The first 24hrs of Norah Dali Gill

By Hamish Gill

The regular reader will be aware that my wife recently gave birth to our second daughter, Norah Dali Gill.

Firstly, I want to say thank you to all those who sent me best wishes on twitter facebook and Instagram, very kind of you all!

It was all a bit of a surprise to be honest, despite there being some hints at an early arrival some weeks back, we were still a little shocked when she decided the day was the day at three weeks before the due date. Thankfully, we were very much prepared. Hannah had her bag packed, and I of course had my camera bag ready to go, or at least I knew exactly what I was going to take.

All the photos were shot on Portra 400 with the Leica M-A, Zeiss 50mm ZM Sonnar and Voigtlander 35mm 1.4 Nokton at somewhere between 1/60th and 1.4 and 1/125th and f2.

Before I get any further I’d also like to thank AG Photo Lab, I think they’ve done a great job of dealing with various slightly crappy lighting inside the hospital, and of course my haphazard approach to metering. Thanks guys!

So to the photos …

At 7:30 in the morning Hannah told me it was happening. We phoned the hospital and as is the standard, they told us to stay at home until Hannah felt she was ready to go into hospital. She took the opportunity to glam herself up. Whilst she clearly had her cool, I didn’t load the film very well, please excuse the light leak…

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The time came and we got a lift up to the hospital, things were getting a little tense for Hannah

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In the delivery sweet, this was the last photo I took before my concentration was required elsewhere.

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Not long later she was born and despite 20 days early, she was a good weight

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Tired mum

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Tired Norah

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Swaddled in a cot whilst we got ready to move to the post natal ward

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Photo opportunity for me

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Into the post natal ward

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Then we had a little visit from a certain new big sis

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As well as “Nonny & Puppy”

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I had to leave soon after to take Connie home to bed.
The next day I returned to a very peaceful mum and baby…

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A very happy Dad I am, I can’t tell you how proud I am of my little family!

Hope you enjoyed the photos

Hamish

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About The Author

By Hamish Gill
I started taking photos at the age of 9. Since then I've taken photos for a hobby, sold cameras for a living, and for a little more than decade I've been a professional photographer and, of course, weekly contributor to 35mmc.
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Comments

jeremy north on The first 24hrs of Norah Dali Gill

Comment posted: 27/09/2015

Wonderful yet worrying times. She looks great. Newborns are so incredibly resilient. The pictures tell the story. What a great document. I wish you all well.
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 27/09/2015

Thanks Jeremy! :)

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walker on The first 24hrs of Norah Dali Gill

Comment posted: 27/09/2015

such a great event, congratulations!
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 27/09/2015

Thanks very much :)

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Andy cowman on The first 24hrs of Norah Dali Gill

Comment posted: 28/09/2015

Congratulations to you all!
Wonderful set of images telling a wonderful story.
Beautiful shots hamish congratulations again!!
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 28/09/2015

Thanks Andy :)

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Aukje Kastelijn on The first 24hrs of Norah Dali Gill

Comment posted: 28/09/2015

Great photos. To me it is amazing that you can create images with such a serene, calm feeling at such a moment.

Congratulations again, enjoy your family!
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 28/09/2015

Hey Aukje, thanks! It was actually all quite relaxed... At least the but I captured was... :) I'm glad that shows through though! And thanks :)

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Daniel on The first 24hrs of Norah Dali Gill

Comment posted: 28/09/2015

Congratulations!
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 28/09/2015

Thanks very much :)

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Gary on The first 24hrs of Norah Dali Gill

Comment posted: 28/09/2015

Congratulations! (And gutsy of you to use film - I did for my 8 year old but wouldn't think of it now $
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 28/09/2015

Thanks :) Why not?

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Gary on The first 24hrs of Norah Dali Gill

Comment posted: 29/09/2015

Too insecure :-) to use film now. I actually used a Sony DSC-V1 for my first (11 years ago), an M3 with Provia 400 pushed to 1600 for my second (9) and finally a D700 for my twins (6).
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 29/09/2015

I shot my first on a Nikon D3 - for the same reason I suppose. I felt silly with that big thing though, even with the tiny 35mm f/2 I used to shoot with it. So what about the provia year - a boost in confidence from somewhere? Incidentally, I but they heard the gulp in the other end of the hospital when the sonographer said "it's twins" on the third round. Funnily enough, my wife is a twin, and her and her sister came third ...

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Gary replied:

Comment posted: 29/09/2015

I wasn't too happy with the DSC-V1 photos and got back into film after that - plus the second was going to be a known c-section (the first was an emergency c-section) and I wasn't sure of their rules for bringing electronics into the OR. When I first saw my twins on the prenatal ultrasound my first thought was that it was a split image on the monitor :-) It was a very happy moment for me.

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joby on The first 24hrs of Norah Dali Gill

Comment posted: 29/09/2015

The V1 is STILL my favourite digital camera ever! Night framing was genius....
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Gary replied:

Comment posted: 29/09/2015

The 3D laser on the night framing is kind of cool :-)

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KJ Vogelius on The first 24hrs of Norah Dali Gill

Comment posted: 08/10/2015

Huge congrats Hamish!

Wonderful set of photos. We delivered our first two short months ago, so I know the challenge in getting good (as well as once in a lifetime) shots at the same time as everything else is going on.

As an aside – I'm a long time reader but I believe it's my first time commenting. Really enjoy the site, thanks for your efforts!
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 08/10/2015

Thanks very much :) Glad you enjoy the site too!

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Ben on The first 24hrs of Norah Dali Gill

Comment posted: 13/10/2015

Hi Hamish,

These pictures are really special. They capture the atmosphere so well and take me right back to the birth of my two.

Congratulations once again to you and your very photogenic family.

Catch up soon,
Ben
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 13/10/2015

Thanks Ben! :)

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Charles Wu on The first 24hrs of Norah Dali Gill

Comment posted: 11/05/2022

Beautiful photos! You nailed the white balance spot on. You opened my eyes regarding shooting daylight balanced film indoors. I have to try it sometimes. Also admire your courage to shoot such precious moments on film!
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