shigzeo said:
He might have trouble in North Korea unless it is officially monitored. Getting photos out isn't easy. Good luck.

David Guttenfelder sheds rare light on one of the planet's most isolated and secretive nations.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/lost-world-scenes-from-north-koreas-closed-society-2332102.html?action=Gallery

TaoTeJared said:
@donaldejose - ...Usually this consists on a usual experiences of multiple times to Vegas, a couple times to Cancun, and a handful of times to Denver, Chicago, Kansas City, and St. Louis. Most don't realize how impoverished the rest of the world is in comparison to what we have.

I am zooming through Europe right now and looking at the Switzerland, Italy, France, Monaco and Spain cities, I have to disagree with you. They are far from looking "impoverished" compared with USA. I would even suggest that it is the other way around. I was in Vegas a few months ago and I can tell you that the plastic replica of Europe is far from being comparable to the stones you find here.

The looks of buildings in the old-Europe can also be deceiving, when you walk through the European cities, many of the building looks like ruins from the outside, but the inside is as modern as it can be. The preservation of the historical old look is on purpose and not for lack of money.

Maybe more American should hit the road and see for themselves. Even Asia and especially China is catching up pretty quick, if not way ahead.

That being said, for sure we can find plenty of poorer places and feel good in the comparison but I have seen places in Vermont or New-Hampshire and other areas in the US that looks pretty third-world to me. What is happening to the USA I love so much?

Perhaps when the photos of the capitals hit the public, it will be a wake-up call to many.

TaoTeJared said:
These type of projects will still stand out, as they have in the past, above and beyond the test of time.

Really? So how different would it be if I traveled to every capital in the world but I only used an iphone to take "unique" street photos using some kind of art filter app. Would that stand the test of time? Are my photos or my journey the part people will talk about?

bjrichus said:
Already, the online photos for my home location (I keep coming back to Google Earth, but the same for Yahoo maps), on Google have changed twice in the last 5 years. If I had not saved the original shots to my hard drive, someone who ONLY surfs the net would not know what was there before we built our house...

I agree. We are already seeing the internet changing becoming more of a market place and less of an information spot. With continual cell phone pics, integrated social networking and advertising, I am willing to bet in 10 years it will be very difficult to find (sift through all the advertising driven results) any quality work.

These type of projects will still stand out, as they have in the past, above and beyond the test of time.

I'd like to see the same shot (location and point of view, lens etc), from 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years ago, compared to a shot from today.

The internet has changed the reason for a project like this. It is more (for me at least) a continuing historical record than a "Look at that intersection to find a particular store on Google Earth" kind of thing.

Already, the online photos for my home location (I keep coming back to Google Earth, but the same for Yahoo maps), on Google have changed twice in the last 5 years. If I had not saved the original shots to my hard drive, someone who ONLY surfs the net would not know what was there before we built our house...

I kind of don't see the point to this journey either. It would have been an amazing book to buy 30 years ago but now with the internet you can search billions of photos and see photos from just about every corner of the world. This seems more like a great personal journey to me. Good for him that he found sponsors willing to pay for his trips but the photos don't really get my attention. I can see similar "snap shots" browsing for capitals on Flickr.

As for the gear, I wouldn't want to carry a big DSLR and lenses around. I would take a point and shoot or an EVIL camera like the Panasonic LX3 or GF2.

Some reactions after reading above comments and the CNN article:

* According to CNN's interview, Swolf has already visited and shot Pyongyang (North Korea), thanks to the help of skateboarder Kenny Reed.
* Swolf has already visited 58 countries over the last two years. He has 136 countries to visit within three years to keep within his five year plan.
* Although similar projects have been done (National Geographic's "Day in the Life" series), keep in mind the pace of change that has taken place over just the last 10 years, especially in places like Asia. It would be quite exciting to see a snapshot of life in different corners of our increasingly shrinking world. I think his project is incredibly worthwhile and relevant.

To make it official a D90 and a 35mmf1.8 :P

If it were me the 14-24mm, 50mm f1.4, and 70-200mm with a D700 body... If i am only allowed one lens the Nifty 50 wins.

I think it is a great and difficult project to keep a theme on.
If it were me - Two cameras and 4 primes (16 fisheye, 35, 50, 85) with a 70-300mm for a zoom shot or two. Add a flash with fold up reflector and good to go.

@donaldejose - some do understand the differences but most don't. I have friends who in their 30's & 40's have traveled out of this state maybe a 10 times. And that is actually a lot around this area. Usually this consists on a usual experiences of multiple times to Vegas, a couple times to Cancun, and a handful of times to Denver, Chicago, Kansas City, and St. Louis. Most don't realize how impoverished the rest of the world is in comparison to what we have.

I don't really see the point of it.

To show people are different?
To show people are the same?

We all know people are both different and similar without seeing photos of each capitol.

This type of project reminds me of the old National Geographic "Day in the Life" type books where lots of photographers all took photos in one country on one day and then NatGeo selected the "best" for a coffee table book. It was an attempt to freeze people and nation at one point in time and to show the diversity which existed on that one day.

But we all know these things anyway so I don't really see the point in such projects anymore.

The most important lens to take is the one in your own eye.

Hi all,

My previous jobs have taken me to many of the capitols. He's got is work cut out for him. It should be fun and tough. It should be eye-opening for everyone.

My best,

Mike

He might have trouble in North Korea unless it is officially monitored. Getting photos out isn't easy. Good luck.

What a great job photographing every capital of the world. More important than the lens, what shoes will he wear to thump that much pavement? (I assume he will bring both wide and long lenses and maybe a bulletproof vest)

Nah. I'd rather find some companies to sponsor me so that I can do it myself. Sort of like the difference between shooting with a 35mm 1.8 and asking people on NR what they think of the 35mm 1.8. Both are sort of fun, but I'd rather do the former.

OK the "What Lens" is a joke but Jeroen Swolfs really is photographing every capital in the world! Very interesting concept but wouldn't it be the same thing as asking people to submit photos from their city instead of going to every capital in person? What do you think?

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/07/27/streets.of.the.world/index.html?hpt=hp_bn12