Joel Grimes

   February 22nd, 2022

Joel Grimes  

By: Connor Albaugh 

        One thing that I really enjoy doing is taking the opportunity to explore a new photographer. In the previous assignment which happened to include studio, environmental, and still life photographs, I was able to learn about the use of studio lighting and the importance of flash in a photograph coupled with available lighting for the "environment" you are in. These two ideas are going to be incredibly crucial for this upcoming assignment which deals with "composing images." When the power point was introduced, the amount of photographers there were for this particular genre of photography is truly remarkable. Each photographer has their own unique and different style that the follow to make their images special. However, one photographer that really sparked my interest is one I haven't heard of prior to being exposed to the presentation. His name is Joel Grimes and his ability to capture images in the fashion that he does takes a lot of precision and dedication to his craft. 

            Joel is a very firm believer in and values the ideas surrounding art. People often worry about what art will produce and what a final product may look like. However, what makes art in the eyes of Joel seemingly exists in one's own creativity and willingness to create something meaningful despite its quality or public opinion. There is no one way to create something as individual imagination and inclination to create something great is what art is all about. From a young age, Joel was exposed to art in various ways as he saw himself creating things that he could call his own such as a painting, building, or even his signature (Article #1). He felt as though he was selling himself short if he wasn't doing something like this because in his eyes, it would be wasted opportunity and potential would be lost. In this sense, Joel found a way to express himself on a personal level and the art of creation "became as important as breathing for him" (Article #1). The simple forms of art became apart of his life and would follow him in the career he would choose to pursue. The art Joel would create is all stemmed from internal motivation. The funny thing is, Joel didn't have an art class until middle school (Article #1). Even though Joel had already engaged in art activities prior to this class, the class he was involved in had essentially backed up and validated his endeavors for the different things he did. This class reinforced a very important message which that one's ability to create and how one creates is why art is able to exist in such a large capacity. You may ask, what does art have to do with Joel and photography?  Photography in itself is a form of art, one which Joel would learn very well and be well known for. Joel didn't have run-ins with photography until it was introduced to him in ninth grade (Article #1). From this point on, Joel saw this as a "perfect marriage" and immediately fell in love with the field so much so that when it was time to start his collegiate journey, his love for photography became something special (Article #1). Majoring in photography at "University of Arizona," Joel graduated in 1984 with a Bachelor in Fine Arts and "founded his own commercial studio in Denver, Colorado" (Article #1). Joel's success in the commercial field is directly related to how he sees himself. His abilities and talents as an artist in photography and in terms of a commercial point of view have allowed his work to be competitive in such a huge market (Article #1). Joel simply has embraced and taken every advantage to expand his professional assignments across the world. Joel has had the honor of working for many of the "top advertising agencies in the world" where he has spent 35+ years of his life (Article #1). Joel must have had good parents who pushed him to be the best version of himself because it shows through his work and his willingness to help others reach his level of expertise. 

