ROGER Pengelly’s new exhibition, “My Father’s World” at the Gloucester Gallery, highlights the unique beauty of the natural world.
Pengelly does not view himself as a photographer but rather as an artist who uses photography as a medium to create art.
“There are stories in the natural environment; stories of flood and fire, growth, and of water, land and sky,” he said.
“The land invites me to explore and study its intricacies.”
An important influence on Pengelly is American landscape photographer Ansell Adam.
Adams is widely regarded as the father of landscape photography and is especially noted for his technical excellence in developing photographs.
“I include several Ansel Adams quotes in the exhibition because his philosophical approach to photography resonates with me,” Mr Pengelly said.
Continuing in this tradition, like Adams, Pengelly takes time with his shots.
Rather than adopting a rapid-fire approach, taking thousands of photographs, and simply hoping that one will be enough, Pengelly plans his shots after exploring how the subject responds to light, temperature, and angle, and considering its orientation to the sun at different times of day.
He argues that photographs must embed natural elements to provoke a visceral or imaginative response from viewers.
Many of Pengelly’s prints consist of ten or more individual photographs, each serving as a distinct element of the final composition.
“As I take each photograph, I plan the final print,” he said.
“In musical terms, each negative is the score, and the final print is the performance.”
Despite his careful planning, Pengelly explains there are times when you must be present because the environment is rapidly changing.
“You have to concentrate and be very focused in moments such as these: always accept the chance when it comes along.”
Pengelly also notes that there are dangers in photographing the natural world.
As he acknowledges, “there is no sense in getting a great wave shot at the beach if you are swept away by a rogue wave”.
‘My Father’s World’ is on display at the Gloucester Gallery until 14 June 2026.
By Wendy BUSWELL
You can help your local paper.
Make a small once-off, or (if you can) a regular donation.
We are an independent family owned business and our newspapers are free to collect and our news stories are free online.
Help support us into the future.
