Will Gibson was born in 1950 in Alhambra, CA and has called California home for all but three years in Columbus, OH (1999-2002). He turned his passion for photography into his profession in 1980, operating his own commercial studio in San Marcos, CA for 16 years. Since 1999, he has focused his efforts on producing and promoting his fine art imagery in art fairs, winning honors including "Best of Show" in Delaware and Willoughby, OH (2001) and Florence, Alabama (2002) and "Award of Distinction" at the Boardwalk in Virginia Beach (2003). His one man show "Alhambra Farewell," inaugurated the Photographer's Gallery in its current location within Calumet Camera in Escondido in 2003.
Early influences include Ansel Adams, Edward and Brett Weston and the host of Life magazine photographers who came into his home every week. A firm believer in learning by doing, he has studied in workshops by Larry Ford, Al Weber, and most recently John Sexton. He was an artist-in-residence at Rocky Mountain National Park in 1993 and has exhibited in many group and one-man shows in California throughout the years. His work resides in private homes as well as the collections of companies including Kaiser Electro-Optical and the Pritikin Institute. He has taught photography at the Columbus College of Art & Design in Columbus, Ohio and now teaches photography (digital and conventional) as an adjunct instructor at Palomar Community College in San Marcos, CA. He currently leads the PhotoArts Group, founded by Peter Gorwin and based in Escondido which has organized and produced 8 group photographic exhibitions and a workshop in the last 2 years in San Diego County.