Photo by D. Shumake
TOP reader Jim Tiemann sent me this picture, with a note:
"Sometimes we need reminding why they invented cameras...
After watching my wife give birth to our new son, they gave him to me. My sister-in-law took my camera, and I got to cry my eyes out in utter amazement and joy. I'm eternally grateful that she pointed the camera towards us...."
Big congratulations to Jim and his family. And a happy weekend to all.
Mike
(Thanks to Jim)
Okay, enough with the gear.
Posted by: Christopher Lane | Friday, 16 October 2009 at 06:36 PM
You should sponsor a contest called "Really bad pictures of your kids." It'd be tough to do, I think. You get daddy (or mommy) and the kids in a shot, and it's gonna be pretty good, like this one. Even when you don't know the people, you can feel the pull of the photo. If that were me as daddy, I'd take it any day over a bushel of Ansels.
Posted by: John Camp | Friday, 16 October 2009 at 08:38 PM
Congratulations to you and your wife Jim. Now prepare for the greatest ride of your life.
Doc
Posted by: Doc | Friday, 16 October 2009 at 09:09 PM
Yes, this is why they invented cameras: so we could see ourselves with our eyes closed.
As generations of snapshooters know, they succeeded all too well.
Posted by: Paul De Zan | Friday, 16 October 2009 at 09:10 PM
Take thousands of pictures, you will treasure even the bad ones because they grow up faster than you can imagine. It seems like tough going, but savour it because it's gone in a flash.
Posted by: Craig Arnold | Saturday, 17 October 2009 at 01:15 AM
Photography and life are very similar. There are different scenarios in life. Some of the scenarios are like theatre, where people are the actors, and some of the scenarios are real life without theatre, like in that picture. In photography some photographs are fashion photographs and some are captions of real life. Which is better?
Posted by: Mikko Moilanen | Saturday, 17 October 2009 at 05:19 AM
Best wishes to Jim and his family, I'm going to be a dad for the first time in February, and I'm really looking forward to my "moment like this".
Posted by: Stuart | Saturday, 17 October 2009 at 05:23 AM
A useful reminder to us gear-heads that for probably 99 percent of pictures taken today, people's reaction to them and appreciation of them has nothing to do with whether its from a Beyer array or a Foveon sensor, whether a highlight is blown or if the white balance is spot on, whether its 2 or 20 megapixel sensor, or if there are some JPEG artifacts, or if it was shot in RAW, or if there's a little too much sharpening or not quite enough dynamic range... etc etc.
Posted by: Ian Loveday | Saturday, 17 October 2009 at 05:32 AM
truly heart warming picture.
Posted by: laurence | Saturday, 17 October 2009 at 06:52 AM
That is such a touching picture, we feel all the emotion... absolutely beautiful.
Posted by: NinaM | Saturday, 17 October 2009 at 08:50 AM
Jim, Congrats. This photo brings a tear to my eyes and is a great reminder of why we photograph.
Posted by: Chuck Andrsako | Saturday, 17 October 2009 at 10:09 AM
I was fortunate to be present at the birth of all three of my children. Got to deliver second daughter. Melissa presented textbook, the head crowned, the shoulders rotated and with the next push she slithered out. Just can hardly imagine that shes now a 30 year old newlywed(well 2 years). I love all three of the kids but that middle child really is special.
Posted by: john robison | Saturday, 17 October 2009 at 11:51 AM
Jim, you got that one right! Congratulations...and best of luck :-)
Posted by: Miserere | Saturday, 17 October 2009 at 01:03 PM
Am I the only one who downloaded the photo to look at the EXIF data? ;)
Anyway, very nice post and congratulations to the new daddy!
Posted by: Simon | Saturday, 17 October 2009 at 01:52 PM
Now that's "random excellence".
Congrats to all.
Gordon
Posted by: Gordon Cahill | Saturday, 17 October 2009 at 05:18 PM
"Am I the only one who downloaded the photo to look at the EXIF data?"
I did too. It's an Oly E3. The best camera is the one you have with you.
Posted by: misha | Saturday, 17 October 2009 at 05:35 PM
Am I the only one feeling uncomfortable looking at this photo? I would hate the idea thousends of nameless people staring at me during a special moment of intimacy like this. If this was the only reason why they invented cameras, I probably would not own one.
Posted by: Erwin | Monday, 19 October 2009 at 12:58 PM
What a wonderful picture! It takes me back twenty four years to the day I got hold my son for the first time.
There are moments in each life to treasure. This image captures such a time beautifully.
I got a lesson on great moments this weekend from my mother in law. We had a family gathering so my wife and I picked up her mom and went to my son's home to get his family into the motorcade to cousin Dwaynes house.
Before leaving my sons home grandma Ethel picked up her six month old great grandson, Dex and said "I'm just so glad to be alive today!"
She is 89, legally blind, has a bum ticker, has been a widow for the last five years and one smile from the little guy and all of that just dissolves.
Maybe we should all go dig out an "I'm just so glad to be alive today!" frame.
Mr Tiemann already has his.
Congratulations.
Posted by: Mike Plews | Monday, 19 October 2009 at 02:38 PM
why did they invent photography
Posted by: laura and bianca | Monday, 09 November 2009 at 09:27 AM