How do our food experts cook and eat? This week, one of Sri Lanka’s most reputed food photographers and major foodie, Dihan De Silva, takes our Q&A!

What got you into food photography? 
Total accident 10 years ago when a client called me and asked if I could do a shoot for a famous coffee shop in Colombo. All I was shooting at this point were portraits. Trust me, it was a total flop. I’m truly grateful to the late owner of this coffee shop who gave me a second chance. I owe it to him.

What’s a dish you’d love to relive for the first time?
A5 Wagyu brisket  Fried Rice

Your pre-shoot ritual?
I always research on the brand or the client and then I do research on different styles.

Your go-to drink?
G&T!

An underrated cuisine?
Malaysian. The diversity and the ingredients they use in those dishes are amazing. I know I get questioned a lot about travelling there, but there is so much food to explore in this country!

What is the one picture you’ve taken that you think really depicts your style?
I did a shoot for a restaurant in Colombo. I think the lighting used depicts pretty much my style together with the art direction. I’ve always wanted to create a particular style for my work so when someone sees it, they can identify the style immediately.

Your favourite childhood meal?
There used to be this amazing Pakistani Biriyani place in the apartments we used to live in Johor bahru, Malaysia.  Never have I had anything like that.

It’s your last day on earth, where are you?
I’m having that Biriyani from Malaysia! They do say that Biriyani is life!

Light, colour, composition, set up – you can only have one in a shoot; which one would you pick?
Light. It plays the most key part of any shoot. But secondly and I think equally important, is Composition.

Eat with your eyes or think with your stomach?
Eat with your eyes! I strongly believe that food photography is the visual element that makes people tick to order or want any type of food. So, it’s important you do justice to it.

Whip up the easiest meal to impress someone?
A really, really good burger. You can’t go wrong with impressing someone with this easy dish!

We know you love your food and your photography is amazing – but are you equally a good cook? 
Haha, not the greatest cook but I think I can manage without burning down the kitchen!

Your favourite odd food pairing?
Passion fruit and Chillie flakes in an Ice Cream. 

The hardest food for you to shoot?
No doubt it's Sri Lankan.

You’ve travelled a lot - what’s the most adventurous questionable food you’ve eaten?
Coca Cola braised lamb. Never had I ever tried anything on these lines, but I can tell you it was pretty amazing!

It's 2050 – what are you up to?
I’m alive, retired and living the dream of travelling to explore food.