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The day that was February 28, 2002 was no ordinary day.
It was a day that changed the landscape of photography and
a day that, hopefully, improves the landscape of Africa
and its fight against AIDS.  For
on that day, one hundred of the world's top photographers
traveled to 53 nations in Africa and tried to visually capture
its beauty, its people, and its personality - all within
24 hours. The result is a stunning collection of photographs
gracing the pages of A Day in the Life of Africa, the first-ever
"Day in the Life" book shot digitally. |
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The group of photojournalists selected for such an important
mission featured more than a dozen Pulitzer Prize and World Press
Photo winners, along with members of various prestigious photo
agencies. Each was provided with a complete digital solution from
Olympus to assist
them in their endeavor, including an E-20 digital SLR camera and
additional equipment such as wide-angle and telephoto converter
lenses and a portable P-200 dye-sublimation printer. For many
of the participants, this event marked the first time they shot
professionally with a digital camera, making it even more historic.
Outfitted with these digital tools, the photographers journeyed
across the continent and proved they were more than up to the
task. The many beautiful landscapes, from the pyramids and Sphinx
in Giza and other African cities to the deep jungles of the
land, provided the perfect backdrops for amazing pictures. The
markets of Marrakech and crowded Congo riverboats supplied interesting
looks into economic and social environments. And access to homes,
schools, and workplaces throughout the regions presented unique
glimpses into the many diverse ways of life.
More than 50,000 digital images were taken on that day, with
over 250 of them (a mix of color and black-and-white) appearing
in what is the 14th installment of the "Day in the Life"
series - the best-selling photo book series in history. In addition
to the photographs, A Day in the Life of Africa includes a foreword
by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, and
an introduction by Kofi A. Annan, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
and Secretary-General, United Nations. All proceeds from book
sales will go towards funding AIDS education programs in Africa
in an effort to raise awareness and fight against the pandemic
disease.
Coinciding with the book's release will be a variety of press-related
events further promoting the book and its ever-important messages.
Photos and other information will be available in magazines
such as National Geographic and American Photo, on websites
including Washingtonpost.com and Nationalgeographic.com, and
provided via additional platforms such as the PhotoPlus trade
show in NYC and on television by Good Morning America.
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