By Maura Welch

Speculations have conjured that today's global economic crisis is directly related to the poor housing market. As this economic crisis ensues the less people are going out to stores and restaurants and the more they are staying at home.

Home, according to photojournalist Rick Smolan, is much more than a commodity — it's the most important place in the world.

In America at Home, Smolan, his wife and partner Jennifer Erwitt utilized the skills of 150 of the world's top photojournalists, as well as amateur shutterbug photos to interact with friends, family, and pets in America's homes. The result is an unexpected and powerful look at the way we work, play, learn and live in our homes.

Showing the differences and similarities of Americans at home was made possible through a creative collaboration between professional photographers like Deanne Fitzmaurice, journalists like the New York Times reporter David Pogue, noted writers like Amy Tan and Matt Groening, researchers and tens of thousands of amateur photographers. This collaboration took place during a seven day period in September 2008.

Photojournalist Deanne Fitzmaurice, a Microsoft Icon of Imaging, called it a privilege to work on America at Home with so many great photographers she admires. When commenting on her involvement in this project she said, "I was thrilled to start the project but even when I was working on it, the full potential wasn't clear to me. Now that it's a complete work the power of the whole is far beyond what I thought it would be."

Fitzmaurice sees this project as showing "great optimism and hope in America" in this time of uncertainly, and considers the images a "celebration of our country, its richness and diversity."

Fitzmaurice witnessed hope and optimism when she was warmly welcomed into the Patel family home in Northern California. The Patel family was celebrating the marriage of their daughter, Monica Yatin Patel and was having a traditional Hindu wedding.

When remembering this home and event Fitzmaurice recalls, "It was incredibly visual – like nothing I've ever seen. I walked in, took my shoes off and found myself in a 15 x 15 ft living room… filled with 70 women all facing the same way…shoulder to shoulder, wall to wall, each wearing a different colored sari. The home was awash with vibrant, gorgeous color, wonderful chanting and an incredible aroma, as the aunts and grandmothers rubbed turmeric paste and sandalwood on the arms, face and feet of the bride." This vibrant event was perfectly captured in this beautiful shot:

According to Fitzmaurice this home was a challenge to photograph because the space was small, the family had hired a videographer that she needed to be mindful of while shooting and mid-shoot a AP photographer showed up to photograph Fitzmaurice. While in the home, Fitzmaurice found the story when looking through her lens. The story was a universal one: a bride's passage into womanhood. As Fitzmaurice was capturing this story, AP photographer Eric Risberg photographed Fitzmaurice connecting to her subjects in this home.

Fitzmaurice connected with her subjects through the intricate henna tattoos that the bride had painted on her hands, which included the initials of the groom. When talking about relating to her subjects she says, "You have to walk a fine line – to be a journalist and stand back, while still connecting with your subject on a basic human level. As the event was winding down and I was done shooting, I was invited to get a henna tattoo on my hand." One of the joys of being a photojournalist, Fitzmaurice says, "is being able to walk into someone's life like that. It's amazing."

Fitzmaurice was one among the 150 photographers who ventured into the lives of Americans at their homes and witnessed how each of them lived. Every photographers' experience and home is captured in the pages of America at Home.

Fitzmaurice describes her own home as her sanctuary. "I travel extensively with my work and there is nothing better than coming home, seeing my husband, lighting a fire and opening a bottle of good wine. So it always humbles me when people open up their homes, their lives, to me as a photographer."

After completing the assignment and reading America at Home, Fitzmaurice walked away with this observation: "Generally people have open, sharing spirits. People are proud of their homes and proud to share them."

Deanne Fitzmaurice serves as a Microsoft Icon of Imaging. Microsoft's hope is that the Icons of Imaging will provide inspiration to other digital photographers to create the best photographic images possible.

Rick Smolan is the creator of the best-selling "Day in the Life" photography series and other large-scale photographic projects including "Passage to Vietnam," "One Digital Day," and "America 24/7". America at Home may be bound and printed and continues to evolve, allowing readers to add their own photos to the cover For more information visit MyAmericaAtHome.com.

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