QT Luong honored with Robin W. Winks Award from NPCA
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Founded by the same people who started the National Park Service, the National Park Conservation Association (NPCA) is a century-old conservation organization with more than 1.6 million members. The NPCA holds an annual gala called “Salute to the Parks.” during which various lifetime awards are presented. In the past, the event took place in Washington, DC but the 2020 edition was cancelled and the 2021 edition was virtual, live streamed on April 14. Each year NPCA identifies an individual or organization that through the arts, media, or academia effectively and consistently communicates to the American public the values of the National Park System and the national park ideal.
NPCA is proud to present the Robin W. Winks Award to renowned photographer Q.T. Luong, the first to photograph all 63 U.S. national parks in large format! His work has inspired people to protect these places so they can be enjoyed for generations. #SalutetotheParks @terragalleria pic.twitter.com/KWJQ8SB5iu
— National Parks Conservation Association (@NPCA) April 15, 2021
I am so grateful and honored to have received the Robin W. Winks Award for Enhancing Public Understanding of the National Park System, presented “for inspiring the public to protect our national parks by capturing the essence of the natural world through photography.”
I am humbled to join an esteemed group of past recipients including TV journalist Tom Brokaw, artist Maya Lin, scientists Sylvia Earle and E.O. Wilson, documentarians Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan, authors David McCullough, Terry Tempest Williams, Doug Brinkley and James MacPherson. In particular, only two photographers received the award before, David Muench and Tom Mangelsen. David Muench has been one the main sources of inspiration for my projects, and I still consider him to be the greatest living nature landscape photographer. Tom Mangelsen is a giant of similar stature in wildlife photography.
There is a recording of the entire event (1h 16 min). Theresa Pierno, NPCA’s Executive Director, followed by my friends Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan honored me with their introduction. Below is the 11-minute segment about me with my acceptance speech (5 minutes) starting at 5:15.
The silent auction included a “super-limited” copy of Treasured Lands, and I was pleased to see it raising a respectable sum towards NPCA’s efforts:
Wonderful work and congratulations! You’ve inspired me with my national park travels over the past 12 years! Thank you!
Thank you for the kind words. I hope you’ll be also inspired by other public lands with “parks less traveled”.
Always a joy seeing the fruits of your labor.
Happy you received the award. Can think of no one more deserving.
You are an inspiration.
Looking forward to your new book.
Have fun with your family.
So glad to see your immense work and contribution to the National Park system’s mission recognized by this award. You not only went to all 63 national parks but you also used your professional insight to bring back memories for generations to come. Your sense of adventure and unlimited curiosity about what there is always more to discover is amazing to us. Merci!
Congratulations on a well-deserved award. I look forward to your next book on the national monuments.
Congratulations QT on your well deserved Robin W. Winks Award from the NPC!!!! Your National Parks book is a treasure that I absolutely love. Really looking forward to seeing your new National Monuments work. Thanks sooo much for sharing your wonderful work!!!!
Congratulations QT! No other photographer I know deserves this award more than you! You continue to inspire multitudes of photographers and nature lovers worldwide. Thank you for all you give!
Dear QT,
Congratulations! You deserve the Robin W. Winks Award and every other accolades that come along with it. You have worked hard and blazed the path for so many aspiring people to follow. My hats off to you!
-Ramen
PS: Waiting for your write-up about the New River Gorge NP trip. 🙂
Thank you Dennis, Jean-Michel and Anne, Luke, Rick, Darlene, Ramen for your kind words. I am planning to continue working in national parks and other public lands for years to come!
Congrats on a well-deserved grant. I see forward to your following book on the national landmarks.