People Power: Life in a Day

In 1955, renowned photographer Edward Steichen curated an exhibition of photography at the Museum of Modern Art in New York called The Family of Man. Almost two million photographs were submitted by photographers from 68 countries, including the most famous shooters from Life and Magnum, to complete unknowns. The 503 selected photos were to represent a snapshot of humanity, and have become some of the most recognisable photos in history. The exhibition toured the world and was seen by over nine million people. It has been preserved as a permanent exhibition in Luxembourg and is part of UNESCO’s Memory of the World register.

On 6 March 1981, two young photojournalists, Rick Smolan and Andy Park gathered 100 of the world’s best photojournalists and despatched them throughout Australia to capture A Day in the Life of Australia. 96,000 photos were shot on film that day, and edited down to the 367 that eventually made up the book of the same name. However, it was not just the professionals whose work appeared in the book because Kodak Instamatic and Polaroid cameras were given to members of the public for them to make a contribution to the project. Smolan went on to produce a whole series of Day in the Life of books.

Read more about Life in a Day in Issue 28 of Film & Festivals.

www.youtube.com/user/lifeinaday