Q: Who are you and where are you located?
A: I'm Dinusha Rajapaksha, but most people know me online as Macro Buddy. I'm based in Sri Lanka and work as a doctor. My true passion, though, is creative photography and design.
Q: What kind of art do you make?
A: I started with creative photography and videography, especially macro photography, and I'm still doing that. Recently, I've been exploring AI-generated art, but I don't limit myself to one style. I love experimenting with different genres.
Q: When and why did you first become an artist?
A: I started photography as a hobby during my university days, but I didn’t have the equipment I wanted. After graduating, and before my internship, I worked for a medical app as a reference creator. With that income, I bought my first proper camera gear, and that’s when my journey as an artist truly began.
Q: What else do you do for a living, if anything? What % of your income comes from that vs. your art?
A: As I mentioned earlier, I work as a doctor in the field of psychiatry, and I also contribute to several stock photography agencies. Around 70% of my income comes from my medical work, with the rest coming from my art.
Q: What tools do you use most in your work, and how has that changed over time?
A: I mainly use Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom for editing photos, and Adobe After Effects for videos. When I'm pressed for time, I rely on mobile apps like PicsArt, InShot, and Runway.
Q: What’s your opinion of AI image generators? If you use them in your work, please tell us how.
A: I think AI will play a major role in the art world because it's fast and efficient. But I believe it should be used as a tool to express creative ideas, not something to fully rely on. I started using AI art generators in late 2022, experimenting with tools like MidJourney, Leonardo, Firefly, and DALL-E. I prefer MidJourney and use it the most.
Q: How and when did you first discover Zedge Premium?
A: I’ve been using Zedge for wallpapers and ringtones since my university days. However, I discovered Zedge Premium Marketplace for Sellers through a friend in mid-2023.
Q: What’s surprised you about Zedge users? Has anything about them changed your approach to your work?
Q: How many profile pages do you have in Zedge?
A: I have 21 profiles, but only a few are currently active.
Q: How many items do you upload each day/week/month on average?
A: I have a portfolio of around 6,000 items. In the beginning, I uploaded 25-30 wallpapers daily, but now I focus on quality over quantity. Currently, I upload 4-5 wallpapers daily or every other day.
Q: How much money do you make from Zedge in an average week/month/year?
A: In the early days, I earned about $20-30 a month. Now, I make between $200-400 monthly, depending on how active I am. But it’s not just about the money—creating wallpapers brings me real joy! My phone screen wallpaper has never changed as often as it has since I started creating wallpapers for Zedge. 😀
Q: What are some of your most successful works with Zedge users? How much has each one earned you?
A: My most successful wallpapers include a seasonal live wallpaper for Memorial Day and an Electric Ink Dragon design. Together, they’ve earned me around $250.
Q: What are some of your favorite recent pieces of work that are available on Zedge?
A: Five of my favorite wallpapers are the minimalist wallpaper called "Tranquil Currents," "Pop Art Faith, "Midnight Charge," featuring a black stallion, "Starry Pup Voyage," and “Listen to Your Coffee”.
Q: What’s surprised you about Zedge users? Has anything about them changed your approach to your work?
A: I’m grateful for all the love from Zedge users worldwide. They seem to prefer simple, clean designs over more complex ones. I’ve learned that emotional connections in wallpapers, whether happy or sad, really resonate with people.
Q: What tips or tricks do you have for other Zedge artists?
A: Zedge is competitive, so don’t get discouraged by slow progress at the beginning. Focus on quality, not just quantity, and be consistent. Ask yourself, "Would I download this?" before uploading. Make sure to follow copyright rules closely because violations can get you banned permanently. Lastly, use the right keywords to make sure your work is visible.
Q: What’s surprised you about Zedge users? Has anything about them changed your approach to your work?
Q: What additional features do you wish Zedge would add?
A: From a user’s perspective, I’d love to see tools that let users customize wallpapers with text, filters, or stickers. Also, more dynamic wallpapers that change based on time or weather, and interactive wallpapers with animations or sounds.
From a creator’s perspective, a subscription model that allows users to access all our content, bundled content offers, and more collaboration opportunities with brands or influencers would be fantastic. Additionally, affiliate links for sharing premium content, where creators earn bonuses for each download or purchase made through their links, would be very helpful.
Q: What other artists or works inspire you?
A: The whole Zedge creative community inspires me. Everyone brings something unique, and I’m constantly amazed and motivated by the work I see. It feels great to be both a creator and a fan.
