From an early age, the process of creating has been Joel Grimes’s passion--a part of his DNA--and access to art education a vital cornerstone of his life. Introduced to photography during his freshman year in high school, Joel’s passion for the photographic process was all consuming by the time he began attending college. Joel received his BFA in photography from the University of Arizona in 1984 and soon after established a commercial studio in Denver, Colorado. He currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona, with his wife Amy. For almost three decades, Joel has worked for many of the top advertising agencies across the globe--his assignments have taken him to all 50 states and to over 50 countries. It is Joel’s uncompromising passion to create that has made his commercial work a competitive standout in the marketplace. In 1992 Joel published his first book, Navajo, Portrait of a Nation. The book received a number of photographic and design awards and resulted in an 18-month solo exhibit at the Smithsonian American History Museum. Over the years, Joel has sought to be an ambassador for the photographic process by teaching workshops and offering video tutorials. He feels that, without question, we are in the greatest age of photography since its conception, and by being an open book with his process, he has an opportunity to inspire others to follow their dreams and passions to create.