While many parents will say that the first time they see their child is an indescribable moment, one photographer has made it his mission to ensure that the moment their baby enters the world is immortalised forever.
French photographer Christian Berthelot specialises in birthing photos, with his particular area of interest being babies born via Caesarean-section.
Berthelot, who started his project six months after the birth of his own son, takes his acclaimed shots within the child’s first 20 seconds of life, making for some incredible imagery.
The idea for the project came after Dr. Jean-Francois Morienval, a doctor from the hospital where Berthelot’s baby was born, asked him if he would be interested in taking some pictures documenting the profession of midwifery.
After agreeing to join the nurses and doctors in the theatre while they were delivering the babies, Berthelot underwent training to work in a surgical environment.
When he finally did get to work on the project, he admits that he had to psych himself up mentally for what he was about to see.
“When everything was over and everything was fine, I went home. I drank coffee and waited several days. I knew I was not going to look at the world the same way,” he said.
He admits that while some people find the images difficult to look at – while others simply do not believe they are real – many people have found the photos fascinating. Indeed, so fascinating, that his work is now part of a national exhibition in France.
What are your thoughts?
