global Fund, in January 2022.*

^{• 50mm • f/1.4 • 1/1250 • ISO200 • 5DMkIV & EF 50/1.4, courtesy Canon/Metropolitan.}

Lotus Eater

January 13, 2023January 12, 2023 David BlackerLeave a comment

https://sonofthemorninglight.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/img_5386.jpg — *A tufted gray or Hanuman langur (*Semnopithecus priam), supremely comfortable in his myth-straddling status, enjoys a floral tribute on the perimeter wall of the 2,100-year-old Mirisavetiya, in Anuradhapura. Shot on assignment *for Serendib*, the inflight magazine of Sri Lankan Airlines, in December 2016. My piece, ‘The First Kingdom of Lanka‘*, ran in February, the next year.*

^{• 200mm • f/5.6 • 1/200 • ISO400 • 600D & EF-S18-200/3.5-5.6 • polariser •}

Turbo

January 12, 2023January 11, 2023 David BlackerLeave a comment

https://sonofthemorninglight.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/000a6288.jpg — Katunayake, Sri Lanka. *Shot on assignment for Smart Media and Gateway College, in September 2018.*

^{• 400mm • f/5.6 • 1/1000 • ISO200 • 7DMkII & EF100-400/4.5-5.6L •}

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}