Iowa high school students involved with their school publications will have the opportunity to hear renowned Associated Press photographer John Gaps III speak on Wednesday at 9 a.m. in the Scheman Building.

Gaps will be the keynote speaker at the Iowa High School Press Association’s annual fall conference held in Ames this year.

Jane Peterson, ISU coordinator of the conference and professor of journalism and mass communication, said Gaps has a wealth of information to share with students garnered from his experiences, some life-threatening, as an AP photographer.

“He can bring the whole world to these students through his photos,” she said.

Put simply, Gaps is both worldly and wise. His camera has captured every emotion, and he has been rewarded for his efforts, Peterson said.

In 1993, Gaps was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. He has twice been named photographer of the year in Iowa and Nebraska.

Gaps has photographed grisly scenes on a national scale, from the Gulf War and the Los Angeles riots to dismal events affecting the world like the untimely death of Princess Diana. Most recently, he was commissioned by the AP to take pictures of slugger Mark McGwire’s record-breaking home run season.

Peterson said Gaps’ photographs are likely to conjure up intense emotional feelings in the students to pique their interest in the various fields of journalism.

“He can help build enthusiasm in the students for all kinds of journalism,” she said. “He has that [kind of] charisma about him.”

Not only has his camera lens stared death in the face, Gaps has brushed shoulders with fate.

In 1994, an Israeli sniper opened fire on Gaps while he was in the Occupied Gaza Strip and shot him in the leg.

Gaps’ work does not stop short at photography. He also is a poet. In his book of black-and-white photographs and poetry called “God Left Us Alone Here … ” he recounted the Gaza Strip incident:

“This is an event for which I have no anger. The shooter was forgiven before I had the time to spin around and hit the ground. I was a 12-point buck who had wandered into the clearing on the opening day of deer season. Nothing more.”

At the opposite pole from photographing world conflicts, Gaps also has covered the Iowa Girls High School Softball Tournament and other statewide events.

Some other speakers at the conference will include Steve Karlin of KCCI-TV in Des Moines; Greenlee School of Journalism and Mass Communication professors Barbara Mack and Osei Appiah; John Neibergall, executive director of the Iowa Newspaper Foundation; Tara Deering, editor in chief of the Iowa State Daily; and Corey Moss, arts and entertainment editor of the Iowa State Daily.

Darin Johnson, English and journalism teacher at Ames High School, said the conference will give students the opportunity to explore the fields of journalism.

“Basically, [the conference] gives them the opportunity to attend the workshop of their choice so they can find out the different aspects of print and broadcast journalism,” he said.

“[The last conference in Ames] was a really positive experience for [my students],” Johnson said. “Not only was it informative, but they also made some connections.”

The IHSPA Conference is an annual conference held at Iowa State and the University of Iowa on opposite years.

Peterson said she expects 500 or more students from around the state to attend.

The conference will be held Wednesday in the Scheman Building and is open to high school students, teachers and advisers. Registration for the conference begins at 8:30 a.m.