A GENTLE gaze on one of life's most precious moments observed quietly through a single window.
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Former Port Macquarie photographer Sarah King, who is now working in the United Kingdom, has captured the beautifully intimate first moments a family shares with their newborn baby.
The gentle touches, nuzzles, light kisses, the tentative moments shared between siblings as they navigate their way around the emotions of a new addition to their tribe.
A scene shared over and over around the world each day.
But this time, the arrival of baby Theo Sheppard was different. That tribe was much smaller.
The implications of isolation imposed on us all as a result of the COVID-19 health crisis need not come at a cost.
The proud grandparents of this little boy were not going to miss out.
This latest photo essay expands Sarah's evocative exhibition Life in Lockdown. It is a stunning compilation of images capturing the subtleties of human behaviour and interaction amid the restrictions in the quaint village of Knutsford, UK.
The result is a magnificent collection of human moments portraying vulnerability, adaptation and hope. The story of baby Theo's arrival visually encapsulates intense love.
"I had photographed in lockdown a very pregnant mum who features in the Life in Lockdown exhibition," Sarah said from her home in Cheshire.
"I was honoured to follow up on this photo shoot when baby Theo arrived. These tender first moments I captured through the glass window.
"This is not the usual newborn shoot, so I was thrilled and so grateful the Sheppard family allowed me to record this moment for them and for my exhibition.
"It certainly has been a very long time for mum Mariana who has been indoors since the outbreak of the virus."
Some of the most moving images are those of Theo's grandparents meeting their new baby for the first time through the family's front window.
"This was an incredibly moving photo shoot for me," Sarah added.
"Later when I was editing this shoot, I too was in tears imagining how much she would have wanted to hold her grandson but this is not possible at this time in our lives with the risk of the virus.
"This was also special for me thinking of my brother Damian King and wife Holly's new baby girl Pippi who arrived at the start of lockdown."
Damien is a pro-bodyboarder who lives in Sarah's home town of Port Macquarie.
This was an incredibly moving photo shoot for me.
- Sarah King
"I had to take a break from editing and found this a very a emotional photo shoot. Everyone was separated so far away but still connected in spirit.
"This was not the usual baby celebration you would have for a newborn, however there was still joy on their faces to view their grandchild - even through glass.
"What a blessing, throughout the lockdown, to have a beautiful healthy mum and baby. These photos will certainly tell a historical story when baby Theo is older."
Life in Lockdown can be viewed at www.sarahjanekingphotography.com and is a fundraiser for the Cheshire Community Foundation.
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