Creative Advisor
Engela Gobregts
Engela Gobregts's love of photography and nature reaches back to her childhood, shaped by a life spent in close relationship with the natural world and a career devoted to environmental education. For her, making art in nature is an act of mindfulness, a way of deepening her spiritual connection with life and with the world around her, and she creates first and foremost for the well-being of her own soul. Nature is her greatest teacher, and above all, it has taught her the value of presence, of being fully alive to the moment and open to the beauty and mystery that surrounds us. Through her photography she hopes to carry the viewer into that same quiet place, awakening a sense of wonder and inviting them to find the light within the shadows and the unseen within the seen.
Showcase
Seven pieces, and what is behind them
Click on the artwork to see it larger, and read Engela’s own description of each piece.
Work 01
Absence (Flowerless Water Lilies)
Absence (Flowerless Water Lilies) The impressionistic water lily pond without flowering water lilies represents a quiet, reflective mystery and emotional depth centreed on nature’s transient beauty and the interplay of light, shadow and absence. Feelings of calm introspection and melancholy are evoked.
Work 02
Morning Flight
The misty, subdued landscape and muted colour evoke calmness and introspection. The tranquil setting echoes a desire for peace and a pause from life’s busyness. The flock of birds flying together symbolises a longing for connection, belonging or shared purpose. The single bird flying lower and apart from the group reflects feelings of individuality, independence or even isolation.
Work 03
Autumn Fire
The bright warm orange-red and yellow colour symbolise sunlight, energy and hope which triggers an emotional response of warmth and optimism. The tree is a symbol of life and growth. Renewal, positivity and the warmth of nature are portrayed. The impressionistic style and double exposure techniques blur reality, creating a dreamlike and memory-laden effect, which evokes feelings of nostalgia and a sense of fleeting time. A sense of spiritual reflection, peace and inner calm is brought about by the ethereal nature of the double exposure, the soft focus and the open composition.
Work 04
Contemplation (Square Autumn Tree)
The interplay of light and shadow, along with the richness of the colour, prompt introspective and reflective feelings. In addition, the tranquil, undisturbed setting brings about a sense of serenity and relaxation. The contrast between the bright leaves and the darker background adds a touch of mystery and depth. Autumn scenes are often associated with transitions, both in nature and in life. The beauty and quiet thereof can stir up gentle, bittersweet feelings, making you appreciate the present moment while reflecting on the past.
Work 05
Solitaire
The solitary tree stands alone, drawing your attention, but also making you question its significance. Why is it alone? Is it symbolic? The focus on one subject in an otherwise empty scene invites speculation and introspection. The solitary tree in the centre, combined with the abstract, painterly style, encourages reflection. It may prompt thoughts of solitude, personal growth or passage of time. The combination of abstract style, unusual colour, dreamlike quality, lack of clear context and the focus on a single tree, all work together to evoke curiosity. The blurred lines, abstract colour and ambiguous surroundings are designed to encourage a closer look, a search for meaning and to engage with the image on a deeper, more personal level.
Work 06
At Rest
My creative intent was to create a very gentle, intimate feeling; displaying a metaphore of me and my two sisters in close companionship and authentic and honest communication.It is emphasised by the three horses standing close together with relaxed postures and lowered heads, which creates a sense of trust, companionship and quiet safety. The soft watercolour treatment and muted palette reinforce calmness and stillness rather than movement or drama. What the image means to me as photographer: A moment of connection and belonging Peace found in nature Family or protective bonds Quiet companionship without tension A pause from activity, a shared stillness On an emotional level I want to express serenity, tenderness, comfort, restfulness and quiet affection. The composition feels almost maternal or protective, especially with the central horse positioned between the others. There is no alertness or anxiety in their expressions; instead, they appear settled and emotionally at ease; therefore the caption At Rest was chosen. The horses physically appear calm and unguarded and the image itself feels visually restful. The soft edges and pale tones create a dreamlike stillness. I think the caption works well because it matches both the physical posture of the horses and the emotional atmosphere of the piece.
Work 07
Where Silence Breathes
This image explores the quiet meeting place between memory and landscape. The glowing field, shadowed hills and solitary trees are softened beneath layers of texture, as though the scene is being remembered rather than simply observed. The work expresses a longing for stillness, a moment where the natural world becomes emotional rather than literal. The vast blue sky carries a dreamlike weight, while the warm earth below suggests life, endurance and hidden warmth beneath solitude. The blurred forms near the trees feel almost ghostlike, hinting at presence, passing time, or the traces we leave within places that shape us. My intent was to be expressing not just a landscape, but an inner emotional terrain: reflection, transcience, peace touched by melancholy and the desire to find meaning in quiet spaces. The image feels contemplative, as though the photographer/artist is searching for connection between the visible world and an unseen emotional reality.
In her own words
How Engela got here
Artist Statement
My passion for photography and nature stems from my childhood. Nature has been my teacher all my life. It is an incredible experience I like to share; hence my career choice of environmental education.
For me, being in nature and creating art is about mindfulness. When I am in touch with nature and my creativity I am most encouraged. This is the time when my spiritual connection with all life and the world around me is most enhanced. Being creative is good for my soul. Therefore, I firstly create for myself and for my soul’s wellbeing.
Nature inspires my imagination and creativity. Most importantly, it teaches me about presence. I believe that the present is all there is; it is all we really have. Presence is what is needed to become aware of the beauty surrounding us, also for understanding the metaphors nature presents. To understand presence is simply to be present in each moment. Photography is one way that I am able to experience the moment, suspend time and reconnect with just being. With this work, I hope to take the viewer to such a place, a place of quiet contemplation. I also aim to awaken a sense of wonder, the wonder of nature. I invite you to look for the light within the shadows, the unseen within the seen, and the mystery presented.
Techniques Description
Recently, I have started to combine digital photography and fine art techniques through various online courses presented by Martin Osner and Samantha Lee Osner at their Art Photography Academy. I am particularly drawn to Impressionism. I have learnt and explored the following two techniques at the Osner’s recent Swellendam Art Retreat:
Dual Pass Ink-flow Impression Technique
This technique is a hybrid process that combines digital photography, soft editing, fine art inkjet printing and water-based manipulation to create unique, impressionistic artworks. By printing twice on watercolour paper and using controlled water blending, this method bridges photography and painterly abstraction.
Abstract Impressionism with Double/Multiple Exposure Photography
This technique involves capturing two or more exposures of one subject in-camera to achieve an abstract impressionist result. It combines the elements of sharpness, intentional blur and camera movement. However, it can also be achieved, amongst others, in Adobe Photoshop by blending the different photographs in layers. A unique and artistic result is achieved.
In these presented art pieces I used both these techniques in combination with each other.
The path she took
She finished the Masterclass
Engela completed every workshop in the programme. It begins with Getting Started in Art Photography, which is where all of this starts.
Look at Getting StartedThe others
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Every creative advisor came the same way, and each one has a page of their own with the work they make now.
See all the creative advisorsEngela’s creative journey began with just one course
Every artist on these pages started at the same place, unsure whether any of it would come to anything. Getting Started in Art Photography is where that begins.
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