Walking and seeing with Sarnacki

Ishara JAYAWARDANE

American photographer, Michael Sarnacki has a feel for photography. He has this rare quality and talent that enables him to take photographs that people can relate to. Sarnacki also has this connection with people and places. He has a bond with people and places. He has this innate gift that gives him the ability to take his audience on a journey that he himself has taken.

Last week Michael Sarnacki unveiled his latest collection and recently published book on Kandy's Esala Perahera. Sri Lankans know that the Esala Perehera is a religious festival that takes place annually in Kandy. His photographic angle leaves nothing to the imagination. This story teller tells his stories in such a way that Sri Lankans themselves feel, that they are reliving what they have already seen in a novel way.

Michael is a professional photographer with 30+ years experience, whose photographs have been widely published, exhibited and collected the world over.

“I am from the United States, Detroit. I'd like to thank the American embassy and center for allowing me to make this presentation and allowing me to have my work displayed for the first time in Sri Lanka. It has always been my dream to bring this work back to Sri Lanka. People ask me what kind of work I do. It is really quite varied. I do event coverage, architectural work , general commercial work, a whole lot of things that professional photographers are interested. I do hundreds of magazine assignments and newspaper things and I am approaching 6000 assignments,” said Sarnacki.

Sarnacki said that in addition to doing commercial work, he has also done personal

work. “My mother passed away, in 1981 and I never got my mother to sit down and take a picture. So after she died I made sure that something like that would never happen again, and I took pictures of all of my family, friends and colleagues over the years. Apart from that, every year I photograph my children during every year of their lives. A photographer must learn to appreciate what is taking place in his life. I think that is very important.”

How did Michael ever find his way to Sri Lanka? “Once I boarded a plane from Detroit Michigan to New York city. While on the plane heading to New York City, I sat next to, Fr. Quintus Fernando, a catholic priest from Sri Lanka and had an enthralling conversation with him. He persuaded me to come to Sri Lanka and do a project on Sri Lanka. Subsequently In 1995, I arrived in Negombo.”

Michael recalled the fishing village, the little fish market in Negombo and the strong ocean breeze- all of this captured his imagination. In Sri Lanka we take all of these sights for granted, yet for someone who comes from the west or from another country there is a quaint attraction.

If one was present on August 6 (Monday) at the American Center, one would see photographs presented in such a manner that would make one think : “Well here is something that I haven't seen before!”, “here is something I haven't noticed before!” From the photos that were shown it was apparent that Michael's subjects are not only nameless and faceless people. Some of the people featured, developed friendships with him during his visits.

That is the beauty of Michael's photographs. They have this element within them that is so personal. They truly tell a story.