Photo Diary: Resplendent Isle
Three friends, three weeks, and three Lion Lagers, please. With cameras in hand and curiosity in tow, our cold beer crusaders—Bon, Tay, and Tommy—set out to discover The Pearl of the Indian Ocean. Saturated with warm smiles, endless emerald valleys, and golden amber sunsets, Sri Lanka delivers—threefold.
Photos: Bon Morse, Tayla Mullen & Tommy Green.
Led by the spirit of inquiry, Bon, Tay, and Tommy navigate the rolling central highlands and wave-swept coastline of Sri Lanka—exploring deep connection, karmic balance, and naturally, photo opportunities. Read their account below.
BON
We spent about a week in the central part of Sri Lanka. It rained for most of that time, but it was epic being out in the lush, green jungle. The rest of our trip was mostly spent moving along the south coast, surfing and taking it slow. The people were incredible throughout Sri Lanka—so unbelievably lovely and welcoming, especially along the coast.
One of my best memories is our local guide taking us to a secret waterfall in the jungle. We had an incredible experience—leeches aside—swimming and trekking to a spot few ever see. Through rice fields and lush jungle, we reached a local’s house with a stunning waterfall in their backyard, where they even cooked us an amazing lunch. It was epic!
Tommy and I were both running the new Pentax 17 camera. It’s epic getting a bit of value for money from your film. I was also shooting with the Olympus AF-10 Twin, which I picked up in Tokyo—this thing’s a beast and can switch between a fixed 35mm and 70mm lens with the click of a button.
TAY
I had always wanted to go to Sri Lanka. That time finally came around during my school holidays, and I mentioned it to the crew—they all jumped on the idea. I’d heard people rave about the food and the lovely culture, so I had to experience it for myself. I’m so glad I did.
I always had my film camera on me, so whenever I felt that natural instinct of “wow, yes—this is a sick shot,” I’d click the shutter. I genuinely found that whenever we explored incredible, standout places, I’d be more trigger-happy and take these shots with the solid knowledge that it was something I’d look back on in years to come.
I found that a lot of the people in Sri Lanka were so friendly and would instantly smile once they knew I was excited to capture them just being. This ranged from ladies selling food from street carts to men waiting at bus stops to children playing in the sand. All of them welcomed the shots—or they simply hadn’t noticed the presence of the camera.
TOMMY
They don’t call it The Pearl of the Indian Ocean for nothing. I’d heard plenty of good things from the crew and just had to see it for myself. A not-so-little island paradise—still affordable, with friendly locals, cold beers, and waves. The ticket was booked.
Sri Lanka is visually stunning—almost overwhelming. Everywhere you look feels like a photo waiting to happen. I just tried to stay present, take it all in, and keep the camera close. Every trip, I bring the camera that started it all for me—my trusty Fujifilm X100F. It’s a bit of a relic now, but it rarely misses and still delivers solid shots. Film-wise, I took the new Pentax 17.
The locals were more than happy to be photographed—often smiling, or even excited, if they noticed me snap a shot. It’s a real reflection of their positive, welcoming culture. The locals run on their own time—super laid-back. Expect delays. Luckily, there’s always a good samosa around.
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