Bottle n’ Bag.
Ele Chew is an artist of many disciplines.
From working with mediums such as metal, glass or ceramics, photography is just one of many art forms she uses to express herself.
Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Cuero-based artist Ele Chew, 73, has spent most of her life pursuing her art in addition to raising her children and working on her career as a research scientist.
Her interest in art started when she was a little girl and blossomed ever since. She evolved from painting and eventually gravitated toward photography due to her desire for capturing the moment.
Hush sweet baby.
“I’m not interested in taking beautiful photographs. I’m just trying to capture the moment that is very special to me,” Chew said.
For Chew, moments like this mean photographing an American house finch skipping over a rock while water splashes or capturing a conversation between a male and female cardinal.
Female and cardinals conversation.
Prairie chicken courtship dance.
“You don’t see don’t bird pictures like that. It kind of has a character to it,” Chew said.
Some of Chew’s subjects can be found in nature, which she sought to learn about with the Texas Master Naturalists. Since Chew’s scientific background includes chemistry and biology, photography became a way for her to discover Texas.
Male painted bunting in the late afternoon sun.
But nature isn’t the only subject she’s interested in documenting. There’s a sense of exploration in Chew’s work. She ventures through different landscapes in Texas.
Weesatche county road.
This all ties to her desire to see as much as she can.
“I yearn to see everything,” Chew said. “I just want to be able to see life itself, so I can capture it.”
River road in late afternoon, Big bend.
