In Search of Ancient Oregon: A Geological and Natural History

Geology is an extremely visual subject, and In Search of Ancient Oregon is a beautifully photographed, expertly written account of Oregon's fascinating geological story. Written by a passionate and professional geologist who has spent countless hours in the field exploring and photographing the state, In Search of Ancient Oregon is a book for all those interested in Oregon's landscapes and environments. It presents fine-art-quality color photographs of well-known features such as Mount Hood, Crater Lake, Smith Rock, Steens Mountain, the Columbia River Gorge, and Cannon Beach, and scenic, not so well known places such as Jordan Craters, Leslie Gulch, Abert Rim, Hells Canyon, Elkhorn Mountains, and Three Fingered Jack. Each of the more than 220 stunning photographs is accompanied by readable text, presenting the story of how Oregon's diverse landscapes evolved — and what we may expect in the future. Until now, no book has presented this dynamic story in a way that everyone interested in Oregon's natural history can easily understand. The combination of extraordinary photographs and the author's lucid explanations make this book both unique and essential for those curious about our own contemporary landscape.

In Search of Ancient Oregon is a beautifully photographed, expertly written account of Oregon's fascinating geological story. Written by a passionate and professional geologist, In Search of Ancient Oregon is a book for all those interested in Oregon's landscapes and environments. It presents fine-art quality color photographs of well-known features such as Mount Hood, Crater Lake, and Cannon Beach, and scenic, not so well-known places such as Jordan Craters, Leslie Gulch, and Three-Fingered Jack. Each of the more than 220 stunning photographs is accompanied by readable text, presenting the story of how Oregon's diverse landscapes evolved--and what we may expect in the future. The combination of extraordinary photographs and the author's lucid explanations make this book both unique and essential for those curious about our own contemporary landscape.

The exciting story of how Oregon's diverse landscapes evolved is seen through 220 fine art quality photographs and beautiful writing.

An accomplished geologist, photographer, environmental advocate, and teacher, Ellen Morris Bishop also happens to be passionate about the diverse landforms of Oregon. In studying Oregon's natural history, Ellen realized that the fascinating stories told by the landscape were only accessible to other researchers. With a desire to bring the entire chronicle of Oregon's geological and natural history to the general public, Ellen set out to write In Search of Ancient Oregon.

With more than two decades of experience in geological research and a firsthand knowledge of the landscapes of Oregon, Ellen is eminently qualified to reveal the state's unique history. Ellen has earned degrees in geology from Dickinson College (B.S.) and Oregon State University (M.S. and Ph.D.) and completed postgraduate studies with the geological research division of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Her research helped define Oregon's exotic terranes, including the Baker terrane, and the terranes of the Blue Mountains. An avid educator, Ellen has held both research and teaching positions at Marylhurst University, Lewis and Clark College, Eastern Oregon University, the University of Arkansas, Sul Ross State University, and Oregon State University. In these roles she has authored multiple technical publications and educated up-and-coming geologists. She has lived in communities throughout Oregonfrom Portland to Madras, and Eugene to La Grandeand regularly hikes the diverse landscapes that make up Oregon's backcountry. Although Ellen currently resides in Portland, with a retreat near Joseph, with her husband and four stepchildren, she spent more than two years living in the midst of Oregon's geology in the process of writing In Search of Ancient Oregon.

While geologists have a mantra that the present is the key to the past, Ellen strongly believes that the past is also a key to the future. This has led her to use her expertise about geology and past ecosystems to educate the public about environmental issues. She has worked as director of the Pacific Rivers Council's Community Rivers Program, as public education coordinator for the Columbia River Bioregion Campaign, and as an extended day coordinator and grant writer for the SUN (Schools Uniting Neighborhoods) program at Whitaker Middle School. She has also organized many conferences that have addressed environmental and geological issues. In her role as staff writer for The Columbian(Vancouver, Washington) and freelance writer for The Oregonian(Portland), Ellen has regularly informed the public about scientific, environmental, and technological issues.

Ellen also has substantial training and experience as a professional photographer. She has worked as a photojournalist for several papers throughout the Northwest, and her landscape photos have been used and displayed by the Sierra Club, Oregon Natural Resources Council, and the Nature Conservancy.