FOREWORD

Glyn and I have a lot in common, and it has nothing to do with our hairstyles. We have discovered the secret to success. It comes down to one major thing: we understand the value of hard work and putting in the time. The more hours you put into practicing something, the more proficient you become.

Often when you meet someone, they radiate an air of arrogance or an air of confidence. Arrogance comes from someone trying to hide the truth and attempting to portray more than who they are. Confidence comes from knowing you have done the hard work and there is still room for improvement. Glyn is a man who exhibits confidence with a touch of humility. Much of this comes from his days competing as a bodybuilder. When you stand on stage in front of the judges and spectators, you bare it all. There is no place to hide. Either you have done the best you can building up to that moment, or you have not.

Being an artist is very similar. When you present your work, you have to lay it on the line. No matter how brilliant you are, there will always be a group of people who love or hate what you do. This is life. The best you can hope for is to build an audience who loves what you do. This takes building a recognizable brand and beating it into the marketplace until it takes root. Again, it takes a lot of work.

One of the things I love about Glyn as an educator is that he takes his audience beyond just the technical nuts and bolts of photography and emphasizes the creative side of building an image. Too often we get stuck on f-stops and shutter speeds and forget that there is more to creating a successful photograph. In a way, Glyn is a coach, but instead of building muscles, he is motivating you to build a body of images that represent you as an artist. A good coach will always nurture you along to get the best out of you. Glyn has this gift.

—Joel Grimes