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LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER KEN LEWIS WINS AWARD
Kenneth Lewis is a photographer who has just been awarded the The Northern Enterprise Award for the Nature photographer of the year 2020 ( North West ) Wirral Life asked him how it came about …
Have you always lived in Wirral ? I was born on the Wirral , I lived in Birkenhead which made me a towny , but my Father ’ s roots were from North Wales where he had relations who were all farmers . In the summer , we used to stay with my relations on their farms which I really loved . My father Frank used to take me on walks at the far end of Bala Lake , he would point out the birds and their calls . This was my introduction to nature and landscape photography .
After I left school with very few qualifications , I was advised to go to art school because of my autistic traits . The Laird School of Art was an obvious choice and I started on a three year general art course but only lasted two , I managed to get into a drawing office in Liverpool , but after 12 months I moved to an engineering apprenticeship as I was very good with my hands and fixing things , I still am .
How did you get into photography ? It all started when I was 40 years old , my wife Eileen bought me a camera and lens which kickstarted my passion for nature photography , to capture pictures like you see in glossy Nature magazines . I joined the Hoylake Photographic Society with my brother Allan , it ’ s a great way to learn the basics of photography . The competitions make you try harder to be a winner - it worked for me ! The highlight of my time as amateur photographer was when I won a Gold and Silver in L & CPU and a ribbon medal for my Boxing Hares taken in Landican cemetery .
Things really took off when you took early retirement though didn ’ t they ? Most of my life was spent as a maintenance engineer which is a good job and well-paid . It gave me lots of time off to follow my hobby as a photographer . At 58 , I was asked by our supervisor would I like to
take early retirement with a full pension . He didn ' t have to ask twice ! I then started my own business which I called kelimages . com . The last 18 years have been the journey of a lifetime and I have never regretted one minute of it .
My role as a professional photographer has taken me into some superb places and I have seen things which I couldn ' t believe sometimes . I have travelled all over the UK including the outer Hebrides and islands and the inner Hebridian islands , the only islands I have not visited in the course of my photography is the Shetland and Orkney islands , they are on my wish list for next year . I have covered all of the French southern Alpine reserves walking in and recording the fauna and flora , it was magnificent . I ’ ve had several trips to the island of Lesvos and a major tour in the Everglades National Park it ' s a wonderful place to get close up and personal to the wildlife .
What does kelimages . com do ? Basically , I take pictures of the Wirral and Liverpool and turn them into products to sell in about 40 different outlets across those areas . My products include canvases , fridge magnets , chopping boards and greetings cards . It gives me a great buzz to this day . My website is used for bespoke prints made to order including nature and landscape images . I used to sell my nature products in many parts of the UK , but it is very difficult to keep contact with outlets further afield . People ask me why did you call your business kelimages ? My full name is Kenneth Edward Lewis , when I was studying art I used to sign all my art work ' Kel ' so it was a natural progression .
Finally , tell us about this award that you have won ? The Northern Enterprise Award is the Nature Photographer of the Year 2020 ( North West ). The award was given to me by a panel of judges for the quality of nature images on my website . It ' s amazing to have some recognition for all those years of work I have put in and I ’ m so proud of it !
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