# Dan Gibson

Dan Gibson (January 19, 1922 in Montreal – March 18, 2006 in Toronto) 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) 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.
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 Anniversary
* Listen to the Mockingbird
* Loon Echo Lake
* Natural Beauty DVD
* Rolling Thunder
* Wildlife Identification by Sound
* Spring Romance, album by Dan Gibson 1998
| Title | Year | Tracks |
| Sounds Of Algonquin | 1978 | Loons And WolvesEvening Paddle |
| Solitudes - Environmental Sound Experiences Volume 1 | 1981 | By Canoe To Loon LakeDawn By A Gentle Stream |
| Solitudes - Environmental Sound Experiences Volume 2 | 1981 | Heavy Surf On A Rocky Point Along A Sand SpitOcean Surf In A Hidden Cove |
| Solitudes - Environmental Sound Experiences Volume 3 | 1981 | Among The Giant Trees Of The Wild Pacific CoastSpring Morning On The Prairies |
| Solitudes - Environmental Sound Experiences Volume 4 | 1982 | Niagara Falls, The Gorge And GlenAmong The Ponds And Streams Of Niagara |
| Solitudes - Environmental Sound Experiences Volume 5 | 1982 | Dawn On The DesertAmong The Mountain Canyons And Valleys |
| Solitudes - Environmental Sound Experiences Volume 6 | 1982 | Storm On A Wilderness LakeNight On A Wilderness Lake |
| Solitudes - Environmental Sound Experiences Volume 7 | 1983 | Night In A Southern SwampDon't Feed The Alligators |
| Solitudes - Sampler Album | 1984 | By Canoe To Loon LakeSpring Morning On The PrairiesOcean Surf In A Hidden CoveNight In A Southern SwampSailing To A Hidden CoveDawn On The DesertDawn By A Gentle StreamDont Feed The AlligatorsMorning Fog (Seascapes)Coastal Storm (Seascapes)Yellowstone (Nat. Parks & Sanctuaries Edition)Storm On A Wilderness LakeHiking Over The HighlandsAmong The Mountain Canyons And ValleysHeavy Surf On A Rocky Point And Along A Sand SpitAmong The Giant Trees Of The Wild Pacific CoastAmong The Ponds And Streams Of NiagaraNight On A Wilderness LakeNiagara Falls, The Gorge And GlenSeashore (Tradewind Islands)Rain Forest (Tradewind Islands)Arctic (National Parks & Sanctuaries Edition) |
| Solitudes - Environmental Sound Experiences Volume 8 | 1984 | Sailing To A Hidden CoveHiking Over The Highlands |
| Solitudes II - Opus One - Land Of The Loon | 1984 | Land Of The LoonLand Of The Loon |
| Solitudes II - Opus Two | 1984 | Under SailDangerous Cargo |
| Solitudes - Environmental Sound Experiences Volume 9 - Seascapes (The Changing Moods Of A Wild Coast) | 1985 | SeascapesSeascapes |
| Solitudes - Environmental Sound Experiences Volume 10 - Tradewind Islands (A Caribbean Adventure In Sound) | 1985 | Tradewind Islands |
| Solitudes - Environmental Sound Experiences Volume 11 - National Parks And Sanctuaries Edition | 1987 | Atlantic CoastGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkAlgonquin Provincial ParkEverglades National ParkGrand Canyon National ParkYellowstone National ParkYosemite National ParkPacific CoastRain ForestsArctic |
| Solitudes - Environmental Sound Experiences Volume 12 - Listen To The Loons | 1988 | Listen To The LoonsListen To The Loons |
| Solitudes - Harmony: Exploring Nature With Music | 1989 | Stream Of DreamsSpring CloudburstFreedom At SeaAt Night In The EvergladesArctic LifeCoastal FogSolitudes On Loon Echo LakeDesert AwakeningPacific RainforestTimberwolvesWilderness Lost |
| Solitudes - Pacific Suite | 1990 | Pacific MorningRedwoods ForestHumpback WhalesElk In The RainforestRiver To OceanReturn To The Sea |
| Solitudes - Breaking Through The Mist | 1990 | Dawn Of The LakeBurning MistAwakening VoiceHardwood HavenBeneath A Towering PineNorth Wind RisingAlong The Darkening ShoreReturn To The PackNight LifeCelestial Blanket |
| Solitudes - Great Lakes Suite | 1991 | From The Height Of LandThe RunoffSuperior The Inland SeaSandhill CranesKirtland's WarblerSailing To The North ShoreThe Pool At Baie FineCanada GeeseErie MarshesOver Niagara FallsAlong Ontario Shores |
| Solitudes - Exploring Nature With Music: The Classics | 1991 | Morning From The Peer Gynt Suite, Opus 46Nocturne In E Flat, Opus 9, No.2Prelude To The Afternoon Of A FaunClaire De LuneMoonlight Sonata Opus 27, No.2Air In CRêveriePiano Concerto In A Minor, Opus 16Canon In DOcean SurfAlong Ontario Shores |
| Solitudes - Christmas Classics | 1992 | PizzicatoSkater's WaltzDance Of The Reed FlutesWaltz In C# MinorDance Of The Sugar Plum FairyMerry GentlemenGreensleevesJesu, Joy Of Man's DesiringAve MariaO Holy NightAlong Ontario Shores |
| Solitudes - Atlantic Suite | 1992 | After The StormThe GannetsOffshore BreezeNew England TrailDunes On The CapeSouthern IslandsGentle ShoresHanging MistMockingbird FarewellTo Lands Unknown |
