The exhibit, titled “Thomas Mangelsen: A Life In The Wild,” began Saturday and includes 40 of his best photos from his 50-year career.

Mangelsen’s famous photos include “Catch of the Day,” a photo of a bear just before it catches a jumping fish in its mouth; a grizzly bear known as Grizzly 399, which he followed for a decade as it raised its cubs; and “Bad Boys of the Arctic,” which shows polar bears “relaxing” in the cold.

Melissa Post, RTPI chief curator, said the photos are part of Mangelsen’s legacy collection, which are his best and most well-known pictures.

“They really exhibit how he has been all over the globe,” she said.

The exhibit titled “Thomas Mangelsen: A Life In The Wild” will premiere at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History Saturday. The exhibit includes 40 of Mangelsen’s best nature photos that he has taken during his 50-year career. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

Post said Mangelsen is best known for his photos of the Yellowstone ecosystem, but there are also several snapshots of animals in Northern Canada and the Arctic as well as Bengal tigers in Asia. She said several of the wildlife photos demonstrates Mangelsen’s “patience is a virtue” philosophy as he waits a long time for the perfect shot.

“He will wait for the absolute right moment to shoot,” she said.

The exhibit will run through April 10, which includes a 30-minute video about the photographer’s career. At 7 p.m. Nov. 17, the public is welcome to visit RTPI, located at 311 Curtis St., Jamestown, to participate in a Zoom call with Mangelsen.

“His images make the wild more accessible,” she said.

During the holiday season, Post said RTPI officials will have special programs that will complement the Mangelsen exhibit. She said on the three Saturdays before Christmas there will be special “Holiday at the Lodge” events that will include warm cider, ornament making and Santa Claus.

Thomas Mangelsen’s photo “Catch of the Day” is one of the 40 photos people can see on display at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

Post said part of the exhibit will also include some of Roger Tory Peterson’s photos called “Birds of a Feather” because the two world-renowned photographers knew each other.

“Mangelsen’s first love was birds, which he shares with Roger,” she said.

All 40 images are large format, with some as big as nine feet wide. Mangelsen is a world-famous photographer who did all of his work with film and natural light. He doesn’t use any special filters or effects.

“It celebrates being alive and being amongst these majestic creatures,” Post said.

Mangelsen is also a conservationist, having founded several organizations related to the conservation of species, as well as co-founding the International League of Conservation Photographers.

“I think it’s just a thrilling tribute to our precious planet and all of its inhabitants,” Post said.