Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Gilligan.
Hi Kevin, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Landscape, Portrait, Sports Photographer and Workshop Instructor
My journey into photography is unconventional. I am a full-time prosecutor and avid part-time professional photographer. Don’t let the “part-time” label fool you, I am passionate about photography and my work is prolific. In the last 15 years, I’ve photographed on five continents and exhibited my work in 30 group shows, three (3) solo exhibitions, been displayed in museums three (3) times, and received a prestigious international award for my images.
My visual perspective grew out of a love of the ocean, surfing and swimming. Growing up on NY’s Long Island Sound and now living in L.A.’s South Bay, I have a keen appreciation for beautiful ocean, beach, and water landscapes and portraits. My interests are eclectic. Art, portraits and sports photography, especially soccer, martial arts and surfing are near and dear to my heart. I’ve been a surfer for almost 20 years and have been doing martial arts for nearly 30 years, holding black belts in Krav Maga and Tae Kwon Do. Being a sports practitioner informs my photography.
AWARD-WINNING-PUBLISHED-MUSEUM DISPLAYED
My images have been displayed in museums, photography shows, and published in magazines and newspapers across the United States. In 2020, I received a Bronze Award from the highly-competitive and well-regarded Epson International Pano Awards for my image of The Three Towers in Patagonia. There were almost 6,000 images from 96 countries in the competition. In October 2019, my third solo exhibit “Developing Men” was exhibited at the Resin Gallery in Hermosa Beach and consisted of 30 portraits, written word, and a documentary. Developing Men is “(a) contemporary examination of male friendship, masculinity, isolation, community and legacy,” critical themes for our time. The show themes were powerful and well-received. The exhibit was reviewed by The Daily Breeze newspaper, Spectrum Cable, and UCLA magazine.
My second solo show, “Deliberations” in 2017, was a prescient look at the divisiveness and exploitation of people and resources that was dawning. The exhibit juxtaposed imagery of spectacular national parks with the starkness of local oil refineries and explored critical questions about where we find ourselves both as a nation and as a South Bay Community on the 75th anniversary of the internment of Japanese Americans in World War II.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
As a part-time professional photographer, my struggles are somewhat different than my full-time professional photographer friends. Given that I have a steady income, I am free to pursue works and projects that interest me personally without the worry of feeding my family from my photography. The flip side is that I have less free time and have to pass on certain work due to time constraints. On the plus side, I am forced to plan out my work far in advance to meet deadlines and this keeps me organized. The creative struggles, ups and downs and learning process are otherwise the same for anyone who strives to keep getting better. I am thankful for the South Bay Artists Collective in Hermosa Beach for creating a community for artists and those who appreciate art. This group has been wonderful during the pandemic which has challenged all of us.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a landscape, portrait, sports photographer and workshop instructor.
What I am known for has probably changed over time. Initially, I was most known for my “moody” and dark take on landscape images of the ocean and nature. I still love a great moody landscape, but I have also transitioned into portraits and really appreciate a beautifully lit portrait. Across the board, it’s the light that makes photography. Light and composition are what make photography stand out.
In terms of what sets me apart, there are probably three things. One is that I have a wide variety of life experiences as a prosecutor who spent many years working in crime challenged neighborhoods. I also have many interests, martial arts, soccer, sports, etc. This diverse set of experiences informs my images and approaches in a way that is perhaps apart from someone who has been a photographer their whole life.
The second way I am different is that I enjoy writing. Being a competent writer and photographer expands my opportunities. My exhibitions and my pieces are often accompanied by writing. I am proud of the thoughtful and deep artist statements that I made to accompany my solo exhibits “Developing Men” and “Deliberations.” I want my viewers to see and think about the work. It’s not enough for me to just produce a “pretty” image. There is nothing wrong with a pretty image, but many times I want someone to go deeper.
Third, I am driven to explore deeply. In my landscape work, I flew to Chilean Patagonia to capture images. It’s nearly a 24-hour journey from Southern California. Once in Torres Del Paine National Park, I hiked 11 hours round trip to the top of the Three Towers. The last part of the hike was very windy, icey and cold. I did all of this to capture an image of the iconic Three Towers. That image won a Bronze Award from the prestigious Epson International Pano Awards.
