Ralph Gibson studied photography while in the United States Navy before attending the San Francisco Art Institute and working as an assistant to both FSA photographer Dorothea Lange from 1961 to 1962 and filmmaker Robert Frank. Working primarily with the Leica camera, Gibson is most recognized for overlaying elements of film narrative and mystery onto the Surrealist subject of the female body. Fascinated with books, Gibson started the publishing house Lustrum Press in 1970 and has since published over 40 books, including Somnambulist and State of the Axe. Gibson is a Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres of France (only given to those who have made significant contribution to the arts) and recently was honored with the Guild Hall Academy of the Arts Lifetime Achievement Award in Visual Arts. His work is included in more than 180 museum collections worldwide. Gibson is the Chair of Contemporary Photography at the New York Film Academy (NYFA), where he mentors and works with students and the three NYFA campuses (NYC, LA,& South Beach)