Dan Gibson (January 19, 1922 – March 18, 2006) was a Canadian photographer, cinematographer and sound recordist.
Career During the late 1940s, Dan Gibson took photographs and made nature films, including Audubon Wildlife Theatre. Gibson produced many films and television series through which he learned how to record wildlife sound. He pioneered techniques of recording, and also helped design equipment to optimize results, including the "Dan Gibson Parabolic Microphone". Some of his early recordings of the 1950s and 1960s were released on LP records, and started his Solitudes series, which was introduced in 1981.
Gibson is well regarded for his contributions to the Friends of Algonquin Park, and his dedication to the Algonquin Park Residents Association. Having a lease of land in Algonquin Provincial Park gave Gibson and his family (wife: Helen, children: Mary-Jane or "Kirkie," Holly, Dan, and Gordon) an opportunity to connect with nature, and it certainly fueled his passion for the study, preservation and interaction with wildlife.
In 1994, Gibson was awarded The Order of Canada for his environmental works. In 1997, he was awarded the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award at the Juno Awards ceremony in Hamilton, Ontario.
In 2004, he released his first DVD, Natural Beauty, which was originally shot in High Definition.
Major productions Wings in the Wilderness – Feature Film (Narrated by Lorne Greene) Audubon Wildlife Theatre – 78 episode TV series Wildlife Cinema – multiple episode TV series To the Wild Country – 10 episode TV series (Narrated by Lorne Greene) Wild Canada – multiple episode TV series
Awards Film awards Award/organization Year Nominee/work Category San Francisco Film Festival 1965 "Whitethroat" Golden Gate Award Canadian Film Awards 1967 "Land of the Loon" Best Film of the Year Canadian Film Awards 1967 "Adventure: Trent Severn Style" Award of Merit Michigan Outdoors Writers 1969 "Winter Potpourri" Award of Merit Canadian Film Awards 1971 "Solitudes: Sounds of Nature" Best sound in Non-Theatrical Film American Film Festival 1972 "Fly Geese F-L-Y" Blue ribbon for Best Children's Film U.S. National Outdoor-Travel Film Festival 1973 "Golden Autumn" Teddy Award Canadian Film Awards 1972 "Dan Gibson's Nature Family" Best Wildlife Film of the Year Canadian Film Awards 1973 "To the Wild Country: Return of the Giants" Best Wildlife Film of the Year Canadian Film Awards 1974 "To the Wild Country: Land of the Big Ice" Best Wildlife Film of the Year Etrog (Genie) Award 1975 "Wings in the Wilderness" Best Sound in a Theatrical Film U.S. National Educational Film Festival 1977 "Return of the Winged Giants" John Muir Award for Best Ecological Film Saskatchewan International Film Festival 1977 "Return of the Winged Giants" Best Wildlife Film
Album awards Solitudes albums have sold over 20,000,000 worldwide 15 Solitudes albums have been Certified Gold (50,000 units sold) in Canada 11 Solitudes albums have been Certified Platinum (100,000 units sold) or multi-Platinum status.
Discography Until April 2012, about 234 albums (including 13 compilations) were released by Solitudes, including:
Solitudes 25: Silver Anniversary Collection Best of Solitudes: 20th Anniversaryhttp://www.solitudes.com/detail.aspx?ID=231 Listen to the Mockingbirdhttp://www.solitudes.com/detail.aspx?ID=469 Loon Echo Lakehttp://www.solitudes.com/detail.aspx?ID=332 Natural Beauty DVD Rolling Thunderhttp://www.solitudes.com/detail.aspx?ID=396 Wildlife Identification by Soundhttp://www.solitudes.com/detail.aspx?ID=408 Spring Romance H20
Title Year Tracks Sounds Of Algonquin 1978 Solitudes - Environmental Sound Experiences Volume 1 1981 Solitudes - Environmental Sound Experiences Volume 2 1981 Solitudes - Environmental Sound Experiences Volume 3 1981 Solitudes - Environmental Sound Experiences Volume 4 1982 Solitudes - Environmental Sound Experiences Volume 5 1982 Solitudes - Environmental Sound Experiences Volume 6 1982 Solitudes - Environmental Sound Experiences Volume 7 1983 Solitudes - Sampler Album 1984 Solitudes - Environmental Sound Experiences Volume 8 1984 Solitudes II - Opus One - Land Of The Loon 1984 Solitudes II - Opus Two 1984 Solitudes - Environmental Sound Experiences Volume 9 - Seascapes (The Changing Moods Of A Wild Coast) 1985 Solitudes - Environmental Sound Experiences Volume 10 - Tradewind Islands (A Caribbean Adventure In Sound) 1985 Solitudes - Environmental Sound Experiences Volume 11 - National Parks And Sanctuaries Edition 1987 Solitudes - Environmental Sound Experiences Volume 12 - Listen To The Loons 1988 Solitudes - Harmony: Exploring Nature With Music 1989 Solitudes - Pacific Suite 1990 Solitudes - Breaking Through The Mist 1990 Solitudes - Great Lakes Suite 1991 Solitudes - Exploring Nature With Music: The Classics 1991 Solitudes - Christmas Classics 1992 Solitudes - Atlantic Suite 1992 Solitudes - Exploring Nature With Music: The Classics II 1992 Solitudes - Algonquin Suite 1992 Solitudes - Rocky Mountain Suite 1993 Solitudes - Appalachian Mountain Suite 1994 Solitudes -Southwest Suite 1994 Solitudes - Christmas In The Country 1994 Solitudes - Angels Of The Sea 1995 Solitudes - Thunderstorm In The Wilderness 1995 Solitudes - Journey With The Whales 1995 Solitudes - Ocean Surf (Timeless And Sublime) 1995 Solitudes - Legend Of The Wolf 1995 Solitudes - Pachelbel - Forever By The Sea 1995 Solitudes - Rhythms Of The Sea - Eight Piano Moods 1995 Solitudes - Loon Echo Lake 1995 Solitudes - Raindance - Impressions Of A Native Land 1995 Solitudes - Nature's Ballet 1995 Solitudes - Forest Piano 1996 Solitudes - Christmas Wonder 1996 Solitudes - Spirit Of Africa 1996 Solitudes - Songbirds At Sunrise 1996 Solitudes - Australian Odyssey 1996 Solitudes - Island Paradise 1996 Solitudes - Florida 1996
References
External links