Photographer Takes Portraits Of Babies Seconds After Birth
These photos of newborn infants by photographer Christian Berthelot taken mere seconds after their C-section deliveries may be difficult for some of our readers to look at, but that’s the point. His “Cesar” photo series shows us a raw and unflinching image of childbirth, discarding the usual blankets and ribbons for the blood and vernix that accompanied all of us when we were born.
“When I saw [my son] for the first time, he was bloodied and covered in this white substance called vernix,” Berthelot told Huffpost “He was like a warrior who has just won his first battle, like an angel out of darkness.” It is from this perspective that his photos, while difficult to look at, gain a deeper and more beautiful meaning.
Fore more details about this gripping photo series, read on between the images. His series will be on display at the Circulation(s) festival in Paris until March 5th.
More info: christianberthelot.com | festival-circulations.com (h/t: huffpost, slate)
Leanne – 13 seconds after birth
Christian Berthelot’s interest in childbirth photography grew after he witnessed the birth of his own son.
Liza – 3 seconds after birth
With the help of Jean-Francois Morievnal, a doctor at the hospital where his son was born, he began the training required to allow him to take photos in the operating room.
Steven – 15 seconds after birth
Only after 6 months of training did he start looking for expectant mothers who would allow him to photograph the birth of their children.
Kevin – 13 seconds after birth
To date, Berthelot and Morievnal have photographer 40 C-section deliveries
Mael – 18 seconds after birth
Louann – 14 seconds after birth
Lize – 9 seconds after birth
Margaux – 7 seconds after birth
Chloé – 11 seconds after birth
Romane – 8 seconds after birth
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Share on FacebookI wander what future they have ahead... And how the the photographer placed the light setup(as a photographer I wonder :D)
I'm guessing he had an off camera flash set up, allowing him to use a fast enough shutter to darken the rest of the room/illuminate baby.
Load More Replies...amazing!!! I would also like to share my short pregnancy video morph: http://photed.com/wordpress/kedde/
I enjoyed your video morph. Your wife and child are beautiful! Congratulations!
Load More Replies...This is what it should look like a mess and bloody not all clean like they do for TV or a movie.
Well, when they're born the usual way, it's a lot less bloody
Load More Replies...Newborn babies are simultaneously the cutest and the grossest things ever. Beauty.
:O no offence, but they kinda look like aliens. so i looked like an alien. o_o
They look so cute. Reminded me of mine when I had just given birth to her.
Outstanding -- amazing how the individual character of each newborn is unique - beautifully captured When older they'll value these pics
Holy crow :> it's completely graphic, but at the same time it illustrates the beauty of life and a new born babies first moments in our worl
FYI the person below who commented as me is my workmate Jackie, i have no kids yet...
come check this out https://www.boredpanda.com/here-are-35-of-the-most-satisfying-things-that-have-ever-happened-but-i-cant-explain-why/
I was surprised to see how bloody they were. I have two boys both c-sections and they were nice and clean when they came out. I remember the doctors commenting on it but i made nothing of it. It was strange seeing how bloody they usually come out but beautiful non the less.
BEAUTIFUL.....NOTHING LIKE THE MIRACLE OF BIRTH....THANK YOU FOR SHARING THE JOY OF LIFE...
Wow....so beautiful! Incredible images. I remember my babies with "stuff" all over them still from being born and it was so amazing. ♡♡♡
i really prefer a home birth even though i don't have a picture of my baby born seconds after his birth because there was no one to take it
oh it looks like from some other planet! So much plastic, so many strangers with masks on their faces, the scissors.. brrr..
Don't du this! It isn't to Facebook or something like this! It is horrible to you baby
I like this project a lot. I would love to see a series of water birth babies/home births as well. I think that would be truly beautiful.
Looking at these photos made me realize that birth looks as ugly, painful, bloody and messy as death. That's what I feel looking at them.
There is something very beautiful about birth, but I really do not like the photos; such trauma in a newly birthed child's face is sad.
I was there for all my three childrens births..Amazing and Emotional
Aww, they all look like cute little zombie babies! (: Is this bad that I think that? Well, I don't care.
Well, some people appear to be so fond of blood and violence and Zombies as entertainment - these photos should suit them to a "T"!
I have never had a baby, never will,, these are so beautiful!! Thank you!!
It is wonderful but horrific at the same time. Looks like stills from a horror movie O_O
I wish the photographer used some warmer filters, the babies look scary pale. These photos have NOT encouraged me to give birth...
Está muy bien reflejada la horrorosa experiencia que sufre el niño. This perfectly reflects the horrific experience the baby suffers.
surreal! and that is people a few seconds of a new life welcome to mother earth :)
I do like how c-section babies don't have their heads all smushed in. :) Mine was evidently biscuit-shaped when I came out.
I don't think the light was like that in the room; I think it was done in processing (i.e. Photoshop). I love it.
It makes me wonder the ratio of how many of us enter the world bloody to how many of us also leave the world bloody...
I think that's beautiful and just awww lol I took pictures of my niece seconds after she came into the world
The light, the settings... I'm thinking of Carravagio paintings. Love it.
