World Peace Walk 2030 is a photographic exploration and physical fitness project. The series of photos on Instagram and Facebook feature a 24,900-mile, 16-year walk around the suburbs near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

 

I began this #WorldPeaceWalk2030 on March 31, 2014, and reached the 10,000-mile mark on August 26, 2020. I plan to reach my ultimate goal of 24,900 miles (equal the the earth's circumference) by December 31, 2030. 

 

The mileage of all walks is documented on Instagram and Facebook, and includes an iPhone photo and an associated haiku, verse, quote or thought that relates to that photo. In its last stage, the project will be monetized, with all proceeds going to charity.

 

My goal is to raise awareness of world peace, maintain physical fitness, and offer proof of walking a distance of 24,900 miles. I take long walks around streets, parks and trails primarily in Milwaukee and its suburbs. I occasionally walk around other cities and suburbs in the United States as well. I publish photos and mileage stats on a regular basis, but each photo is not necessarily taken on the day of publication. Please understand that I have no intention of implying that each photo shows (or was captured on) the exact day of the mileage noted. 

 

Some days when I haven't gone on a walk, I'll publish a photo with an associated haiku or prose caption without documenting any mileage. On the most photogenic days, I take dozens of photos, but when there's harsh weather with fewer photo opportunities, I sometimes avoid taking photos altogether.

 

On each walk — between 3 and 7 miles long — I'm shooting mostly landscape and nature photos, occasionally recording video, and sometimes broadcasting live video. 

 

Each photo or video acts as a microrelaxation opportunity that can be quickly read and viewed by visitors in less than a minute. It will serve the purpose of Hemingway's "Clean and Well-Lighted Place" — a brief respite from everyday stresses and an escape from ordinary routines.

 

On these walks, I carry all my camera equipment in my pocket, while attempting to create photos whose quality approaches that of a DSLR. I'm using the lightest, most versatile, powerful and mobile photo hardware and software tools currently available, all currently revolving around an iPhone 14 Pro Max. I'll occasionally bring along additional items, such as Moment lenses and various small tripods and stabilization equipment. 

 

For image editing, I'm continuing the mobile theme by using only iOS apps. Those include Adobe PSXpress and Google SnapSeed, along with additional iOS apps and accessories as they become available. 

 

As proof of distance walked, I use the GPS fitness tracker on an Apple Watch Ultra for easy live updates of time/distance/heart rate. I'm also using Apple Watch's Activity app, and publishing my walking distances on my Instagram and Facebook accounts.

 

Future technology will also come into play. This includes (but is not limited to) new iPhone hardware, drones with cameras on board, augmented reality/virtual reality technology and other devices that haven't been invented or are not yet practical but will soon be available.

 

The photos are intended to be high-impact and dazzling, enhanced with image enhancement techniques in the original spirit of Instagram. I use filters and mobile image editing apps as Ansel Adams used the darkroom. He said, “The negative is the equivalent of the composer’s score, and the print the performance.” Likewise, in World Peace Walk 2030, the high-resolution digital photos in their raw form function as the negatives, and the online media of Facebook and Instagram function as the print. I aim to go as far as I dare with these photographs in their final edited form, hopefully before falling into the realm of garish overuse and bad taste. 

 

My content guidelines feature the sun (a crowdpleaser) in about 75% of shots, but relegate it to a hiding or slightly visible role if it appears more than 75% of the time in any given week. 

 

Subtexts: I often show technology in the shot, subliminally. Examples include jet contrails, a glint of a car, juxtaposition of tech and nature — all reminding viewers that for a minute, they've escaped from society ... but it's still there even if they try to escape (that's related to my absurdist/existential worldview). 

 

Yes: Usually include the walking path, sidewalk or street in the shot. Always sharp, colorful, emotional
Use, but sparingly: park objects such as benches, playground stuff, "Milwaukee Harp Lamps" in parks, incidental plants/animals and people
No: cliché photos, obnoxious items or divisive topics. That means no glorification of alcohol or drugs, raindrops on a window, food, an airplane wing in the foreground, coffee/latte doodles, fire hydrants, hate/racism, posed shots, text, accidental out-of-focus shots, churches/religion.

 

Each photo is accompanied by a short caption that is usually written in the form of a Haiku, but can also be a quote, poetry or prose. The captions are written in a brief and sometimes vague style that can be anywhere from informative to obtuse to romantic, and are often upbeat and optimistic. These captions usually include topics that are directly or tangentially related to the photo. 

 

The captions stress peace, love and tolerance. They celebrate the pleasure of walking for fitness, and pay homage to the many wild animals that are abundant and coexisting with us in our suburban environment. They emphasize the ideas that the sun is life, that we are made of star stuff, that the seasons are beautiful and diverse, and that we should all enjoy them in peace and harmony. All support and confirm the idea that the sun is a symbol of the interconnectedness of all forms of life in the universe.

 

Along the way, I will create a photo book and memoir about this epic adventure. In addition, prints of all photos will be offered for sale by a charitable consignment gallery. If NFTs are still a viable format as we near 2030, those might also be considered. Several of these copyrighted photos are already available on Getty Images. All proceeds will be donated to a charity that's yet to be determined — one that is, a) relevant in the year 2030, and b) one that everyone can believe in and will be eager to support.