Jim Brandenburg
Jim Brandenburg (November 23, 1945 – April 4, 2025) was an American environmentalist and nature photographer and filmmaker based near Ely, Minnesota. His career included over 10 years as a newspaper photojournalist, over 30 years as a contract photographer for the National Geographic Society, and commissions from such groups as the United States Postal Service, NHK, and the BBC. Brandenburg attended Minnesota West Community and Technical College, then called Worthington Junior College. He worked as a part-time photographer at the Worthington Daily Globe, with future author and conversationist Paul Gruchow, and later returned to the newspaper as a full-time employee.
Jim Brandenburg
- Name
- Jim Brandenburg
- Born
- November 23, 1945
- Birthplace
- Luverne, Minnesota
- Died
- April 4, 2025 (age 79)
- Education
- Minnesota West Community and Technical College
- Occupation
- Photographer
- Nationality
- United States.
- Languages
- English.
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Jim Brandenburg (November 23, 1945 – April 4, 2025) was an American environmentalist and nature photographer and filmmaker based near Ely, Minnesota. His career included over 10 years as a newspaper photojournalist, over 30 years as a contract photographer for the National Geographic Society, and commissions from such groups as the United States Postal Service, NHK, and the BBC. Brandenburg attended Minnesota West Community and Technical College, then called Worthington Junior College. He worked as a part-time photographer at the Worthington Daily Globe, with future author and conversationist Paul Gruchow, and later returned to the newspaper as a full-time employee.
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Jim Brandenburg (1945–2025) was an American journalist, photographer and photojournalist. The journalist was born in Luverne. Jim Brandenburg studied at University of Minnesota Duluth. Languages used include English.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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In this article
Biography
Biography
Brandenburg valued his work at the Globe, because of editors' willingness to put art and photographs at the forefront of the newspaper. A Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers. Brandenburg died April 4, 2025, at the age of 79.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Jim Brandenburg • Born — November 23, 1945 • Birthplace — Luverne, Minnesota • Died — April 4, 2025 (age 79) • Education — Minnesota West Community and Technical College • Occupation — Photographer
Recognition
Recognition
In 1991, for his work with the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center, his creation of the Concerts for the Environment non-profit organization, his work with the Nature Conservancy, and other achievements, Brandenburg was awarded the Global 500 Environmental World Achievement Award. This United Nations sponsored recognition was presented to him by the King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf. In 2006 Brandenburg was awarded an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, by the University of Minnesota Duluth. Four of Brandenburg's images were chosen for inclusion in a collection that represents the 40 most important nature photographs of all time. The Top Forty nominations include the work of 25 photographer. The images selected were: Oryx on Namib Desert, Namibia, southwest Africa; Gray Wolf near BWCAW, Ely, Minnesota; Leaping Arctic wolf, Ellesmere Island, Canada; and Bison on Frozen Landscape, Blue Mounds State Park, Luverne, Minnesota. They were chosen by members of the International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP). Brandenburg's image of the leaping Arctic wolf was named one of 100 most important photos in Canadian history and was included in the book 100 Photos that Changed Canada.
Identity
Identity
Jim Brandenburg is recorded with the occupation photojournalist. Recorded with the occupation photographer. Recorded with the occupation journalist. Recorded as photographer, photojournalist and journalist.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
Explore 1945–2025
The full dated record · 11 entries
1945
Jim Brandenburg was born on 23 November 1945.
1988
White wolf is dated 1988.
1993
To the top of the world is dated 1993.
1993
Brother Wolf is dated 1993.
1994
Sand and Fog is dated 1994.
1995
An American Safari is dated 1995.
1996
Scruffy is dated 1996.
1998
Chased by the light is dated 1998.
2003
Looking for the Summer is dated 2003.
2008
Face to Face With Wolves (Face to Face with Animals) is dated 2008.
2025
Jim Brandenburg died on 4 April 2025.
Publications
• Title — ISBN — Date Published • White Wolf: Living With an Arctic Legend — 1988 • Minnesota: Images of Home — 1990 • Brother Wolf: A Forgotten Promise — 1993 • To the Top of the World: Adventures with Arctic Wolves — 1993 • Sand and Fog: Adventures in Southern Africa — 1994 • American Safari: Adventures on the North American Prairie — 1995 • Scruffy: A Wolf Finds His Place in the Pack — 1996 • Chased By The Light: A 90-Day Journey — 1998 • Looking for the Summer — 2003 • Face to Face with Wolves — 2008
Primary material
Context
The circumstances in which Jim Brandenburg stands.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.CURATOR’S CHOICE: Remembering Minnesota Photographer Jim Brandenburg. Minnesota History. 69. 6. 220–221. 2025. 0026-5497.
- 2.Jim Brandenburg. International League of Conservation Photographers site.
- 3.Celebrated wildlife photographer Jim Brandenburg dies aged 79. Digital Camera World. 2025-04-07.
- 4.Harris, Geoff. Remembering top wildlife photographer Jim Brandenburg. Amateur Photographer. 2025-04-10.
- 5.Community remembers renowned Minnesota wildlife photographer Jim Brandenburg - CBS Minnesota. www.cbsnews.com. 2025-04-06.
- 6.UNEP Global 500 Laureates - Award Winners.
- 7.University of Minnesota: Scholars Walk. www.scholarswalk.umn.edu.
- 8."100 Photos That Changed Canada by Society History, HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, Oct 8, 2009
References
Citations
References
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authority record
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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