When my boys were born by caesarian I was still under anaesthetic and missed the moments like these.I could however possibly died otherwise
I have wanted to do this for a while, this has only served to inspire me. Nice work
That's what I thought after being present at several births... But when it's your own it's different. You don't care about the blood at all!
Load More Replies...All newborn babies look the same. I wish I have done this with my 2 children. Beautiful and Genius!
Absolutely beautiful! The miracle of birth has always amazed me
I appreciate that they were all cleaned up and blankets and bows added within minutes, but I fail to see any beauty in these!
this describes how stressful is the birth for the child. No smile, no positive energy. Thats why I want to bring the baby to water in nature
The stress of the child is due to the pain of inhaling o2 through it's lungs for the first time; crying at birth = adjusting to breathing.
Load More Replies...I wander what future they have ahead... And how the the photographer placed the light setup(as a photographer I wonder :D)
I'm guessing he had an off camera flash set up, allowing him to use a fast enough shutter to darken the rest of the room/illuminate baby.
Load More Replies...amazing!!! I would also like to share my short pregnancy video morph: http://photed.com/wordpress/kedde/
I enjoyed your video morph. Your wife and child are beautiful! Congratulations!
Load More Replies...This is what it should look like a mess and bloody not all clean like they do for TV or a movie.
Well, when they're born the usual way, it's a lot less bloody
Load More Replies...Newborn babies are simultaneously the cutest and the grossest things ever. Beauty.
:O no offence, but they kinda look like aliens. so i looked like an alien. o_o
They look so cute. Reminded me of mine when I had just given birth to her.
Outstanding -- amazing how the individual character of each newborn is unique - beautifully captured When older they'll value these pics
Holy crow :> it's completely graphic, but at the same time it illustrates the beauty of life and a new born babies first moments in our worl
FYI the person below who commented as me is my workmate Jackie, i have no kids yet...
come check this out https://www.boredpanda.com/here-are-35-of-the-most-satisfying-things-that-have-ever-happened-but-i-cant-explain-why/
I was surprised to see how bloody they were. I have two boys both c-sections and they were nice and clean when they came out. I remember the doctors commenting on it but i made nothing of it. It was strange seeing how bloody they usually come out but beautiful non the less.
BEAUTIFUL.....NOTHING LIKE THE MIRACLE OF BIRTH....THANK YOU FOR SHARING THE JOY OF LIFE...
Wow....so beautiful! Incredible images. I remember my babies with "stuff" all over them still from being born and it was so amazing. ♡♡♡
i really prefer a home birth even though i don't have a picture of my baby born seconds after his birth because there was no one to take it
oh it looks like from some other planet! So much plastic, so many strangers with masks on their faces, the scissors.. brrr..
Don't du this! It isn't to Facebook or something like this! It is horrible to you baby
I like this project a lot. I would love to see a series of water birth babies/home births as well. I think that would be truly beautiful.
Looking at these photos made me realize that birth looks as ugly, painful, bloody and messy as death. That's what I feel looking at them.
There is something very beautiful about birth, but I really do not like the photos; such trauma in a newly birthed child's face is sad.
I was there for all my three childrens births..Amazing and Emotional
Aww, they all look like cute little zombie babies! (: Is this bad that I think that? Well, I don't care.
Well, some people appear to be so fond of blood and violence and Zombies as entertainment - these photos should suit them to a "T"!
I have never had a baby, never will,, these are so beautiful!! Thank you!!
It is wonderful but horrific at the same time. Looks like stills from a horror movie O_O
I wish the photographer used some warmer filters, the babies look scary pale. These photos have NOT encouraged me to give birth...
Está muy bien reflejada la horrorosa experiencia que sufre el niño. This perfectly reflects the horrific experience the baby suffers.
surreal! and that is people a few seconds of a new life welcome to mother earth :)
I do like how c-section babies don't have their heads all smushed in. :) Mine was evidently biscuit-shaped when I came out.
I don't think the light was like that in the room; I think it was done in processing (i.e. Photoshop). I love it.
It makes me wonder the ratio of how many of us enter the world bloody to how many of us also leave the world bloody...
I think that's beautiful and just awww lol I took pictures of my niece seconds after she came into the world
The light, the settings... I'm thinking of Carravagio paintings. Love it.
When my boys were born by caesarian I was still under anaesthetic and missed the moments like these.I could however possibly died otherwise
I have wanted to do this for a while, this has only served to inspire me. Nice work
That's what I thought after being present at several births... But when it's your own it's different. You don't care about the blood at all!
Load More Replies...All newborn babies look the same. I wish I have done this with my 2 children. Beautiful and Genius!
Absolutely beautiful! The miracle of birth has always amazed me
I appreciate that they were all cleaned up and blankets and bows added within minutes, but I fail to see any beauty in these!
this describes how stressful is the birth for the child. No smile, no positive energy. Thats why I want to bring the baby to water in nature
The stress of the child is due to the pain of inhaling o2 through it's lungs for the first time; crying at birth = adjusting to breathing.
Load More Replies...
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