Forum time off and a new subject for my photography

Jonathan Mac · 02-08-2019, 05:29 AM - **23 Likes**

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to post here (some may have noticed from what I've posted (and not posted) lately) that I had some time away from the forum, around five weeks, at the end of last year before coming back and slowly getting a bit more into the swing of things.

That was because my wife gave birth to our little girl, Mara, at the end of November. Born eight weeks premature, she spent a month in hospital, first in intensive care and then in medium care. She started in an incubator with breathing apparatus, heart monitor, IV, feeding tube and one by one these were removed as she grew stronger and learned to feed by mouth, before coming home on the 26th of December. It was a difficult time, especially as here in Spain the father does not get extra time off in such circumstances and if I'd taken my paternity leave I'd have been left with none by the time she got home.

So I had no time for such frivolities as photography forums and despite being a very active period in my photography (I had a camera with me every day), the photos were very personal and I have shared very few. I still haven't fully decided on my stance on sharing photos of the little one, so I'm being very conservative of what I post online. Photography of other subjects has been reduced to almost zero as I have no time and with Mara so small we're not planning on doing any travelling any time soon.

For photography in the hospital, it was mostly done in very low light (many photos are at ISO 6400 and f/1.4) and the K-3 didn't get a look in. I relied almost exclusively on my little Fujifilm X-M1 and 35mm f/1.4 and 23mm f/2 primes, which did a fantastic job of recording the experience. The K-3 would have been too big and too noisy even if I had lenses for it suitable for such circumstances. I did take some photos with my MX and Tri-X pushed to 1600, but I haven't developed them yet. Now at home the K-3 gets some use but the Fujifilm is just better suited for baby photography.

So now I have a lovely new photography subject and am adapting day by day to our new family member. I hope the journey will be a fine one.

Here are the few pics I've shared online so far.

Mara by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr

Wonder baby by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr

Last edited by Jonathan Mac; 02-08-2019 at 05:37 AM.

**BigMackCam** · 02-08-2019, 05:37 AM - **1 Like**

Many congratulations, Jonathan. The first few weeks must have been difficult for you and your wife, but I'm so glad that Mara was home with you for the New Year.

Your photos are lovely, by the way. I look forward to seeing more as Mara grows...

Here's wishing you and the family all the very best!

timb64 · 02-08-2019, 05:41 AM

Congratulations and thanks for sharing your beautiful photos.Best wishes for a happy and healthy future for your family.

**aslyfox** · 02-08-2019, 05:42 AM

Originally posted by Jonathan Mac

Hi everyone,. . .

That was because my wife gave birth to our little girl, Mara, at the end of November. . . .

So now I have a lovely new photography subject and am adapting day by day to our new family member. . . .

a great new subject you can work with for years to come

congratulations to you and your wife and Mara

**c.a.m** · 02-08-2019, 06:04 AM

@Jonathan Mac; thanks for your heartwarming story and pictures. May your family be blessed with health and much happiness.

I hope that you get a chance to pop into PF sometimes.

- Craig

Kunzite · 02-08-2019, 07:46 AM

Congratulations!
And welcome back!

PlumCrazy · 02-08-2019, 07:50 AM

Jonathan,
Thank you for sharing. You touched a nerve as my oldest daughter had a nearly identical start in life ...7 weeks premature...~ 1 month in the hospital progressing from ICU to Medium care before being released to us to go home. From the low's of leaving the hospital while your child was in ICU to the high's of seeing her successfully take nourishment by mouth for the first time I truly understand the roller coaster ride that you were on. I applaud you for taking some pictures ....wish that I had done that. At some point far in the future Mara will appreciate them as well.
Congratulations and BEST WISHES for a happy and HEALTHY future.
Doug

**twilhelm** · 02-08-2019, 08:08 AM

Congratulations on a beautiful baby! We’re glad you’re back, but more than understand the absence.

**pearsaab** · 02-08-2019, 08:25 AM

congratulations!!! love the pictures!!!

**onlineflyer** · 02-08-2019, 09:09 AM

Congratulations, the best to baby Mara, along with you and your wife. Modern day medicine is truly amazing, I'm so happy things are going well. Enjoy the moment every day, before you know it you'll be walking her down the aisle.

Docrwm · 02-08-2019, 10:21 AM

Congratulations on the new addition. Priorities man, family first.

**kiwi_jono** · 02-08-2019, 01:14 PM

Congratulations and thanks for sharing the photos - they look good!

**PJ1** · 02-08-2019, 02:58 PM

Congratulations on your beautiful little girl! I hope it all continue well for you all.

**Rondec** · 02-08-2019, 03:21 PM - **1 Like**

Congratulations on your new subject of photography. New life is a miracle and being a parent is stressful and rewarding at the same time.

Mara is beautiful and I know you'll enjoy plenty of photo shoots with her up ahead (till she gets tired of you pulling out your camera)...

**monochrome** · 02-08-2019, 03:49 PM

Congratulations and thank you for sharing the beautiful photos, especially of sleeping Mara. I have twin grandchildren born at 27 weeks (110 days in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) before they could go home, so I can empathize with both your joy and your agony. At 2 1/4 years one would never know they are preemies.

Little Mara will grow up to be a woman of strong will and fine character, I am certain.

