Growing up in Indiana, Steve Winter dreamed of traveling the world as a photographer for National Geographic. His first camera was a gift from his father on his seventh birthday.

The winner of numerous photography awards, including BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year, BBC Wildlife Photojournalist of the Year, and twice awarded the Pictures of the Year International Global Vision Award, Winter has repeatedly put himself in harm's way to bring back images that excite readers about the natural world. Despite being stalked by jaguars and charged by rhinos, often the most dangerous creatures he encounters are microscopic. Both in his work as a photographer and as director of media for Panthera, a non-profit cat conservation organization (which you can follow on Twitter, @PantheraCats), Winter is fighting to ensure a future for these cats. His first book, Tigers Forever: Saving the World's Most Endangered Big Cat, co-authored with Sharon Guynup and published by National Geographic Books will be out in November 2013.

Steve Winter frequently photographs for National Geographic, and in 2011 and 2012, he won the Global Vision Award from Pictures of the Year International.