Trey Ratcliff, a photographer known for his travel blog, Stuck In Customs, will speak at the University Auditorium in Cartwright Hall at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Ratcliff is the first speaker in President Lester Lefton’s speaker series.

Lefton said he chose Ratcliff because he would have wide appeal to students.

“Everyone has an iPhone, everyone thinks they’re a photographer,” Lefton said.

Ratcliff’s speech, “The Future of Digital Arts and the Internet,” will discuss digital art and the Stop Online Piracy Act, Lefton said.

“One of Mr. Ratcliff’s views is that we should put as much art out there for free as possible,” Lefton said. “He even posts on his website: ‘Steal this picture’ because his view is that the more art there is out there, the more art thrives.”

Ratcliff has had art displayed in the Smithsonian, Lefton said. His online travel blog, Stuck In Customs, is the number one blog of its kind in the world.

“I chose Ratcliff because I knew of his work; I knew of its popular appeal,” Lefton said. “I also knew he had some interesting, if not controversial, views about SOPA, which is very much in the news right now.”

The presentation is free and open to the public.

Contact Rex Santus at [email protected].