02-08-2019, 05:29 AM - 23 Likes	#1
Jonathan Mac Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,894	Forum time off and a new subject for my photography Hi everyone, I just wanted to post here (some may have noticed from what I've posted (and not posted) lately) that I had some time away from the forum, around five weeks, at the end of last year before coming back and slowly getting a bit more into the swing of things. That was because my wife gave birth to our little girl, Mara, at the end of November. Born eight weeks premature, she spent a month in hospital, first in intensive care and then in medium care. She started in an incubator with breathing apparatus, heart monitor, IV, feeding tube and one by one these were removed as she grew stronger and learned to feed by mouth, before coming home on the 26th of December. It was a difficult time, especially as here in Spain the father does not get extra time off in such circumstances and if I'd taken my paternity leave I'd have been left with none by the time she got home. So I had no time for such frivolities as photography forums and despite being a very active period in my photography (I had a camera with me every day), the photos were very personal and I have shared very few. I still haven't fully decided on my stance on sharing photos of the little one, so I'm being very conservative of what I post online. Photography of other subjects has been reduced to almost zero as I have no time and with Mara so small we're not planning on doing any travelling any time soon. For photography in the hospital, it was mostly done in very low light (many photos are at ISO 6400 and f/1.4) and the K-3 didn't get a look in. I relied almost exclusively on my little Fujifilm X-M1 and 35mm f/1.4 and 23mm f/2 primes, which did a fantastic job of recording the experience. The K-3 would have been too big and too noisy even if I had lenses for it suitable for such circumstances. I did take some photos with my MX and Tri-X pushed to 1600, but I haven't developed them yet. Now at home the K-3 gets some use but the Fujifilm is just better suited for baby photography. So now I have a lovely new photography subject and am adapting day by day to our new family member. I hope the journey will be a fine one. Here are the few pics I've shared online so far. Mara by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr Mara by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr Mara by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr Mara by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr Wonder baby by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr Last edited by Jonathan Mac; 02-08-2019 at 05:37 AM.

02-08-2019, 03:49 PM	#15
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Congratulations and thank you for sharing the beautiful photos, especially of sleeping Mara. I have twin grandchildren born at 27 weeks (110 days in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) before they could go home, so I can empathize with both your joy and your agony. At 2 1/4 years one would never know they are preemies. Little Mara will grow up to be a woman of strong will and fine character, I am certain. Last edited by monochrome; 02-09-2019 at 07:39 AM.

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02-08-2019, 05:37 AM - 1 Like	#2
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,669	Many congratulations, Jonathan. The first few weeks must have been difficult for you and your wife, but I'm so glad that Mara was home with you for the New Year. Your photos are lovely, by the way. I look forward to seeing more as Mara grows... Here's wishing you and the family all the very best!

02-08-2019, 05:41 AM	#3
timb64 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: /Situation : Doing my best to avoid idiots! Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,510	Congratulations and thanks for sharing your beautiful photos.Best wishes for a happy and healthy future for your family.

02-08-2019, 05:42 AM	#4
aslyfox Seeker of Knowledge Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Topeka, Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 24,581	Originally posted by Jonathan Mac Hi everyone,. . . That was because my wife gave birth to our little girl, Mara, at the end of November. . . . So now I have a lovely new photography subject and am adapting day by day to our new family member. . . . a great new subject you can work with for years to come congratulations to you and your wife and Mara

02-08-2019, 06:04 AM	#5
c.a.m Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,189	@Jonathan Mac; thanks for your heartwarming story and pictures. May your family be blessed with health and much happiness. I hope that you get a chance to pop into PF sometimes. - Craig

02-08-2019, 07:46 AM	#6
Kunzite Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Romania Posts: 15,132	Congratulations! And welcome back!

02-08-2019, 07:50 AM	#7
PlumCrazy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Nebraska Photos: Gallery Posts: 148	Jonathan, Thank you for sharing. You touched a nerve as my oldest daughter had a nearly identical start in life ...7 weeks premature...~ 1 month in the hospital progressing from ICU to Medium care before being released to us to go home. From the low's of leaving the hospital while your child was in ICU to the high's of seeing her successfully take nourishment by mouth for the first time I truly understand the roller coaster ride that you were on. I applaud you for taking some pictures ....wish that I had done that. At some point far in the future Mara will appreciate them as well. Congratulations and BEST WISHES for a happy and HEALTHY future. Doug

02-08-2019, 08:08 AM	#8
twilhelm Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,369	Congratulations on a beautiful baby! We’re glad you’re back, but more than understand the absence.

02-08-2019, 08:25 AM	#9
pearsaab Otis Memorial Pentaxian Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2011 Location: Richmond, Virginia USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,900	congratulations!!! love the pictures!!!

02-08-2019, 09:09 AM	#10
onlineflyer Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: NW Ohio Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,091	Congratulations, the best to baby Mara, along with you and your wife. Modern day medicine is truly amazing, I'm so happy things are going well. Enjoy the moment every day, before you know it you'll be walking her down the aisle.

02-08-2019, 10:21 AM	#11
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Congratulations on the new addition. Priorities man, family first.

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02-08-2019, 01:14 PM	#12
kiwi_jono Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,437	Congratulations and thanks for sharing the photos - they look good!

02-08-2019, 02:58 PM	#13
PJ1 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Toowoomba, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,484	Congratulations on your beautiful little girl! I hope it all continue well for you all.

02-08-2019, 03:21 PM - 1 Like	#14
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,652	Congratulations on your new subject of photography. New life is a miracle and being a parent is stressful and rewarding at the same time. Mara is beautiful and I know you'll enjoy plenty of photo shoots with her up ahead (till she gets tired of you pulling out your camera)...