Colorado based photographer and author of "Prairie Thunder - The Nature of Colorado's Great Plains", Dave Showalter has a lifelong interest in natural history and has been photographing in Colorado and the west for over 15 years. Dave's photographs and articles have appeared in numerous publications, including Outside, Outdoor Photographer, Nature's Best, Backpacker, Nature Photographer, Crested Butte Magazine, and the Colorado Mountain Club Fourteener Calendar. Dave is also a contributor to the Skyline Press book "14,000 Feet." Dave is the photographer for Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge and is a member of the North American Nature Photographer's Association and numerous conservation groups.

Dave and his wife Marla love adventuring, whether it's reaching for a high summit, waiting for golden light on a prairie butte, searching for a a wild creature, or trekking in a developing country . Dave's work is a reflection of this passion. Together, Marla and Dave have trekked in New Zealand, Nepal, Tanzania and most-recently Peru. They have summitted Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Mount Pisco in Peru's Cordillera Blanca, Kala Patar and Gokyo Ri in Nepal and 32 of Colorado's 54 14,000 foot peaks. We sincerely hope that this zeal and sense of wonder is communicated through Dave's images.

In a political environment where the current administration seeks to roll back 35 years of environmental protection, it is no longer enough to assume that pretty pictures will somehow inspire people to care about, and protect wild places. As a nature photographer who cares deeply for wild creatures and wild lands, I feel it is my responsibility to actively support local and national conservation groups with a common vision. As conservationists, we must be open minded to partnering with private land owners as advocates who share a passion for nature; even if our views differ slightly.

About wildlife shooting: With rare exception, I choose to photograph wild animals. The black-footed ferret is North America's most endangered mammal; and I photographed them at the National black-footed ferret conservation center, a captive breeding facility. They were released into the wild shortly after. I have also photographed bison on a private ranch and in the Denver herd because of their scarcity on Colorado's plains. I hope that one day indigenous creatures will be easier to find on their native lands.

I am frequently asked what equipment I use and maintain that the creative vision is far more important. I shoot digital Nikon gear and am currently using a D300 body - a great piece of equipment! I have a bunch of Nikon lenses from the ultra-wide 12-18mm up to my monster lens - a 600mm that weighs 14 lbs! Coupled with a 1.4X tele-converter, I have a range of 1260mm. I also carry a variety of Gitzo carbon fiber tripods equipped with Kirk heads, depending on the circumstances. My lightweight backpacking and trekking setup includes a Nikon D80 body and 18-200mm lens.