On February 9, the International Association of Professionals Birth Photographers (IAPBP), which crowns the best birth photos every year, unveiled its winners: the first place is occupied by a Belgian.
© Babyfotograaf Marijke Thoen Facebook
A native of Ghent, Marijke Thoen won the first prize for her photograph " Underwater birth, baby with gorgeous curly hair," which shows the portrait of the infant, Nelle.
Specialized in birth photography, the photographer took the photo a few seconds after the birth of this baby into the water. A jury of 20 people crowned her cliché of "the most beautiful birth photography in the world", which allowed her to win the "modest" sum of 350 euros.
Marijke Thoen told the Nieuwsblad she immediately knew the photo would be a masterpiece: "the light was perfect, the baby's head was facing me and there was at that time not too many hands and arms bustling in front of my camera." These are factors that played in her favor and that helped give birth to a wonderful shot.
