A Day In The World Book Selection, Oxnard Documentary Photographs

Costco-Oxnard is famous now.

ADAY.org book inside spread. Photo: Stephen Schafer.

On May 15, 2012 a non profit organization, Expressions of Humankind based in Sweeden, set out to document the world by encouraging photographers of all skill levels to document a 24 hour period on one day, May 15, and upload the photos to be included in a online documentary project and book; the largest single-day photographic documentation of humankind that has ever taken place. Almost 100,000 photos were submitted, from over 160 countries; taken by professionals and amateurs alike. 

ISBN 978-91-7126-257-8 A Day In The World

I'm honored to have one of my photos selected for the A Day In The World Book, I've posted the uncropped version along with it's caption from the book, in addition to some of the other images I photographed that day that are searchable online among the 100,000 uploaded photos at www.ADAY.org 

(Click to Enlarge) Oxnard, California, USA, 12:52. Enormous superstores dominate the American shopping landscape, led by Walmart, the world's largest retailer and private emplyer. In the USA, there are thousands of these stores, designed for shoppers who arrive by car. In addition to Walmart, other major superstore retailers include Target, Best Buy, and this members-only warehouse club, Costco. Photo: Stephen Schafer.

One thousand photos were selected by the ADAY.org book editors for a 512 page hardcover book, and the Costco in Oxnard, California, USA was my contribution. The photograph was planned to document the way America shops and Costco generously let me into their store in Oxnard to photograph anything I wanted. (I got no response from Home Depot or Target). I set up my camera above the checkout registers and set my camera to blur the shoppers. Then one young man decided to buy a giant plush Teddy bear (always on sale for $29.99), and as he was paying the cashier, he pointed Teddy right up at me. Click.

I spent the morning of May 15th at Home Depot anyway and the evening at IKEA in Burbank stealthily placing my camera under a shopping cart and following people around the stores as the camera was set on intervalometer – taking photos every 20 seconds or so. It was a fun day of total creativity trying something new.

Oxnard, California, USA, 8:11AM. Home Depot. Photo: Stephen Schafer.

Oxnard, California, USA, 3:32PM. Costco. Photo: Stephen Schafer.

Burbank, California, USA, 8:31PM. IKEA. Photo: Stephen Schafer.

The Book A Day In The World: ISBN 978-91-7126-257-8 Hardcover: 512 pages Publisher: Earth Aware Editions (October 23, 2012) Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.7 x 1.7 inches