Ordination of New Monks

Several years ago I was invited to go to an ordination of new monks; invited by the monk who was teaching me meditation. I jumped at the chance. I knew two young men who were going to be ordained that day and I wanted to witness their life-changing ceremony.

Ambalangoda Maha Viharaya. Lay people participate

in ceremonies honoring Lord Buddha during the

ordination of new monks.

Ambalangoda Maha Viharaya. Taken around 4:30AM,

during the ordination ceremony. More experienced monks teach

the new monks how to don their robes. It was unusual

that they allowed a woman to photograph them, but I

knew several of the monks and they thought of me as

their mother. Hence the chief monk gave me his

permission with a nod of his head.

The room where the new monks were to be ordained.

The room was stifling hot and I finally made

my way into the center to get better photos.

The new monks were called up one by one.

Newly shaven heads. I knew two of the young men who were

ordained that day. I was quite fond of them. Sadly, after three years,

one of them disrobed due to his family's financial problems.

Offerings to Lord Buddha.

Temple stupa decorated in lights.

The two young men I knew,

in their new robes.

One with his parents. The one who had to disrobe

because of his family's problems.

Practicing tying his robe.

The other young man I knew with

his father.

Me, with a Buddhist nun.

Waiting at a small made (shop)

for the pindapata to come by.

A young boy a his bicycle, also

waiting for the pindapata.

I attracted all the young boys who

wanted me to take their photo!

Giggles!

More than 400 monks partook in the alms-gathering;

the pindapata, the morning after the ordination of new monks.

Beautiful sight.

The end of the pindapata where the pay people gather

for the prayers and to give gifts of food to the monks.

I wish I could have understood what the chief

monk was saying, but the atmosphere said enough.

Check out my Sri Lankan wedding photography, travel photography, portrait photography, female photographers, commercial photography at my website at: http://www.shadetreeSL.com

© ShadeTree Productions

Today of All Days

I woke up in a bad mood this morning and couldn’t shake it all day. About all I could do was feed Toby and watch reruns of Boston Legal, which I do love. It’s now 7:30PM and I’m just getting around to writing LucysBuzz. Rather than whine about my mood, I’m going to post photos I took out of the car yesterday as we drove into Colombo, just to give a flavor of it all. I’ve been dying to take one photo in particular. It’s a billboard visible from an overhead bridge that’s usually full of traffic, so not easy to slow the car down to get a shot, but yesterday was successful! Yea!

Small petrol station. There is no self-serve in Sri Lanka.

Some stop lights now have count-down digits next to them.

Traffic along Marine Drive, a faster way into Colombo

as the main road, Galle Road is under construction

and a real pain in the neck.

Side street up to Galle Road.

Galle Road, where the construction has finished.

Another side street going to our computer place.

One of the large jewellery stores in Colombo.

Construction on Duplication Road. It's election time

and it always seems that during the coming elections

road work gets done.

Never been to this book shop.

This is my favourite billboard! Love it

and finally got the photo!

Check out my Sri Lankan wedding photography, travel photography, portrait photography, female photographers, commercial photography at my website at: http://www.shadetreeSL.com

© ShadeTree Productions

Sexy Lady!

I am super late getting LucysBuzz up today. There were so many things going on. First the gym workout and then when I got home Lipton was in the middle of a portrait shoot for Samudra Ranatunga, the TV presenter in CSN, professional film commercial model and ramp model. She also has her own TV cooking show called Rasavimana.

The photos Lipton had taken were just gorgeous and I wanted to take some of her, too. But different ones. The photos Lipton took were for a newspaper article on Samundra; soft, pretty, gorgeously wholesome. I wanted to take edgy, sexy, ones of her.

‘But I can’t be sexy,’ cried Samudra.

‘Give me a chance, you’ll see.’ I knew with her pouty lips, long shiny black hair and stunning eyes, I could get sexy from her.

It took awhile for me to get the lighting I wanted. Poor Lipton changed lights for me four times but finally I got what I wanted!

I could be sick to death, with a sprained wrist and broken ankle, but when I pick up the camera to do a portrait shot, all aches and pains disappear. Portraits shoots are my absolute favorite photos to take. I love to crawl into the subject’s eyes and bring out a side they didn’t know they had. Thanks to Samudra, I had a blast shooting her sexy side and took over 300 shots!

Here are a few of them. I had a hard time choosing just a few!

Samudra and Lipton collected

mangos after the shoot!

If you want me or Lipton to take your portrait, just call us on 0777 387734 or email me at llbyard@me.com.

Check out my Sri Lankan wedding photography, travel photography, portrait photography, female photographers, commercial photography at my website at: http://www.shadetreeSL.com

© ShadeTree Productions