            Joel's early life of art to his passion for photography is very fascinating. Joel still finds various ways to express himself as an artist through his photographic work. One thing that I really found to be captivating about Joel and his photography is the style that he implies and stands by for the creation of such abstract and descriptive images. Joel is a portrait photographer, often including a person and a background fitting to the particular person. Joel takes the photo of a person of choice in a studio with various lighting sources and then takes a photograph of a background that couples with the contents of the person and their pose (Article #2). One type of lighting that Joel utilizes is called cross lighting. Cross lighting merely means that there are two light sources, both of which illuminate a subject from opposite sides. Being able to use this type of lighting allows for the photographer, Joel Grimes in this case, to change the angle of his light sources to create better lighting on certain areas or details for the person he is shooting with. The lighting on the subject or person is done and a background with similar lighting is photographed and put together with the image of the subject or person taken in a studio. This is known as a composite. Joel not only does this, but there are many instances where Joel takes a photo in the environment he wants using studio lighting outside a studio. This was done for his famous image with a man on a horse with an incredible backdrop behind his subjects. An example of Joel's photographic style exists in the photo at the top of the blog. This image pictures a basketball player with a ball between his legs which is placed in front of a background of buildings which are below a grey sky (Article #3). First, it is important to look at the photo of the basketball player. The basketball player and the pose Joel was able to capture shows the man in the air with a ball between his legs, held by both hands. The lighting on both sides of the basketball player is superb. On the right side of the basketball player's body, there is a light that highlights his arm, his leg, his jersey, the side of his face, and the shoe he is wearing extremely well which allows the viewer to see hair, muscle tone, and certain colors. On the left side of the basketball player's body airborne, the light highlights half of the mans face, part of the front of his jersey, the calf portion of his leg, and the ball that the man is holding. The lighting is stronger on certain details and aspects of the man's body because it forces the viewer to look in that direction as it is of more importance and emphasis. The studio lighting, the pose, and Joel's ability to capture a moment with his camera was so well done. The background used for this photograph is incredible. This is where the studio image is later placed within to make the photo look like one image. First, the lighting on the wall from one of the buildings helps to illuminate the left side of the basketball player's body. Lighting above the mans head allows his head in all occasions to be lit. The buildings to the left of the basketball, the colors from the brick walls, and the use of a grey sky gradient all help to bring out the details of the basketball player while providing an environment that creates a "spotlight" for the athlete frozen in time. Red, orange, brown, grey, and white all couple here in such a cohesive fashion that this image is so fun and captivating to admire and appreciate for its photographic quality. This image is so well done. One thing that I really like about this image is where the focus is placed by Joel Grimes. The focus seems to be on the man's face which provides a clear representation of the basketball player's face and the features that make up the man's face. His eyes, his beard, and the pores on his face can be seen with such excellent quality. Additionally, another thing I like about this image is the texture and sharpness that is displayed. These two characteristics bring out the details of the background and the features on the basketball player. The brick wall shows discoloration, markings, and physical objects that make up the wall. The use of texture and sharpness helps to dramatize the image. The grey color in the clouds and how easily one can see the clouds, their structure, and the shapes each cloud may hold are all a result of this pristine editing. Lastly, the lighting in this image is one of my favorite things to look back on. The position of the lighting to pick up the muscle tone of the basketball player and create a spotlight for the certain pose executed by this man is like something you would see in an NBA game, but without a court and basketball hoop setting. When a basketball player puts the ball between their legs, it is very indicative that a dunk will ensure. The lighting is stronger and softer in certain areas which makes certain parts of the image stand out while the softer light helps to enhance the background and smaller details that the human eye may not pick up on. Overall, I really liked this image of the composition. The subject is not centered because Joel intentionally positions the basketball player farther from the camera to embody him running down an alley, likely to resemble "running down the lane" which one does to dunk the ball in basketball. Therefore, the subject placement is well done and the choice of a background both come together to make an incredibly fascinating piece of art. 

            In the end of it all, Joel Grimes is a photographer with many talents which was previously discussed in the image displayed at the top of the blog. His aptitude for lighting within his studio, his ability to interact with his subjects, and being able to capture a background suiting to his subject the the lighting used for the portrait of his subject all combine Joel's style. This allows him to create admirable and outstanding composite images. The process, work, and creation of a final product doesn't seem easy, while Joel in this case makes it seem effortless. One thing that Joel makes a habit of is accepting change (Article #1). Change is very relevant in the our lives today, especially in the field of photography. Being able to use change as a formula to learn and succeed in his craft makes Joel Grimes one of the best photographers in his field. He doesn't let change dictate his boundaries or the creativity he may potentially use in an upcoming photograph. Instead, he embraces the sole idea of change and this helps him to display his artistic ability through his photography in the most effective way possible. This is all something that our society should learn from because most of the population is afraid of change when it could provide different opportunities to try new things and immerse yourself in life like you have never done before. Joel has certainly had an impact on the photography world. He really enjoys being a voice for upcoming photographers "where he teaches workshops and offers video tutorials" (Article #1). He doesn't hide any of the things he does in his overall process for capturing the images he does and his ability to be open helps people to understand how he does certain things and why. It is also a way for him to teach people things he may have done wrong when he first started in photography, what to avoid, and what to look for to give anyone who is interested the best possible chance to be successful. This also serves as a chance for Joel to "inspire others to follow their dreams and passions to create" (Article #1). Many photographers who may fail at first may be discouraged and force themselves to give up something they may love. Joel doesn't want this to happen and his goal is to shy away from this because photography is art and each and every person will create art in a way unique to them. Therefore, different styles and processes will exist which shows there is more than one way to do things and find motivation for potential or future projects ahead. I really enjoyed analyzing Joel Grimes and what makes him who he is. A couple things that Joel does that I try to encompass in my images are focus, lighting, and vivid detail. I have been able to do this quite well over the course of last semester and the beginning of this semester. Joel Grimes's photography was a way for me to see photography through a different lens and taking pointers from him will help me to complete this next assignment to the best of my ability. I feel that looking at other photographer's work can help enhance the work you create in the future because you may see something that could completely change the level and detail and lighting that your photographs show. It all begins with creativity and a drive to be your own artist that ideas eventually become a reality through continued practice and repetition.

Sources

Article #1: https://portfolio.joelgrimes.com/artist.asp?ArtistID=12191&Akey=P7FJP8B4&rs=1&ajx=1#!asset8078

Article #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7b46qoWuhlQ

Article #3: https://www.joelgrimes.com/workshops