M Rohan Canagasabey's Personal Profile
The Contents of my personal profile are essentially my influential life experiences, interests, and previous and current professional experience in photojournalism (under the name of Michael-Rohan Sabai and my own name, respectively) and my recent educational and career/professional achievements. In 2003 I re-established myself as a Photojournalist under my own name in my country of origin, Sri Lanka.
Life Experience and Interests:
My first rewarding experience of life was to go backpacking as an inexperienced youth through South-East Asia and Australia between April 1986 and July 1987. I also visited Colombo, Sri Lanka; the place of my birth - I am of Tamil origin - and home until the age of fourteen, when I emigrated to England. I returned to the UK much the wiser and having discovered a talent in photography. I am very interested in national and global current affairs, both political and commercial. I am also interested in global conservation, wildlife and all aspects of life in general, including movies, music and sport. Note: M is for Michael, but I am usually known by my middle name.
I have had practical experience of computers within the hotel industry in London for five years and attained a junior management position of Senior Night Auditor in 1990/91. During this period I also studied Photography on a part-time basis for three years. This included a two-day a week spell at Sir John Cass School of Art, City of London Polytechnic (now London Guildhall University) from Sept 1988 to June 1990, where my final exhibition of sixteen Black and White images of life in the ancient town of Nazare, Portugal was very successful. Professional and Educational Experience:
I subsequently became a Freelance Photographer/Reporter for the English language national press in Thailand from March 1992 to May 1993. These included the Bangkok Post and The Nation. I had the honour of seeing twelve of my photo-articles (with my colour photos) published under my professional name of Michael-Rohan Sabai. Unfortunately this venture proved to be financially insecure, due largely to unwarranted Secret Service Harassment, which at the very least was designed to achieve that objective. Nevertheless, this venture was also evidence of my enthusiasm, self-motivation, determination to strive towards a goal as well as showing intiative and adaptability; in addition to my obvious talent as both a photographer and writer of "travel" stories with subtle socio-economic angles.
After four years of hard study I graduated in July 1998 with a 2.1 Honours degree in Information Management with Combined Studies* (*business and media) from Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh (established 1875). In addition to enjoying the web design and multimedia aspects of this degree, I have learnt how to develop information strategies for organisations, which can be a crucial element for business efficiency and success. I am also able to confidently use several software packages.
In May 1999, the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Continuing Education, published a short story of mine, based partly on my earliest recollection in Colombo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka). In June 1999 I had a travel story on the Royal Burgh of Dunfermline, Scotland published in the Leisure Section on a private Scottish Parliament Website
I returned to Sri Lanka, my country of orgin, in December 2002, after spending 2 1/2 years in an Edinburgh based Internet Bank. In February 2003, I re-established myself as photojournalist here in Sri Lanka. On this occassion covering various topics, both as photographer and a journalist.Please see the link to my published photo-articles on my index page.
On a sour note, my personal life is still affected, as it has been for the last 17 years, but now only to some exrent in Sri Lanka, by as yet clearly unidentified malicious forces whose intrusion into it through some "puppet" informants and malicious rumours keep genuine people at a distance, as decribed in the link "Secret Service Harassment" on this page. Nevertheless I have attempted to concentrate on my professional career and despite deliberate obstacles, have now had more success as a freelance journalist and photographer.
rcanagasabey@yahoo.com or
cm4sabey@hotmail.com