Sandhill Crane Migration PhotoGraphy Workshop

Michael Forsberg

Michael Forsberg is a Nebraskan whose 30-year career as a photographer and conservationist has been dedicated to wildlife and conservation stories in North America’s Great Plains, once one of the greatest grassland ecosystems on Earth. His images have been featured in publications including Audubon, National Geographic, Nature Conservancy, and Sierra magazines. His fine art prints are in public and private collections, and his solo exhibitions have traveled nationwide.

In 2017, Mike received the Ansel Adams Award for Conservation Photography from the Sierra Club in Washington, DC, and the Environmental Impact Award from the North American Nature Photography Association. Also, in 2017, his image of sandhill cranes on the Platte River was selected to illustrate USPS’s Forever stamp celebrating Nebraska’s 150 years of Statehood. In 2000, his photograph of a Nebraska tallgrass prairie was issued as an international airmail stamp in the United States Postal Service’s American Scenes Series. In 2020, Mike received the J. Sherwood Chalmers Medal from The Garden Club of America.

Mike is the author and photographer of On Ancient Wings – The Sandhill Cranes of North America, self-published in 2005, Great Plains – America’s Lingering Wild, published by the University of Chicago Press in 2009 and Into Whooperland – A photographer’s journey with whooping cranes, self-published in 2024. He was featured in the Nebraska Public Media documentary Crane Song and co-produced Great Plains – America’s Lingering Wild, based on his book of the same title, released on PBS in 2013.

In 2011, Mike co-founded Platte Basin Timelapse (PBT) in partnership with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and Michael Farrell Photography and Fine Art. Today, it is a conservation storytelling project that informs scientific research, builds educational content, and tells stories of a Great Plains watershed in motion. The documentary Follow the Water, based on the project and Mike’s traverse across the Platte Basin watershed, was released on PBS nationally in 2019.

Mike is a faculty member in the School of Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, a Fellow with the Center for Great Plains Studies and the Daugherty Water for Food Institute, a member of The Photo Society, and a Senior Fellow with the International League of Conservation Photographers.

Jim Richardson

Jim Richardson is a photographer for National Geographic Magazine and a contributing editor for its sister publication, TRAVELER Magazine. Richardson has photographed more than fifty stories for National Geographic.

Richardson’s work has taken him around the world, from the tops of volcanic peaks to below the surface of the soil that provides our food, from the Arctic to the Antarctic and many places in between. ABC News Nightline produced a story about the long process of assembling a National Geographic coverage by following Richardson in the field and at National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C.

In addition to his color photography, Richardson has built a distinguished body of black-and-white documentary work about rural Kansas life.  His audiovisual presentation, “Reflections From a Wide Spot in the Road,” has toured internationally.  His 40 years of photographing life in the Kansas town of Cuba, population 230, was published in National Geographic and featured twice by CBS News Sunday Morning, most recently in May 2004.   His 1979 study of adolescence, “High School USA,” is now considered a photo essay classic and is used in college classrooms.

Richardson was named Kansan of the Year in 2007 by the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas.  In 2015 he was honored by his fellow National Geographic photographers as their “Photographer’s Photographer.” And in 2017 Kansas State University bestowed an honorary doctorate for his work in cultural and environmental communications. He is co-founder of Eyes On Earth, an educational collaborative seeking to inspire next generation environmental photographers.

Jim’s career at National Geographic magazine and National Geographic Traveler spanned over 35 years, during which time he produced over 50 stories.  His stories ranged from poignant location based essays to complex scientific and geographical issues coverage. He’s valued for his compelling storytelling and his deft command of technical skills. Beyond his picture making he’s also highly regarded as a presenter and teacher. His lectures draw corporate clients to international venues. His topics ranged widely from world food, small towns and light pollution to include his much sought after whisky tastings.

Whether discussing documentary, landscape, night sky or iPhone photography, he brings a down-to-earth practicality to his lectures that is as enjoyable as it is instructive.

Melissa Groo

Melissa is a photographer, writer, and conservationist. She considers herself a “wildlife biographer,” telling stories with images and words that showcase the unique character and beauty of wild beings.

She’s a Sony Artisan of Imagery, an Associate Fellow with the International League of Conservation Photographers, and advisor to the National Audubon Society on photography content and ethics. She’s a contributing editor to Audubon magazine.

Melissa is an assignment photographer for Audubon and Smithsonian magazines, traveling far afield to cover conservation stories. Her work also appears in publications such as National Geographic, National Wildlife, and Living Bird magazines. Melissa is represented by National Geographic Image Collection and has a long-term gallery at Audubon Greenwich in Connecticut.

Dave Showalter

Conservation photographer and author Dave Showalter is based in Colorado and focused on the American West. Dave has published three books – the new book: Living River – The Promise Of The Mighty Colorado, Sage Spirit, The American West at A Crossroads by Braided River (2015); and Prairie Thunder by Skyline Press (2007). Dave’s photographs and articles have appeared in numerous publications, including Audubon, Conservation Biology, Outside, Outdoor Photographer, National Parks Magazine, High Country News, Wilderness, Colorado Life and elsewhere. In partnership with Braided River, Dave’s exhibit “Colorado: Sage Spirit and Roaring Rivers” was displayed at Denver International Airport 2018/2019 and viewed by over 2 million people. Dave is faculty with the Summit Series of Photo Workshops, a Senior Fellow Photographer in the International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP), and works in partnership with numerous conservation groups, including Audubon Rockies, The Nature Conservancy, and Trout Unlimited Headwaters (Colorado River).

Dave travels extensively presenting Living River, Sage Spirit and a range of western topics. Please contact Dave directly through this site to plan a presentation, hire Dave for assignment, or plan a photo workshop.

Chris Steppig

Chris is the owner and director of Summit Workshops. Summit was his first job out of college and nearly 20 years later, this is home.  He is in charge of all workshop operations, scheduling, logistics, faculty, social media, marketing and sponsorship. Chris has a passion for conservation, travel, and education and the workshops are a dream platform to help others reach new heights as not only photographers but as people.

Chris is an affiliate of the International League of Conservation Photographers. The iLCP is a U.S. based non-profit whose mission is to further environmental and cultural conservation through ethical photography. This affiliation provides a tremendous opportunity to help deliver great content and also be an advisor on matters large and small.  He is also a professional advisor for Outdoor Photographer magazine.  Through collaboration and great communications with the editor of the magazine, there have been countless articles written by Summit Alumni in the magazine over the years.