Enslaved in Slave Island #12

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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

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Enslaved in Slave Island #11

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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.

Bannermen #2

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School pupils parade in their house colours at an athletics meet in Katunayake, Sri Lanka. Shot on assignment for Smart Media and Gateway College, in September 2018.

• 400mm • f/5.6 • 1/500 • ISO200 • 7DMkII & EF100-400/4.5-5.6L •

Breakfast in Pettah #6

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A cook at work on Wolfendhal Street. October 2022.

• 35mm • f/2.8 • 1/125 • ISO160 • R6, with RF35/1.8 from Canon/Metropolitan

Surfer, Main Point #2

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Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka. May 2022.

• 50mm • f/1.4 • 1/2000 • ISO100 • Canon 5DMkIII & EF 50/1.4 courtesy Canon/Metropolitan.

Flower Power

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A young man on 4th Cross Street, in the Pettah, surrounded by the fragrant jasmine garlands he makes and sells from a small stall. Colombo, September 2022. Flower garlands play a significant part in Hindu culture; used to bedeck the likenesses of deities in worship ceremonies, as a sign of blessing during a wedding, and as a symbolic form of welcome to an honoured guest, to name just some of the many occasions they are seen. Jasmine figures prominently in garlands in Sri Lanka, known as a symbol of purity and modesty, but also of love, beauty, and sensuousness.

• 35mm • f/1.8 • 1/800 • ISO200 • Canon R6 & RF 35/1.8 courtesy Canon/Metropolitan

Enslaved in Slave Island #9

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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.

Trading the Exotic

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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.

Surfer, Main Point

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Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka. May 2022.

• 50mm • f/1.4 • 1/1000 • ISO100 • Canon 5DMkIII & EF 50/1.4, courtesy Canon/Metropolitan.

Believe

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A beachboy stands in front of the large hillside villa he is building with his German partner. Hikkaduwa, January 2022. Shot on assignment for Panos Pictures and The Global Fund.*

*shot on a Canon EOS 5DMkIV & EF 50/1.4, courtesy Canon/Metropolitan.