Wes Gibson

Wes Gibson is a freelance wildlife and conservation photographer living lake side in the

state of Indiana, documenting the migrations of the American white pelican and sandhill cranes. He studied photojournalism at Western Kentucky University and worked as a portrait

photographer for Olan Mills.

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Wes later joined the Navy to continue his education at U.S.

Naval Schools of Photography. He visually documented over a decade’s worth of imagery on two aircraft carriers and destroyer tender, documenting life at sea through five global

deployments, and during Operations Desert Shield and Storm. His naval assignments include Atlantic Fleet Combat Camera, Submarine Base Bangor Public Affairs, and two back-to-back tours as instructor from the former Navy photo school in Pensacola, Florida: Teaching courses in color photography, illustrative studio photography, photojournalism, and

portraiture.

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He was a master training specialist in photographic quality control, and photographic equipment repair. He graduated top of his class in the Navy’s advanced photographic quality control program at Rochester Institute of Technology in 1989. He’s a retired Navy veteran chief photographers’ mate. He found his passion in photographing wildlife and conservationism through still and video work while volunteering for nearby prairie restoration and wetland projects. His work has appeared in magazines, newsletters, books, and video projects.

 

In 2015, Wes was selected as videographer and senior producer for reality shows titled, “59 Veterans” and the spinoff, “Combat Kitchen.” Wes has been on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Naval Photography since 2018 and has served as president, vice president, 2nd vice president, webmaster, and newsletter editor.

 

Wes currently volunteers as the DC Shoot Off still photography workshop online competition coordinator.