Finding Beauty in the Everyday: Nazly's Journey Through Colombo
Accidental Artist, Intentional Vision
In the beating heart of Sri Lanka’s capital, where ancient traditions blend seamlessly with modern life, photographer Nazly discovered that the most extraordinary stories often hide in plain sight. This is a tale of finding beauty in the everyday streets of Colombo.
It began unexpectedly in 2006 with nothing more than a modest 1.3 MP camera phone. What started as casual snapshots gradually transformed into a way for Nazly to see the world through a new lens, finding beauty even in the ordinary. “I never set out to become a photographer,” he confesses. “Photography found me.”
A few years later, Nazly upgraded to a tiny digital camera, and by 2012, he had purchased his first DSLR. While many of his friends reserved their cameras for trips and special occasions, Nazly chose a different path – taking his DSLR on daily commutes and through the neighbourhoods he grew up in. The streets of Colombo became both canvas and muse.
“With street photography, you can’t plan; each moment holds a story, but you don’t know what that story will be until it happens,” Nazly explains.
This unpredictability became the allure. Nazly’s transition to street photography wasn’t immediate, he first explored landscapes and architecture, but the spontaneous nature of the streets always fascinated him. Around this time, photography became his creative escape from the repetitive nature of his desk job.
Streets as a Living Canvas
Walking through Colombo’s vibrant streets, camera in hand, offered both liberation and a way to unwind. “Colombo’s streets hold endless stories,” Nazly notes, “and capturing these untold narratives allowed me to see my city and life in a richer, more colourful way.”
Without formal training, YouTube tutorials and countless hours on Colombo’s streets became his classroom. “Every photo was a chance to refine my skills, to better understand angles, shadows, and the way light interacts with people and places,” he reflects. Through practice and experimentation, he learned to capture those fleeting instances of perfect imperfection that make street photography so deeply rewarding.
Today, Nazly’s process has evolved into something much more meaningful than simply taking photos. “When I head out with my camera, it’s not just about taking photos. I immerse myself in the scene, getting to know the people and the place. I wait, observe, and let the story reveal itself.”
There’s profound beauty in capturing a tea maker at his stall or commuters on a crowded train, moments that might otherwise pass unnoticed but that Nazly believes are worth cherishing.
Social media played a significant role in sharing his work. Though he started on Flickr, platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter eventually took the lead. “I never consciously promoted my photos,” he admits. “I simply posted what I felt connected to, and over time, people who resonated with these scenes began to follow along.”
Beyond Pixels to pages
After years of documenting Colombo’s vibrant energy, Nazley’s images found a home beyond digital screens in “Colours of Colombo,” a book co-authored through the words of Kris Thomas. “Initially, the book was just a way to preserve these images, but it became so much more – a tribute to Colombo and its people, a way for others to see the city as I do.”
Looking back, Nazly’s journey into photography has been one of discovery, growth, and gratitude. “Street photography taught me to find beauty in the every day, to see the extraordinary in the mundane, and to appreciate my city more deeply. If there’s one thing I hope my photos convey, it’s this: life is filled with moments worth savouring, and sometimes, all it takes is a second glance.”
Nazly Ahmed transforms the mundane into the magnificent through his lens. After eight years of exploration, he discovered street photography as his true calling, a perfect detox from his desk job and a way to see Colombo differently. His acclaimed book “Colours of Colombo,” co-authored with Kris Thomas, showcases eight years of capturing everyday heroes and fleeting moments that might otherwise go unnoticed, proving that beauty often hides in plain sight.