Paul Ware, a photographer from Monroe, Louisiana, is coming to Loyola to talk about his recent photo series in Iceland. Ware is speaking at Loyola on September 11 in Monroe Library to help encourage students to take advantage of the J-term study abroad trip to Iceland. 

From an early age, Ware knew that nature was his calling.

“I have a ravenous desire to explore around every bend, over every mountain, into every cave. I want to go to the depths of the ocean. I want to explore everything as much and as thoroughly as I can,” Ware said. 

This deep connection to nature intertwines with Ware’s upbringing due to his father’s military service he relocated to different environments which developed his love for travel and photography. “You know, they had Polaroid, and my dad also had some 35mm film cameras, like Canon AE-1. And I remember seeing those and shooting just everything and anything” he recalls. 

As a photographer Ware finds fulfillment when he takes pictures that make people think.

“Any single picture in my life that I have ever created causes someone to think more deeply,” he said.

Being able to document the moment allows him to “experience a sense of awe and grandeur,” Ware said.  

For Ware, travel fuels his photography since he believes that “travel is as essential as breathing.” 

A particular place he’s fascinated by is Iceland.

“It feels like you’ve frozen time and stepped into another plane of existence. Out in those remote parts, it’s just you and the wilderness,” he recalls. 

Ware shares his experience with Icelandic culture.

“It will make you feel small. It’s definitely humbling. The people are incredible, truly. They’re people of few words, but their words have a lot of weight. They’re very friendly. They’re very welcoming. They’re direct. They’re very helpful. They want you to be there. That’s been my experience.”