| Dan Gibson | |
| Birth Date: | 19 January 1922 |
| Birth Place: | Montreal, Canada |
| Death Place: | Toronto, Canada |
| Birth Name: | Daniel Armstrong Gibson |
| Spouse: | Helen Frances MacLure, 1948 |
| Children: | Gordon, Dan Jr., Holly & Mary Jane |
| Occupation: | Photographer · cinematographer · sound recordist |
| Notable Works: | Solitudes |
| Style: | Nature recordings, new-age, ambient · field recordings · world · Celtic · Birdsong |
| Years Active: | 1978–2006 |
| Awards: | The Order of Canada, Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award at the Juno Awards, etc. |
Dan Gibson (January 19, 1922 in Montreal – March 18, 2006 in Toronto) was a Canadian photographer, cinematographer and sound recordist.
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) a unique 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.[1]
In 2004, he released his first DVD, Natural Beauty, which was originally shot in High Definition.
| Award/organization | Year | Nominee/work | Category | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | "Whitethroat" | Golden Gate Award | [2] | ||
| 1967 | "Land of the Loon" | Best Film of the Year | [3] | ||
| 1967 | "Adventure: Trent Severn Style" | Award of Merit | [4] | ||
| 1969 | "Winter Potpourri" | Award of Merit | [5] | ||
| 1971 | "Solitudes: Sounds of Nature" | Best sound in Non-Theatrical Film | [6] | ||
| 1972 | "Fly Geese F-L-Y" | Blue ribbon for Best Children’s Film | [7] | ||
| 1973 | "Golden Autumn" | Teddy Award | [8] | ||
| 1972 | "Dan Gibson's Nature Family" | Best Wildlife Film of the Year | [9] | ||
| 1973 | "To the Wild Country: Return of the Giants" | Best Wildlife Film of the Year | [10] | ||
| 1974 | "To the Wild Country: Land of the Big Ice" | Best Wildlife Film of the Year | [11] | ||
| 1975 | "Wings in the Wilderness" | Best Sound in a Theatrical Film | [12] | ||
| 1977 | "Return of the Winged Giants" | John Muir Award for Best Ecological Film | [13] | ||
| Saskatchewan International Film Festival | 1977 | "Return of the Winged Giants" | Best Wildlife Film | [14] |
Until April 2012, about 234 albums (including 13 compilations) were released by Solitudes, including:
| 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 |