A Look at the Life and Work of Wildlife Photographer Tom Mangelsen
Want to be inspired by a legend of wildlife photography? Check out this new 12-minute 60 Minutes segment on the life and work of Tom Mangelsen, a 72-year-old photographer who’s behind some of the most recognizable wildlife photos ever made.
Mangelsen has spent a “stupid” amount of time waiting in the great outdoors of countries around the world — he spent 12 to 14 hours a day for 42 days waiting in one spot before he captured an extremely rare photo of a wild female cougar. And through it all, he has learned one of the biggest lessons in wildlife photography: “You wait long enough, it does pay off.”
The photographer is also close friends with Jane Goodall, the famous British primatologist who’s best known for her 55-year+ study of chimpanzees in the wild. For nearly 2 decades now, Mangelsen and Goodall have enjoyed experiencing nature together while working for the protection of animals.
“[Photography is] my gift, in a way, that I can give people,” Mangelsen tells 60 Minutes. “Hopefully to preserve what we have left, to preserve wilderness, to preserve species like grizzly bears, and make them think about it. And make them think that this is what we need to save for our children.”
(via 60 Minutes via Shutterbug)
