Biography
Thomas Mangelsen is a nature/wildlife photographer and conservationist living in Jackson, Wyoming. Most famous for his photography in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, he has received numerous accolades throughout his lifetime, most notably authoring the book, The Grizzlies of Pilgrim Creek, which features the famous grizzly bear, Grizzly 399. Known for trekking to all seven continents, he has photographed a varied assortment of nature and wildlife. He studied at the University of Nebraska (’65-’67), received a BS in biology at Doane College, NE (’67-’69), attended the Univ. of Nebraska (postgrad, Zoology) and Colorado State Univ. (postgrad, Wildlife Biology).
After moving to Colorado in 1970, he honed his photography skills and studied at the University of Colorado Boulder Mountain Research Station. In 1978 in Jackson, Wyoming, he opened his first photography gallery, Images of Nature Gallery, which expanded across the country.
He was awarded Dr. Jane Goodall’s Heroes of the Animal Planet awards, an honorary doctorate from Doane College, and in 2002, an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Photographic Society. He has worked for National Geographic, appeared on 60 Minutes, illustrated and authored several books, and been awarded numerous photography and book awards.
Thomas Mangelsen has exhibited at the Natural History Museum, London, Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, Nebraska, San Diego Natural History Museum, and numerous galleries. A cinematographer and film editor for Westwind Productions, he created and developed educational and nature documentaries. Throughout his life and career, Mangelsen has been as much a conservationist as he is photographer.