The intersection of art, travel, and the beauty in human connection.
Jules Verne famously wrote, “Anything one man can imagine, other men can make real.” If those words rang true 150 years ago, how much louder they resonate today! Our planet is filled with incredible history, culture, nature, and ingenuity, all waiting to be explored. With a basic internet search, you can explore monuments, landmarks, and locations from the comfort of your home, though blog posts and travel websites often present a filtered view of the world. In contrast, Around the World in Eighty Photos by Jeremiah A. Gilbert offers a stunning visual odyssey more engaging than most online content. This colorful circumnavigation takes off from California and doesn’t touch down until the remote islands of Oceania. Showcasing spectacular images, snippets of local history, and just enough facts to tantalize, each chapter will leave readers admiring the artistry as much as imagining themselves in the far-flung locations.
For those who enjoy seeing the world from behind a camera, Gilbert shares insights into his equipment, techniques, and artistic mindset, allowing readers to refine their craft and rethink how they see the world. With a dazzling array of colors, textures, moods, and details, the photographs are gorgeous, capturing scenes worth remembering. Rather than centering on recycled photo-ops or heavily manufactured tourist traps, Gilbert’s images embody the essence of locations, focusing on raw beauty. An unassuming flight of stairs. A rainbow of natural light inside a church. Grounded boats waiting for the tide to return. In Tibet, one might imagine the grandeur of Mount Everest, but Gilbert’s take is a gritty look at Everest Base Camp, a destination few will ever enjoy in person. Instead of feats of modern architecture, Dubai features a striking black-and-white image highlighting natural materials and remarkable resourcefulness. You might not start this book with an artist’s eye, but the broad insights and helpful field notes will leave you with a better appreciation of photography as a craft.
The longer we live, the smaller the world gets and an entire lifetime still couldn’t introduce us to every cliff’s edge, breathtaking vista, or beloved local marketplace across the globe. Around the World in Eighty Photos doesn’t promise to show us every corner of our planet, but it does showcase a few dynamic mile markers along the way. Perfect as a conversation piece or fodder for a personal research project, Gilbert’s travel mosaic is sure to kindle a wave of wanderlust. If you’re drawn to the intersection of art, travel, and the beauty in human connection, Around the World in Eighty Photos is a must-read.
