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…
The time came and we got a lift up to the hospital, things were getting a little tense for Hannah
In the delivery sweet, this was the last photo I took before my concentration was required elsewhere.
Not long later she was born and despite 20 days early, she was a good weight
Tired mum
Tired Norah
Swaddled in a cot whilst we got ready to move to the post natal ward
Photo opportunity for me
Into the post natal ward
Then we had a little visit from a certain new big sis
As well as “Nonny & Puppy”
I had to leave soon after to take Connie home to bed.
The next day I returned to a very peaceful mum and baby…
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
21 Comments
jeremy north
September 27, 2015 at 4:59 pmWonderful 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.
Hamish Gill
September 27, 2015 at 5:57 pmThanks Jeremy! 🙂
walker
September 27, 2015 at 6:21 pmsuch a great event, congratulations!
Hamish Gill
September 27, 2015 at 6:22 pmThanks very much 🙂
Andy cowman
September 28, 2015 at 6:51 amCongratulations to you all!
Wonderful set of images telling a wonderful story.
Beautiful shots hamish congratulations again!!
Hamish Gill
September 28, 2015 at 6:52 amThanks Andy 🙂
Aukje Kastelijn
September 28, 2015 at 2:14 pmGreat 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!
Hamish Gill
September 28, 2015 at 2:22 pmHey Aukje, thanks!
It was actually all quite relaxed… At least the but I captured was… 🙂
I’m glad that shows through though!
And thanks 🙂
Daniel
September 28, 2015 at 3:48 pmCongratulations!
Hamish Gill
September 28, 2015 at 4:38 pmThanks very much 🙂
Gary
September 28, 2015 at 5:56 pmCongratulations! (And gutsy of you to use film – I did for my 8 year old but wouldn’t think of it now $
Hamish Gill
September 28, 2015 at 7:29 pmThanks 🙂
Why not?
Gary
September 29, 2015 at 5:54 amToo 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).
Hamish Gill
September 29, 2015 at 6:26 amI 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 …
Gary
September 30, 2015 at 7:28 amI 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.
joby
September 29, 2015 at 8:42 amThe V1 is STILL my favourite digital camera ever! Night framing was genius….
Gary
September 30, 2015 at 7:30 amThe 3D laser on the night framing is kind of cool 🙂
KJ Vogelius
October 8, 2015 at 10:54 amHuge 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!
Hamish Gill
October 8, 2015 at 12:57 pmThanks very much 🙂
Glad you enjoy the site too!
Ben
October 13, 2015 at 4:26 pmHi 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
Hamish Gill
October 15, 2015 at 7:31 pmThanks Ben! 🙂