Perhaps every road to the White House is an unexpected journey. But that is precisely the path Paul Morse has traveled from his undergraduate days in Long Beach, CA. And that's just the beginning.

The Beginning

After his graduation from California State University at Long Beach, Paul began his photography career at the Pasadena Star-News. He moved on to the Los Angeles Times as a staff photographer for six years, covering sports, news, and the entertainment industry. From the L.A. Times, Paul moved to Washington, D.C. where he was named Deputy Director of Photography.

When we conceived of creating Obama Inauguration jigsaw puzzles with our friends at Wentworth Wooden Jigsaw Co, we looked no further than the peerless Paul Morse.

Obama Inauguration Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle -- Parade

Obama Inauguration Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle -- Ceremony

The Heart

Today, Paul Morse is a Washington, D.C. based corporate photographer. His sensitivity to the delicacies of light and masterful understanding of space and form define his approach to image making. Paul's unique talents combine in striking photographs of artfulness and craft.

Paul’s subtle, confident approach has earned him the trust of the President and other world leaders. He served as Deputy Director of White House Photography from 2001 until 2007, when he desired a new outlet for his creativity. One such outlet, reflecting the trust of a new administration, was as one of the photographers for the Official Obama Inauguration Book -- an honor that afforded him spectacular access to the Inauguration festivities.

Paul has honored Elegant Roots by his generous grant of permission to use two of his fantastic Obama Inauguration photos for our Exclusive commemorative wooden jigsaw puzzles.

The Highlights

Paul's photographs have been published in magazines and newspapers around the world including Sports Illustrated, Time, US News and World Report, Men's Journal and the New York Times Magazine. His photographs have illustrated the covers of many books on subjects as diverse as the Los Angeles Lakers, Air Force One, and the Oval Office. His images are on display in the Smithsonian Institution.

His photographs have recently been commissioned by the Brookings Institute, the Clinton Global Initiative, International Finance Corporation and ING DIRECT. Paul is an adjunct professor at the Corcoran School of Art.

For his willingness to help Elegant Roots offer its Exclusive Obama Inauguration puzzles, we offer him a heartfelt Thank You!

To find out more about the unique production of our Exclusive puzzles, please see the Profile of Wentworth Wooden Jigsaw Co.