One Special Bear

May 15th 2025

“One Special Bear - Grizzly 399” is my very first square-format image—a tribute to a legendary bear and a soul-stirring moment we shared one summer morning in the Tetons. Through the long lens, I met her gaze as she sat bathed in the warm glow of early morning light, her expression soft and searching.
One Special Bear, Collector Edition, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Grizzly 399

When I make a photograph, I can feel you, the viewer, present at my side. And so it is, with this image titled “One Special Bear,” that you and I can share a fleeting moment together, making contact with Grizzly 399.

Thomas D. Mangelsen’s High-Definition metal print of “One Special Bear” featuring Grizzly 399 sitting serenely in a lush green meadow under soft morning light, mounted on a spacious wall of a sleek, modern commercial office; the vivid sheen of the metal and the bear’s gentle gaze create an inspiring focal point that brings the spirit of the Tetons into the workplace. Bathed in the fresh golden light of a Tetons morning, she sat calm, curious, and quietly powerful. Displayed as a High Definition Metal Print in this modern office space, this large artwork transforms a shared workspace into a sanctuary of reflection and awe—a memory preserved, a silent connection shared between species and souls.

Bear biologists say that when we have encounters with grizzlies, it is best to not look directly into their gaze; to be respectful and non-threatening. But with the benefit of a longer lens, I was able to close the distance between 399 as we made a visual connection with each other. As I write these words, I look back on this portrait and wonder what she was thinking as she sat bathed in a heavenly glow of yellow-green summer grass—lit up as the morning sun began to rise. The expression you see in her face is soft and gentle, as if searching for a signal of our intent.

Framed fine art print of “One Special Bear” hanging above a child’s bed or play space, portraying Grizzly 399 in a lush spring meadow, her expression soft and calm—an image of quiet strength and maternal grace that comforts and inspires a new generation through conservation photography. “To see her was a gift.” Displayed as a Framed Print in a child’s room, “One Special Bear” becomes a gentle guardian—a symbol of nature’s nurturing strength. This is conservation photography born from reverence and love. Her legacy lives on—in the wild, and on your walls—as a call to protect what we cherish, and those still growing.
Museum Mounted Print of “One Special Bear” displayed elegantly above a wooden credenza, showing Grizzly 399 seated in a sunlit, green meadow with a soft, introspective gaze—capturing the intimate essence of wildlife photography and bringing a sense of connection and calm to the room. In this moment of stillness, Grizzly 399 looks toward us—not in fear, but with gentle awareness. Displayed as a Museum Mounted Print above a credenza, Mangelsen’s artwork becomes an intimate invitation to pause, reflect, and remember what it means to coexist with the wild.

I admit that the memory of this encounter leaves my old eyes feeling moist, not with mourning but with pure joy. Do I have any regrets in retrospect, pondering the rush of memories of 399 that flood forward? No, not a single damned one. We are better people for having had her present in our world. The time she gave us was a gift and as part of our gratitude, it’s up to us now to be watchful caretakers of the lands needed for her progeny to persist and thrive. That’s what friends do for the loved ones who have passed on. We look out for those they left behind. They have faith in us to do the right thing.

Tom Mangelsen’s High Definition Metal Print of “One Special Bear” mounted above a fireplace, showcasing Grizzly 399 seated calmly in vivid green grass under morning light—an elegant and soulful wall art centerpiece that brings the essence of the wild into the heart of the living room. Let the Queen of the Tetons’ presence linger in your home. Displayed as a High Definition Metal Print above the fireplace, this wall art for the living room radiates grace, wildness, and a quiet moment of mutual understanding—Grizzly 399, lit by the morning sun and framed by memory.
Mangelsen documenting Grizzly 399 in Grand Teton National Park, 2020 Photo by Tiffany Talbott

“I admit that the memory of this encounter leaves my old eyes feeling moist, not with mourning but with pure joy. She was, one damn special bear.”

Thomas D. Mangelsen
Wrapped canvas of “One Special Bear” displayed in a cozy corner nook workspace above a small desk, showing Grizzly 399 seated peacefully in a spring meadow—her calm, watchful gaze adding emotional depth and natural inspiration to the work environment. Captured with humility and awe, this wrapped canvas wall art transforms a quiet corner workspace into a place of presence and perspective. Grizzly 399’s gaze honors a soulful encounter between man and bear. In her eyes, we see both the fragility of the wild and the fierce need to defend it.
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