About Elizabeth Gates, Nature Photographer

I was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, adjacent to a magical farm.  Its sights, sounds, smells and tastes colored my early years and forever influenced my relationship with the natural world.  My favorite place was 'outside' and my favorite subjects were critters of all descriptions.  I guess that's why I became an educator at the Cincinnati Zoo - guiding, handling animals, doing school outreach programs and finally becoming a keeper. 

My passion for nature continued in Eugene, Oregon as a naturalist interpreter with Nearby Nature and Mt. Pisgah Arboretum.  In the mix I attended (and then assisted with) Environmental Awareness weekend workshops at the University of Oregon, took several survival courses in Oregon and Washington and taught an Edible Wild Plants class at Lane Community College.

After several years of traveling from Eugene west to the ocean, I made the big move to the small town of Yachats, on the Central Oregon Coast.  I soon became involved in several of the community's volunteer opportunities and for two years was a Forest Service naturalist interpreter at Cape Perpetua Visitors Center.  It was here that my passion for photography developed - amid colorful tide pool creatures and wave-washed beaches and bays.

My very first shots happened on a day I was walking a stretch of beach south of town.  After greeting the ocean, my attention was drawn down to the sand and fascinating images began to appear (a description of that experience is in the introduction to my book, EBB TIDE ~ a Closer Look).  As I was kneeling down to focus with my camera, a young man approached and asked what had my attention.  I showed him what I saw and he ran to get his family.  Together we experienced what I like to call "sand art", and we were all hooked.  From that day on, I began watching for patterns, textures and colors in the sand.  And after several years of photographing the delights beneath my feet I felt compelled to pull them all together in a book that I now hope to share with you.  Enjoy!