Cody Smart wanted to feel something, and so with $430 in the bank, an aversion to ''popular society'' and a thirst for the open road, he set off to hitchhike from New York to Alaska. He was robbed and nearly killed, just as the naysayers said he would be. He then put together a magnetic ''photologue'' on CodySmart.com/hitchhike to remember and share his story.

What's Hot: Cody takes us into the kind of travel that some adventurers only dream about. The photos are captivating and you have to wonder how he got such good light all the time. His portraits are deep and show a side of Americans rarely presented in other media.

What's Not: The photos are so dynamic you want to know more about them. Where were they taken? What are the landmarks in them? Who are the characters? What state? What city? The short ''Trip Summary'' at the top is a mere tease, and without specifics attached to photos, you're left to guess what's what.