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This is an extraordinary picture that, 20 years on, remains unequalled. It has both intimacy and
grandeur – the opener to a story of survival. The panoramic view creates the feel of a vast
ice wilderness, stretching to the horizon. It shows Hudson Bay, frozen at the onset of winter
– hunting ground for polar bears. The bear and the little Arctic fox stand looking towards the
setting sun, as if about to begin their journey. The bear will hunt seals on the ice, and its little
follower will grab scraps from the dining table. Born of the North Wind was the first panoramic
picture to not only win the award but also to be entered into the competition. It took ten years and
some 80,000 frames to achieve what remains one of Thomas D. Mangelsen’s most treasured images.
— excerpt from 50 Years of BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year
“Many artists are wedded to what is called photo-realism. The best practitioner of all (without
getting his paintbrushes dirty) is Tom Mangelsen; he has an artist’s eye and a saint’s
patience. He astonishes me.”
—Bob Kuhn,
Renowned wildlife artist
“Few living photographers are worthy of sharing company with that kind of time-tested talent as
the paintings and sculpture that are in the museum collection. Tom is an artist who happens to use a
camera instead of a palette or chisel. He has done all the hard work required to attain visual
mastery without cutting corners to reach the highest level.”
— William Kerr, Founder of the National Museum of Wildlife Art
in Jackson, Wyoming, the only official Congressionally-designated wildlife art museum
“Thomas D. Mangelsen is a photographic genius at bringing nature’s greatest creatures
into our lives and his work with the magnificent grizzly bears of the American West is a gift for
all generations.”
— Tom Brokaw,
Conservationist, author, anchor and managing editor emeritus of NBC Nightly News
“What Tom has accomplished would be extremely difficult to duplicate. His photographs inspire
me because they wake us up to what is at stake. When I think of the very talented nature
photographers I’ve been fortunate to know—counted among the very best who ever
lived— I consider Tom Mangelsen to be an American treasure.”
— Dr. Jane Goodall, Primatologist and UN Messenger of Peace
“Thomas D. Mangelsen was selected for the Conservation Photographer of the Year Award because
he matches passion with commitment and energy with extraordinary talent. His contributions to
conservation are clearly measurable and far-reaching. Through his images and the strength of his
mission, the earth and its wild inhabitants will remain in public focus and forever remind us to
appreciate and protect our natural heritage.”
— Steve
Freligh, Director of Nature’s Best Photography