COLORADO

Sage Spirit and Roaring Rivers

A Dave Showalter photography exhibit at Denver International Airport’s Concourse A

Journey through the Colorado: Sage Spirit and Roaring River photographic collection of award-winning photographer Dave Showalter where stories of Westerners are paired with Colorado wildlife such as Gunnison sage-grouse, sandhill cranes, bison, bull moose and white-tailed ptarmigan. The exhibit also features the Colorado and Yampa rivers and such locations as La Poudre Pass, Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge, McClure Pass.

The exhibit is produced by Braided River and sponsored by Audubon Rockies, The Wilderness Society, Mountaineers Books and LightHawk.

View a selection of the gallery images below.

Sage-grouse Plumage

A Gunnison sage-grouse male, especially threatened by loss of habitat, displays broad white bands on tail feathers and thick filo plumes on top of the head, often called a ponytail--two primary features that distinguish the species from the Greater sage-grouse. (Private ranchland in Gunnison Basin, CO)

Carving The Black Canyon

The Gunnison River carves the narrowest part of the Black Canyon Gorge, which at forty feet wide sees little sunlight. (Black Canyon of The Gunnison National Park, CO)

American Flags on Mount Elbert

Five days after the 9/11 attacks, American flags on Mount Elbert (14,431') celebrate freedom at the top of the Rocky Mountains. (Mount Massive Wilderness, CO)

Land Steward

Colorado Rancher Heather Stirling, owner of Elk Head Ranch and a member of the Sage Grouse Initiative partnership, a Natural Resources Conservation program that helps keep critical sagebrush habitat whole.

Black-footed Ferret on Burrow

North America's most endangered mammal, the black-footed ferret was reintroduced at Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge and are doing well with high prairie dog (prey) density on the prairie refuge. (Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, CO)

Dominguez Petroglyph Panel

A wonderfully detailed petroglyph panel marking migrations of Native Ute people between uplands of the Uncompahgre Plateau and the Gunnison River awaits hikers in Dominguez Canyons Wilderness, CO.

Yellow Warbler Song

A male yellow warbler sings sweetly while setting up his nesting territory in restored willow along the banks of the Fraser River near Fraser, CO.

Crest Of The Continental Divide

A summit view from James Peak (13,294') on the last day of winter reveals snowpack that will flow into the South Platte watershed to the east (right) and the Colorado River watershed to the west (left). (James Peak Wilderness, CO)

La Poudre Pass Nightfall

Night falls on La Poudre Pass (10,184'), dividing the South Platte and Colorado River watersheds as the Milky Way arcs over the Never Summer Range. (Roosevelt National Forest, CO)

About Dave Showalter

Conservation photographer and author Dave Showalter is an Associate Fellow with the International League of Conservation Photographers, focuses on the American West. His images and stories have been published in Wilderness, Outside, Outdoor Photographer, National Parks Magazine, High Country News, and other publications, books, and calendars. Dave’s award-winning first book Prairie Thunder: The Nature of Colorado’s Great Plains covers the shortgrass prairie of his home state. Visit his website.

Testimonies

"Audubon Rockies is a proud sponsor and partner of Dave Showalter. His artwork captures the spirit of our western wildlife, landscapes and heritage and inspires us all to do better. Dave's work is critical to our continued conservation work across the west."

– Alison Holloran, Executive Director of Audubon Rockies

“The Wilderness Society is proud to work with Dave Showalter and so many partners to highlight the importance of protecting our public lands. Stop and take a look before you go, then put in a good word with the folks who manage our shared lands and waters. Make sure your elected officials know you are counting on them to make sure they keep taking care of these places and the threatened sage grouse.”

– Nada Culver, Senior Director, The Wilderness Society

Purchase book

Exhibit Sponsoring Partners

Interested in supporting Dave’s work, hosting this exhibit in your gallery or purchasing one of the photos on display at DIA?

Email erikal@mountaineersbooks.org.