Blue Water Film Festival, presented by Blue Water Institute, is proud to announce its 2024 Featured Artist, Marsel van Oosten. His image “Remembering Bears” has been chosen for this year’s featured poster to be presented at the 5th Annual Blue Water Film Festival running March 21-24, 2024 to coincide with UN – World Water Day.
Artist Marsel van Oosten is a nature lover with a deep concern for the natural world. In his work, simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. “I’m honored to have my piece chosen to represent this year’s festival,” says Marsel van Oosten. “Successful conservation starts with awareness. I hope that my images will make people aware that Mother Earth needs our protection and inspire them to take action.”
His images have won many awards around the globe and he is the world’s only photographer to have won the Grand Slam: the grand titles Wildlife Photographer of the Year, International Nature Photographer of the Year, and Travel Photographer of the Year. Marsel’s images are featured in galleries and museums and used worldwide in advertising and design. He is a regular contributor to National Geographic and a Nikon brand ambassador. His latest book is called MOTHER — A Tribute To Mother Earth.
“Social media is a great tool for accessing information and images. Once in a blue moon, you get lucky and stumble upon a rare find,” commented Greg Reitman in the case of finding Marsel van Oosten. Blue Water Film Festival curates films based on water, ocean, nature and content for change, inviting us to find ourselves in stories we would never have known otherwise. Led by Greg Reitman, the programming team is driven by imagination and a sense of humanity for this planet coupled with the responsibility to make the world a better place.