Chris J Ewan Photography

Chris J Ewan Photography COLORS, SHAPES AND TEXTURES OF OUR NATURAL WORLD

Today's garden surprise was this beautiful Love-in-a-Mist flower. The delicate blue petals are eye-catching on their own...
06/23/2026

Today's garden surprise was this beautiful Love-in-a-Mist flower. The delicate blue petals are eye-catching on their own, but what really fascinates me are the intricate, lace-like bracts surrounding the bloom. They look almost like a tiny work of natural architecture.

One of the things I enjoy most about walking through the garden with a camera is discovering flowers that make me stop and take a closer look. There is always something new to appreciate when you slow down and pay attention to the details.

What interesting flowers are blooming in your garden right now?

These mushrooms recently appeared in our neighbor's yard. I have no idea what species they are, but they're about the si...
06/21/2026

These mushrooms recently appeared in our neighbor's yard. I have no idea what species they are, but they're about the size of a softball and make a great subject for photography. One of the things I enjoy most about photography is that you don't have to travel to a national park to find interesting images. Sometimes all it takes is a short walk through the neighborhood and a willingness to look a little closer.

Does anyone know what kind of mushroom these are?

One of my favorite signs of summer arrived today—our first water lily of the season has bloomed!This variety is called W...
06/21/2026

One of my favorite signs of summer arrived today—our first water lily of the season has bloomed!

This variety is called Wanvisa, and it's always one I look forward to seeing. I love the combination of red and yellow in the bloom. As an Iowa State University Cyclone graduate, it's fun to think of this flower as wearing Cardinal and Gold!

We've reached the final set! Thanks to everyone who has followed along and shared their thoughts over the past few posts...
06/19/2026

We've reached the final set! Thanks to everyone who has followed along and shared their thoughts over the past few posts.

Here are the last nine photographs in this little Ames sculpture series. After looking through them, which image leaves the biggest impression on you? Which one would you remember a week from now?

Vote by commenting and if you have time, tell me what made it memorable. I appreciate all the feedback—it gives me a fresh perspective on my own work and reminds me that every viewer brings something unique to an image.

We're on to round three!Each of these images began with the same idea: photographing sculptures around Ames in a way tha...
06/18/2026

We're on to round three!

Each of these images began with the same idea: photographing sculptures around Ames in a way that goes beyond simply documenting them. Sometimes it's the light, sometimes the angle, and sometimes it's just waiting for the right moment.

Take a look through these nine and tell me which one resonates with you the most. There are no wrong answers—I genuinely enjoy seeing what catches other people's attention. Leave your thoughts below!

One of my favorite times of the year is when the lilies begin to bloom. Their bold colors, elegant shapes, and intricate...
06/18/2026

One of my favorite times of the year is when the lilies begin to bloom. Their bold colors, elegant shapes, and intricate details make them some of my favorite subjects to photograph. Every flower is a little different, and it's always fun to see what catches my eye.

One of the questions I get asked is, "How do you get that black background when the flower is growing outside?"

The answer is simpler than most people think—it's done in the camera, not in Photoshop.

When I find a flower that's in bright, direct sunlight with a heavily shaded background behind it, I expose the photo so the bright petals keep all of their color and detail. Since the background is much darker, it records as pure black, creating a dramatic portrait that lets the flower take center stage.

I hope you enjoy this little glimpse behind the camera. If you'd like to see more photography tips like this mixed in with my nature photos, let me know!

Thanks to everyone who commented on yesterday's collection! It was fascinating to see how many different favorites there...
06/17/2026

Thanks to everyone who commented on yesterday's collection! It was fascinating to see how many different favorites there were.

Here's the next group of nine photographs featuring Ames sculptures. This time, I'm curious not only which image you like best but if you're inspired, tell me what drew you to it.

Over the past few days, I've been exploring Ames with my camera, photographing some of the public sculptures tucked into...
06/16/2026

Over the past few days, I've been exploring Ames with my camera, photographing some of the public sculptures tucked into neighborhoods, parks, and public spaces around town.

Today I'm sharing the first set of nine images. Which one catches your eye?

Don't overthink it—just tell me the number of the photo that makes you stop scrolling. If you want to elaborate, I'd love to hear why it stood out to you.

Your perspective is always interesting because everyone sees something different.

Some of my favorite wildlife moments begin with a sound rather than a sight.This morning at Ada Hayden, I heard a faint ...
06/16/2026

Some of my favorite wildlife moments begin with a sound rather than a sight.

This morning at Ada Hayden, I heard a faint squeaky noise somewhere out in the prairie grass. A few seconds later, I caught a flash of brown bouncing through the vegetation—and to my surprise, it was a young fawn heading almost straight toward me.

It emerged from the tall grass, stopped just long enough to size me up, and seemed genuinely curious about this strange human with a camera. I quietly snapped a few photos while we shared the moment.

After deciding I wasn't nearly as interesting as I looked, the little one turned around, took a few graceful bounds, and disappeared back into the prairie as quickly as it had arrived.

Encounters like this are a reminder that nature always has a way of surprising you when you slow down and pay attention. Sometimes the best part of a walk isn't the destination—it's the unexpected visitor along the way.

Congratulations to Sergey Budko, the winner of my Downtown Ames Art Walk Giveaway! Sergey selected "Snowy Swan" as his 8...
06/15/2026

Congratulations to Sergey Budko, the winner of my Downtown Ames Art Walk Giveaway! Sergey selected "Snowy Swan" as his 8×16 print.

This image was photographed at Ada Hayden Park during the middle of a snowstorm, one of those days when most people were staying indoors. Winter is a special time at the park, as trumpeter swans gather on the open water, creating wonderful opportunities to observe and photograph these magnificent birds. The falling snow added an extra layer of atmosphere and helped capture the quiet beauty of an Iowa winter day.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by my display at Great Plains Sauce & Dough during the Downtown Ames Art Walk and entered the print giveaway. It was a wonderful evening, and I enjoyed meeting so many people who share an appreciation for nature and photography.

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Ames, IA
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