Family Of Man: Birth Photos Shows Everyone But Mom

It’s one of the most celebrated photos of a child being born – the baby’s body is stretched out with the umbilical cord stretched across his glistening body, the black and white making his scrunched up screaming face that much more vibrant.

Yet, nowhere in the picture, is the little boy’s mother. Not even Joan Miller’s legs are seen in the most famous photo of her life – the moment she gave birth to son David.

The defining shot in Wayne Miller’s Family of Man exhibition of 1955 has gained new attention of late thanks to the publication of a book, Wayne F. Miller: Photographs 1942-1958, published late last year, and an article next month’s Smithsonian Magazine.

Shot on September 19, 1946 (the baby in the picture is now sixty-two), it’s no surprise Mrs. Miller was hidden from view. It’s surprising that she allowed her husband to be in the room at all, not to mention with a camera in hand. Although most fathers have cameras and sometimes videocameras at the ready for today’s labour and delivery (and we expect photos of our friends’ newborn, fresh from the womb, to be sent to our phones immediately . . . if not sooner), ours were the first dads to be allowed – or ask to be – into the delivery rooms as common practice.

Making this photo – which was chosen to be sent into space aboard the two Voyager spacecraft – all the more special is the man seen holding newborn David Miller by the leg. It’s his grandfather – Wayne Miller’s father, and Joan’s father-in-law. I can’t imagine allowing my father-in-law to be my OB/GYN (eeek), but then, to know the person helping bring your child into the world has almost as much concern for his wellbeing as you do . . . that could do wonders in putting a new mother at ease!

For a shutterbug like me, the piece was an interesting read; but for a Mum, it was even better. Check it out – and see more photos – here.

Images: Wayne Miller, via Smithsonian Magazine