Abby Leon, Paradigm Gallery Director
We’re lost in the charm of Sharm! Award-winning photographer Sharmalene Gunawardena has displayed her work in countless exhibitions, both solo and group shows, locally, regionally, and internationally. Currently serving her second year as President of the Fort Wayne Photography Club, she just recently organized the member’s exhibit Shutter Symphony at the Jeffery Krull Gallery located in the Allen County Public Library, now on view through April 20th. Her portfolio primarily highlights a range of landscapes captured from around the world and, of course, her love for Fort Wayne and its local scenery. Sharmalene’s adventurous spirit is embodied by her artwork; with every discovery, her experience and passion connects her to both that particular moment in time and with the viewer. Continue reading to learn more about Sharmalene’s story and her featured work, Lost in the Charm of a Hidden Alley.
Photography has always been a part of my life. It started off as a documentation of my travels. In Sri Lanka, I worked in advertising for over a decade, managing the Audio-Visual Department and coordinating commercial photography, radio/TV commercials, and corporate events, which expanded my creativity.
I launched my own photography business in 2015. Photography is an art which allows me to express myself. When I’m behind the camera I am lost in my thoughts and time stands still. I feel peaceful and happy. Nothing else matters.
I love to wake up at the crack of dawn and venture out to the wetlands near my home to experience the wonders of nature or walk around the city at night to observe the world in a totally different light. I enjoy nature, landscape, street, and travel photography.
I’m passionate about capturing the beauty of Fort Wayne, my home. I photograph in RAW format and then bring the images to life with the help of Lightroom and Photoshop, two software programs I use in my post-production process.
Naming my photo is a big part of the process. It’s my way of inviting the viewer into my creation. I was taking a walk downtown one sunny afternoon with my camera when I saw the hidden charm of the alley. I have been down this alley many times, but that day was special. The sky was blue and the sunlight on the buildings made everything so colorful, it took me back in time. All my dreams wrapped up in one photo. I was lost in the charm of this hidden alley!
A Raw file is data created based on the light hitting the sensor, and it is stored but not processed. A Raw file is not ready straight out of the camera, it has to be processed using software which allows the user to have a high amount of control of the image. Mistakes are easier to correct in post-processing without loss of quality, unlike in a JPEG.
My Process:
- Import images into Lightroom.
- Reduce highlights and increase shadows, adjusting whites and blacks.
- Increase texture and clarity.
- Lens correction & straightening (These types of distortion are particularly evident in photographs that contain vertical lines or geometric shapes.)
- Use Denoise. Denoise is similar to grain in film, but sometimes an unwanted effect in digital photography.
- Transfer image to Photoshop. For this image, I used Nik Color Effects Pro. I started with the detail extractor to bring out the hidden details and added a little brilliance and warmth alongside a bit of tonal contrast to bring it to life.
- Lastly, I used the spot healing brush in Photoshop to clean up any specs of dust on the lens that show up, particularly on a bright blue sky. In this image I also touched up the cracks on the concrete to give it a cleaner look.
8. I am now ready to send my photo for printing, which is done locally, and then mat and frame it. When it’s ready my matting and framing, also sourced to support local businesses, is done by my husband, which is a huge cost saving for me. I use high quality acid-free mats which preserve the photo. Most of my frames are wooden, and I have invested in the tools required so I am not restricted to ready-made frame sizes when I crop my images. I do occasionally use metal frames, depending on the photo.
The featured photo, Lost in the Charm of a Hidden Alley, is a high quality Giclée print mounted on an acid-free mat. I chose a gold frame to enhance the beautiful colors of the buildings.
Come visit us at the Paradigm Gallery to see this charming photograph and more of Sharmalene Gunawardena’s work! Tuesday-Saturday 10am-6pm; Thursday 10am-8pm; Sunday 12pm-5pm.