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“The diversity of life on this planet is a miraculous gift. What gives me the greatest joy is being able to share glimpses of it. I hope my work stands as a testament to the power of timeless beauty and as a reminder that we must not take our fellow wild creatures for granted.”

—Thomas D. Mangelsen

Thomas D. Mangelsen is one of the most influential nature photographers in the world. His images, treasured as collectible fine art, are known for their awe-inspiring portrayals of wildlife and natural landscapes. Like Ansel Adams, Eliot Porter and others who came before him, Mangelsen has explored Earth’s wildest regions, carrying on the photographic tradition of bearing witness.

Guided by a deep conservation ethic, Mangelsen is legendary for his advocacy in seeking protection of rare and imperiled species. “People sometimes don’t understand what the big deal is if we lose one species of salamander or the California gnatcatcher. What’s one bird, or one insect? These animals, even the most seemingly insignificant ones, are a barometer of the planet’s health and a product of eons of evolution, just as we are. If one disappears, a food source for an entire species may vanish. We are on that chain, we are all linked in nature, interdependent on one another in ways we may not yet be able to imagine.”

Among the critical recognition Mangelsen has received is being named Conservation Photographer of the Year by Nature’s Best Photography and he appeared on Jane Goodall’s “Heroes of the Animal Planet.” He also has been honored numerous times for his conservation work, spoken before large audiences and been featured on radio and television programs.
Mangelsen’s photographs of polar bears in the Arctic are acclaimed for calling attention to the deepening impacts of climate change. His moody images of tigers in the jungles of India and, more recently, his work on rhinos and elephants in Africa are credited with helping to raise awareness about threats of extinction confronting these magnificent animals.

His forty most famous pictures, called the Legacy Reserve Collection, are currently traveling to museums across the country as a solo exhibition titled A LIFE IN THE WILD. One image, featured in the national museum tour, Catch of the Day, is hailed as one of the most wildly-recognized wildlife photographs in the modern age. Mangelsen is considered a master of capturing the perfect dramatic moment. This image portrays the exact instant a spawning salmon in Alaska leaps over rapids and into the awaiting jaws of a brown bear.

Mangelsen was profiled on the CBS News program 60 Minutes, where he told the story of making Catch of the Day and other compositions with Anderson Cooper.
A proud native son of Nebraska, he began his career with the aim of becoming a wildlife biologist, having spent his early years growing up along the Platte River. There, in the middle of the western prairie, one of the world’s true natural wonders plays out every spring—the annual migration of hundreds of thousands of sandhill cranes. This breathtaking phenomenon speaks to the glorious rhythms, patterns, colors and contrasts of light and shadow that distinguish Mangelsen’s photographic compositions.

Mangelsen does not digitally manipulate his images and is vehemently opposed to photographing “animal models” in game farms. Instead, he focuses on three main elements to capture the ideal photograph: patience, light, and animal behavior. Over the years, he has mentored many young photographers and was a founding fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers.

“Being immersed in nature is a humbling and spiritual experience for me. Capturing that one photograph that withstands the test of time can be elusive. The opportunity may only present itself for a split second and then it’s gone. When all of the elements converge, it’s magical.”

—Thomas D. Mangelsen

One of the most prolific nature photographers of our time, Mangelsen is as much a conservationist as he is an artist.

Polar Dance, 1989. Hudson Bay, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada Polar Dance, 1989. Hudson Bay, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada

Recognitions

  • 2011 Conservation Photographer of the Year - Nature’s Best Photography
  • Work placed in the permanent collection at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History
  • 40 Most Influential Nature Photographers - Outdoor Photography
  • Polar Dance named one of the 40 Most Important Nature Photographs of All Time - International League of Conservation Photographers
  • Legend Behind the Lens - Nikon
In addition, Mangelsen is co-founder of The Cougar Fund, a founding Fellow of The International League of Conservation Photographers, on the international advisory council for the Jane Goodall Institute and a board ambassador for the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance.

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