The best pictures of the participants and winners of the Birth Photo Competition.
Childbirth is hard work. But at the same time – a wonderful process of the birth of a new person. Yes, from the point of view of physiology, it is not the most aesthetic sight. But this is the power of art – to tell the story of a baby’s birth in a way that is both honest and beautiful. The professionals who do this are members of the international association IAPBP – 52 countries, more than 1100 people.
In February, the association traditionally announces the winners of the competition. … It involves photographers who can delicately and sincerely convey in the smallest detail the whole process – from contractions to the first hours of a baby’s life.
The winners are chosen in five nominations: contractions, childbirth itself, that is, the very moment the baby is born, the postpartum period, birth in detail, as well as pictures taken in the first 48 hours of the baby’s life.
Jessica Vink, a photographer from the Netherlands, became the absolute winner this year. “Moment of Silence” – a shot when the baby was just put on the mother’s belly. She, still covered in blood, wearily closed her eyes. Feeling the native warmth, the little one fell asleep. Notice how similar they are at this moment …
Best in the category “Birth in Detail” was the “Fighter” by photographer Bree Garcia (USA). Man’s hands gently support the woman’s lower back. Her belly, it seems, is about to burst, the child is torn into the light. An incredible shot showing all the complexity of childbirth, all the severity of the “work” of the expectant mother.
A little boy with curiosity and fear looks over the shoulder of the obstetrician. His father is holding him, explaining that his brother is being born. This is a snapshot of another American woman, Alexandra Mooney. He won in the category “Childbirth”.
Among the marked pictures there are shots of babies who were born “in a shirt” – in a bubble. Such photographs are considered quite rare. There are shots of men who help their beloved women push and support them during contractions. There are very physiological photos – for example, crumbs who were born with a double cord entwined around the neck.
But one of the most touching shots, perhaps, the one that won in the Fresh 48 category. “Denial” – this was the name of the photographer Natalie Weber from the United States. A little girl, about two years old, curled up sadly in an infant incubator while her mother breastfeeds her newborn brother or sister. It can be seen that in a baby for a woman at this moment the whole world, while for her eldest daughter, the universe has sharply narrowed to a teddy bear.
I am grateful to the families who are ready to share the wonderful moments of childbearing with the whole world, says the founder of the association Lindsay Strandtner.
And we, too, with permission we will share these pictures with our readers. Isn’t it a miracle?