| Solitudes - Exploring Nature With Music: The Classics II | 1992 | Vivaldi's Four Seasons: "Spring""Summer""Autumn""Winter"Mendelssohn's "Spring Song"Sinding's "Rustle Of Spring"Chopin's "Etude In E Major"Beethoven's "Fir Elise"Schubert's "Serenade"Offenbach's "Barcarolle"Mendellsohn's "On Wings Of Song"Listz's "Liebestraum" |
| Solitudes - Algonquin Suite | 1992 | First LightAt The CampsitePaddle And PortageStanding TallEasy StreamMarshlandsForest SongEyes Of The NightReunion Of WolvesThe Campfire |
| Solitudes - Rocky Mountain Suite | 1993 | The RunoffGlacier LakeThe FoothillsWestboundThe Thermal SongSummer's Eve On A Mountain LakeThe Bugling ElkWinter's WolvesDreaming Of Spring |
| Solitudes - Appalachian Mountain Suite | 1994 | Arrival Of SpringMarshlandsForest RidgeAround The CampfireMountain StreamLake VoicesThe Maritimes |
| Solitudes -Southwest Suite | 1994 | Morning In Saguaro ValleyHigh Country TrailEvening In Saguaro CanyonGrand Canyon BaseDry Desert ValleyDesert RainAlong The River BankValley Of The TrogonsNight In Creek Canyon |
| Solitudes - Christmas In The Country | 1994 | Huron CarolO Come All Ye FaithfulGood King WenceslasWe Three KingsAngels We Have Heard On HighO Come, O Come, EmmaneulCoventry CarolDeck The HallsAway In The MangerA Midnight ClearSilent NightThe First NoelHuron Carol (Alto Flute Solo) |
| Solitudes - Angels Of The Sea | 1995 | Angels Of The SeaFlorida DreamSkimming WavesIsland LagoonFree SpiritLaguna PastoriaThe Light Of BajaNorthern Inlet |
| Solitudes - Thunderstorm In The Wilderness | 1995 | Thunderstorm In The Wilderness |
| Solitudes - Journey With The Whales | 1995 | Across The Circular HorizonArctic PassageMirrors Of Wind And SeaUp Through The WaterInto The SkyAquatic Celebration |
| Solitudes - Ocean Surf (Timeless And Sublime) | 1995 | Ocean Surf |
| Solitudes - Legend Of The Wolf | 1995 | Silent RunningIn The DenPlay FightLearning To HowlMoving The PackFirst HuntThe BeckoningRituals Of Winter |
| Solitudes - Pachelbel - Forever By The Sea | 1995 | The Canon StirsBeyond The HorizonIn A Protected CoveForever By The SeaAncient HarborTimeless And FreeThe Beckoning Sea |
| Solitudes - Rhythms Of The Sea - Eight Piano Moods | 1995 | Morning SongAlone But For A FriendRolling StonesCoastal MarshSong Of The SeaWings Above The SeaOn The Crest Of A WaveBy The Lighthouse |
| Solitudes - Loon Echo Lake | 1995 | Vivaldi's Summer From The Four SeasonsDebussy's Claire De LuneAwakening VoiceSummer's Eve On A Mountain LakeLoon Echo LakeLake VoicesFirst LightEyes Of The NightPool At Baie Fine |
| Solitudes - Raindance - Impressions Of A Native Land | 1995 | PreludeThe WelcomeWhitewaterHot SunRaindanceSpirit Of The WaterThe ArrivalGanohonyokSpirit Of The HunterEyo Tse No |
| Solitudes - Nature's Ballet | 1995 | Swan Lake - Theme by TchaikovskyTrois Gymnopedies - Gymnopedie #1 by SatieCoppelia - Waltz from Act 1 Léo DelibesLas Meninas - Pavane, op. 50 by Gabriel FauréLes Sylphides - Prelude, op. 28, no. 7 by ChopinCarnival of the Animals - The Dying Swan by Saint-SaënsTale of the Young Prince - Scheherazade by Rimsky-KorsakovSleeping Beauty - Waltz by TchaikovskyMidsummernight's Dream - Notturno by MendelssohnExcerpt from Act II by Adolphe Adam |
| Solitudes - Forest Piano | 1996 | A Path To SolitudeBeauty AboundsMoody AfternoonAncient StandSummer SublimeChasing The CloudsDreaming By The StreamHymn To The Old Growth |
| Solitudes - Christmas Wonder | 1996 | Let All Mortal Flesh Keep SilenceJoy To The WorldAngels From The Realm Of GloryOnce In Royal David's CityPatapan 1Hark The Herald Angels SingSussex Mummer's CarolThe Holl And The IvyIn The Bleak MidwinterPatapan 2O Little Town Of BethlehemWhile Shepherds WatchedCarol Of The BellsI Wonder As I WanderPatapan 3O Come All Ye FaithfulLittle Jesus, Sweetly SleepWhat Child Is This? (Greensleeves) |
| Solitudes - Spirit Of Africa | 1996 | Pride Of LionsFlamingo FeastFresh Water MarshExodusWooded RetreatThe Elephants ArriveHippo WallowNight On The Serengeti |
| Solitudes - Songbirds At Sunrise | 1996 | New England SpringNorthern MistSouthern SymphonyCoastal HorizonsPrairie GloryDawn In The ValleyDesert SunrisePacific Inlet |
| Solitudes - Australian Odyssey | 1996 | KookaburraWalkaboutThe SourceCascadingPassageDelugeIn The MistTree DwellersValley RidgeReflection |
| Solitudes - Island Paradise | 1996 | White SandBeachcombingCool RainStorm SurfTropic MoonDawn In The ForestEnchanted ValleyFluidity |
| Solitudes - Florida | 1996 | Florida DreamVibrant ShoresLazy AfternoonGentle SanctuaryNight In The EvergladesVoices Of The SwampCelebration |