When it comes to portraits and exhibitions, I am most proud of my “Deliberations” exhibit and “Developing Men” exhibits. Both are unflinching looks at difficult situations that seek to explore deeply. Deliberations was ahead of its time. I was called an alarmist for my concerns about environmental destruction and violent signaling by proxies of then Presidential candidate Trump. I was deeply alarmed at what I was seeing and hearing. Some thought I was over the top to raise and compare the Japanese Internment Camps with the Trump proxies used about imprisoning all Muslims in 2016. I could see that he and his proxies were intentionally divisive in seeking an “other” to vilify and rally against. That year was the 75th anniversary of WWII and the imprisonment of Japanese Americans in U.S. internment camps like Manzanar. In hindsight, what I said looks prescient and possibly not strong enough. A survivor of the Nazi concentration camps attended the exhibit, he came up to me, held my hand with tears in his eyes and said “THANK YOU” for telling this story and reminding people it can happen here too. As an artist and storyteller, I don’t know what is more powerful and gratifying than that.
My “Developing Men” exhibit was composed of 30 portraits of 15 men, written word and a documentary that was a contemporary examination of male friendship, masculinity, isolation and community. It was a deep dive into what is going on with men. The exhibit took me to nine cities, two coasts and took 18 months from conception to exhibition. I learned a ton about men, what is working and what is not and how that impacts our society writ large. When you look at the past four years, all the turmoil we’ve had, so much of it can be traced back to men and their issues. I agonized over the text for that exhibit, and in the end, I think it turned out really well.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
We have all had help along the way. We all stand on the shoulders of the people before us. Do any of us have a TRULY unique idea? I have been very fortunate to have a number of mentors and people who have connected me with others.
My local camera store, Silvio’s Camera and digital was hugely helpful. They had an incredibly talented photographer there by the name of Annie Appel, She has images in the Smithsonian though she’s modest about it. She taught me the value of prints and encouraged me greatly. The store owner, Silvio Bello, introduced me to Tamron lenses. Over several years I developed a relationship with them where I submitted images and helped write articles for Tamron. Eventually, they made me a Tamron Image Master which helped raise my profile. I owe a debt of gratitude to Stacie Errera at Tamron, the VP of Marketing. I have taught workshops for Silvios and Tamron and really enjoy teaching.
Thanks to Tamron I met Skip Cohen, one of the nicest and most knowledgeable people in the photography industry you will ever meet. He’s so humble you’d never know his pedigree including that he was once the President of Hasselblad Cameras. Skip is a marketing genius and a regular feature at all the national photography shows. He runs an incredible website with all the marketing information and photo tips you could want, it’s called SkipCohenUniversity.Com. We have partnered on several podcasts and events and every single time it’s amazing. I’d partner with that guy on literally anything. He’s so fun and easy to work with.
Another mentor, world-class painter Victor Hugo and I met in South LA when I was working there and he had a studio there. He was and is an inspiration. He taught me the value of composition. I can still hear it in my head “Composition, composition, composition.” He has had several studios and they are all wonderous places to explore.
Another mentor, Hernan Rodriguez, is a world-class portrait photographer, he is incredibly talented with lighting and color. I’ve learned a lot from assisting him and working with him on gigs. A very very nice guy.
Tony DiZinno is a mentor and friend. Tony is an incredible photographer, storyteller and Director of Photography. I have learned so much from him it’s hard to share it all. He has taught me about storytelling and the masters of the genre. He has photographed in 88 countries, a truly remarkable life and human. Tony and I are now planning a series of photography workshops to the Dolomites and Patagonia. They are going to be incredible. I can’t wait!
I’d be remiss not to mention my wife, Noreen Wenjen, an artist and wonderful soul. She is a classically trained musician and has supported my artistic endeavors and that support has made it all possible. Wow looking back on this, I have been INCREDIBLY fortunate.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.photosbykag.com
- Instagram: photosbykag
- Facebook: Facebook.com/photosbykag
- Twitter: twitter.com/photosbykag
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KAGilligan/featured
Image Credits
All images taken by Kevin Gilligan
