[Leica] A DOUBLE DECISIVE MOMENT ONCE IN A LIFE TIME!

[Ted Grant]

For those interested in the story behind a photograph?
My assignment was to shoot a birthing series, as a baby was born!
Yeah I bet close to a 100% of you folks would have a fit, as I did. Oh I had lots of time in OR's with children being looked after due to an accident, piles of adults "under-the-knife" for all kinds of things. You name it I've probably  documented it. :-)
But never a birthing?? Oh jeeeeeeeeeeeeesshhhhh!
My own children were all born by then, so no home grown help here. :-(
So I went to the GRACE Hosp. where a number are born. A few discussions with medical folks (fortunately they knew of my medical assignments (no problem there. ) 

Talked to a few about to be mom's "OK cool with them." all I had to do was get to the hospital before they "POPPED" their bambino! COOL! I'm set to go just wait for hospital call.. Phone rings! . "OK She's in labour!"  It's 2 a.m! My gear is by the door, it's grab and go to hospital in minutes. 
OOPS! She just had it!  DAMN! Back to bed! 
After ten days of this routine I'm ticked off with a couple born only.  :-( 
I complained to a doctor buddy and he says? "Hey come to the Civic next Wednesday morning at 7a.m. and we'll pop a half dozen by noon! "Yea right!" I respond.  :-(

BUT! He's a winner doc! :-) He's an Obstetrician who triggers women into birthing for various reasons! 
I went away smiling and by Wednesday afternoon I learned more of how to photograph a birth ("THE CORRECT WAY") than I have during my whole career of 60 plus years.
So here you are how to do this without causing any discomfort for the "Mother-to-be?" YOURSELF! and the medical people.
1/THERE ARE NO FAMILY PICTURES  AS THE BABY EMERGESES! However? If the doctor asks you to shoot a situation. "Do so without bitching! BUT THESE ARE THE DOCTOR'S PICTURES! THEREFORE YOU GIVE ALL OF THEM TO HIM WITHOUT QUESTION! WHY? 
Well hell he got you a half dozen or more birthing's within 5 or 6 hours. Besides none of his  are family photos. "NO need to explain!" Do I? 

OK HERE'S THE PLAN AS SIMPLE AND FAMILY ORIENTED AS CAN BE!"
You stand by the Mother's head and shoot the medical crew doing their thing. Eventually, the Bambino is in view and you blaze away at all motivating moments!
MOST IMPORTANT IS JUST AS THE DOCTOR HOLDS THE BABY FOR THE MOTHER TO SEE!!  
HE IS ALSO HOLDING THIS BEATIFUL?? LOOKING NEW BORN "RIGHT FOR YOU AND YOUR CAMERAS!"  click, click, click! Like crazy as they will/should all be "family photos!"
So there you go and I'm about a 100 birthing's at this time in my life! Stay cool, be-unobtrusive. And don't faint as one young father did with his camera as the baby's head began to appear!
Trust me ... "IT ISN'T A PRETTY PICTURE!" 
cheers, 
Dr. ted  :-)

-----Original Message-----
From: LUG [mailto:lug-bounces+tedgrant=shaw.ca at leica-users.org] On Behalf Of lluisripollphotography
Sent: March-30-16 4:26 PM
To: Leica Users Group
Subject: Re: [Leica] A DOUBLE DECISIVE MOMENT ONCE IN A LIFE TIME!

Thank you Ted, I’ve missed this great picture! Congrats Steve!!!

Cheers
Lluis


> El 30 març 2016, a les 20:11, Ted Grant <tedgrant at shaw.ca> va escriure:
> 
> Hi Jeff,
> Thank you very much! As it looks like you got it squared away OK!
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: LUG [mailto:lug-bounces+tedgrant=shaw.ca at leica-users.org] On Behalf Of
> Jeff Moore
> Sent: March-30-16 10:26 AM
> To: Leica Users Group
> Subject: Re: [Leica] A DOUBLE DECISIVE MOMENT ONCE IN A LIFE TIME!
> 
> Nailed it, Ted!
> 
> Your URL got wrapped oddly - let's see if this one makes it through
> the email better:
> 
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/barbour/Ted/Mother_s+DOUBLE+DECIECIVE++MOME
> NT+_.jpg.html
> 
> 
> On Wed, Mar 30, 2016 at 1:22 PM, Ted Grant <tedgrant at shaw.ca> wrote:
>> OK HERE IT IS WITH PICTURE! I think? :-)
>>> 
>> 
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/barbour/Ted/Mother_s+DOUBLE+DECIECIVE++MOME
>> NT+_.jpg.html
>> 
> <http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/barbour/Ted/Mother_s+DOUBLE+DECIECIVE++MOM
>> ENT+_.jpg.html>
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: LUG [mailto:lug-bounces+tedgrant=shaw.ca at leica-users.org] On Behalf
> Of
>> Ted Grant
>> Sent: March-30-16 10:15 AM
>> To: 'Leica Users Group'
>> Subject: [Leica] A DOUBLE DECISIVE MOMENT ONCE IN A LIFE TIME!
>> 
>> A "DOUBLE DECISIVE MOMENT" once in a life time.
>> 
>> I re-acted to "scissors cut of "umbilical cord" by doctor disconnecting 9
>> months of the baby's development inside the mother.
>> 
>> But look at the same decisive moment the mothers' hand taking her baby by
>> the hand into the real world of life."
>> 
>> Indeed a major surprise for this photog!
>> 
>> Dr. ted
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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