In a herculean effort, Belgian photojournalist Jeroen Swolfs set out several years ago to search for that one street to photograph in almost every country of the world. He scanned every nook and cranny for a sight that best represented the soul, culture and personality of that country. The journey which began in Chisinau, Moldova, explores universal themes like friendship, love, work, family, resilience and brotherhood. To convey a sense of how these pictures are connected, the same technique was used to shoot every street: a 16mm lens, an aperture between 8 and 13, ensuring a high depth of field, and ISO of 200, and always the same point of view. Swolfs now presents his work in the form of a book and travelling exhibition, Streets of the World.

Streets of the World
Jeroen Swolfs
Lannoo Publishers ($49.95)

Jeroen Swolfs
HAVANA, CUBA: In a street of communist Cuba, Jeroen spots a shiny vintage American car and a Nike swoosh. The irony of it.
Jeroen Swolfs
BAGHDAD, IRAQ: Books have been sold at Mutanabbi Street for over a thousand years, save for the one time it was bombed by the Al Qaeda in 2007. As the now-restored street functions unfazed, it is clear that knowledge trumps destruction
BAGHDAD, IRAQ: Books have been sold at Mutanabbi Street for over a thousand years, save for the one time it was bombed by the Al Qaeda in 2007. As the now-restored street functions unfazed, it is clear that knowledge trumps destruction
Jeroen Swolfs
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN: Even as the perpetual threat of war looms, this street has people going about their usual chores and livelihoods
Jeroen Swolfs
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN: A visit to the Gröna Lund amusement park is almost a rite of passage for every Swede
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN: A visit to the Gröna Lund amusement park is almost a rite of passage for every Swede