Wildlife photographer and big cat specialist Steve Winter has spent more than three decades documenting some of the world's most remarkable predators. His work for National Geographic has taken him from the forests of India to the mountains of the Himalayas and the wetlands of Brazil, earning him international recognition, including Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
Growing up in rural Indiana, Steve received his first camera from his father on his seventh birthday. In 1991, he realised his ambition of becoming a photojournalist for National Geographic, beginning a career that would take him into some of the world's most remote and challenging environments.
Along the way, Steve has been stalked by jaguars in Brazil, trapped in quicksand in a tiger reserve and charged by a grizzly bear in Siberia. He has spent six months living in a tent in temperatures as low as -40°C while tracking snow leopards, developing the patience, fieldcraft and understanding of animal behaviour that have become hallmarks of his photography.
Today, Steve continues to use his images to tell important stories about wildlife conservation, particularly the future of the world's great cats. His work brings audiences closer to animals they may never encounter themselves, revealing both their extraordinary lives and the challenges they face.
Steve Winters Projects
Steve's career extends far beyond the photographs that have appeared in National Geographic. He has produced documentaries for National Geographic and Nat Geo Wild, including Mission Critical: Saving the Leopard, appeared on major international news networks and delivered lectures around the world on wildlife photography and conservation.
His first book, Tigers Forever: Saving the World's Most Endangered Cat, published in 2013, explored the threats facing wild tigers and the people working to protect them.
Big Cats: A New Book by Steve Winter and Sharon Guynup
Published by National Geographic in October 2026, Big Cats brings together decades of Steve's extraordinary wildlife photography alongside the reporting of award-winning environmental journalist Sharon Guynup.
Featuring 170 photographs, the book explores the lives of tigers, jaguars, snow leopards, lions and other wild cats, revealing their behaviour, the landscapes they inhabit and the conservation challenges threatening their survival.
Steve and Sharon have collaborated for many years, combining powerful photography with investigative journalism to expose the illegal wildlife trade and highlight the importance of protecting big cats and their habitats.
Their latest book is both a celebration of these remarkable predators and a compelling account of the conservation efforts helping to secure their future.
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