News

Sligo Weekender Article

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Childhood inspirations
By Sandra Coffey

The hand-over of a camera from father to son may not have meant much to Kelvin Gillmor at the time. He was only a child – but with camera in hand coupled with a childhood curiosity, he was taken to many new and undiscovered places in his home village of Dromahair.
Taking time to look back, this now
award-winning photographer has realised how instances of one’s childhood can inadvertently influence adult life.
Kelvin, 31, said: “Dad was always taking pictures of the family on holidays and anything he found interesting. When he handed me his old camera, I never thought that I would one day become a professional photographer.”
His path into photography was not a straightforward one. He first went to Galway to study a degree in hotel management. Realising that this wasn’t for him, he signed up to do a VTOS course in media studies, during which he got to study photography.
“I knew that this was something I really wanted to get into. I was very lucky how things started off for me.
“Neil Warner, a photographer from Galway, came in to give a talk during the course and by chance he was looking for an assistant. After I started working with Neil, things took off from there.”
Kelvin focuses particularly on classical portrait photography. It was in this category that he won the award at the Irish National Photographic Awards, held recently in the Burlington Hotel in Dublin. His winning photographs are on display in the Eyre Square Shopping Centre in Galway. They are among just 50 chosen from a submission of over 1,000.

Speaking about his style, Kelvin said:
“I like to capture the essence of the person that I am photographing. I work in the controlled environment of the studio
and create an image that most captures
the person or persons I am
photographing.”
On business terms, he has joined Neil (himself an award-winner) and opened a studio, Classic Portraits, in the city (behind Westside Shopping Centre).
When he collected his award for the Classical Portrait Photographer of the Year, he was accompanied by his dad John and mum Joyce. His parents live in Dromahair and run the popular village shop, SJ Gillmor & Sons.
“They were delighted with the award, but my dad was especially pleased as it was him that gave me my first camera.
“I think my persistence paid off in the end, and I know now that taking photographs is what I always wanted to do.”
Kelvin’s brother Vernon, who is well known in GAA and soccer circles, was equally as delighted.