Giving Birth at Home »
Home Birth: Common Concerns »
Choosing a Carer »
Organising a Home Birth »
Deciding on a Waterbirth »

Waterbirth Photo Competition 2009

Winners announced!

The judges have selected the three winners for the Waterbirth Photo Competition 2009 as follows:

1st Prize: Anna, Joe and Jacob from Clovelly, Devon Judges comments: This photo really captured so much of water birth! The expression of amazement--"I did it!" on Anna's face and husband Joe's face saying "Of course you did!" and looking so proud and happy. What a wonderful moment to capture, meeting your baby with your relationship to each other captured! Congratulations!   2nd Prize: Lee and David from Birmingham Judges comments: This shot of a moment of calm between contractions captures so many of the building blocks of a good birth experience: the quiet room, dimmed lighting, the absolute but passive support of a partner, who knows to avoid verbal stimulation. Fantastic! 3rd Prize: Carrie, Katie and Arran from Bonnyrigg, Scotland Judges comments: Waterbirth is so much about being safe--either in your solitary warm space or joined by family in water. How wonderful for Katie to share in such an active way in Arran's birth, and to have captured this moment for them both!

The judges found it extremely hard to choose winners and will be awarding a number of Honourable Mentions. Notes of these will be posted on the shortlist pages on Wednesday 16th December. View the shortlisted entries and add your comments on our Facebook page or just view them here.

2010 Competition now open for entries. More...

Prizes

1st Prize: Apple iPod Touch 8GB, worth £149 (or £120 John Lewis vouchers)
2nd Prize: Apple iPod Shuffle 2GB, worth £45 (or £40 John Lewis vouchers)
3rd Prize: £25 John Lewis voucher, valid online or in store

Judging Criteria

The judges - Dianne Garland and Amy Maclean - will seek to award prizes to the images that they feel best convey the raw beauty, power and calm of waterbirth.

Criteria for Entry

• You are a UK resident and the owner of the images
• Maximum 2 photos per birth allowed
  
• Image minimum dimensions 400 x 300 pixels
• Image maximum dimensions 3000 x 2250 pixels, i.e. approx 7MP
• File formats accepted: JPEG (.jpg), ACROBAT (.pdf)
• You are not an employee of The Good Birth Company
  

Process for sending in entries

• Email photos to photo@thegoodbirth.co.uk, with your name, the town where you live and the first names of those in the photo.
  
• You will receive an email confirming receipt of your image within 24 hours. This does not mean that your image has been validated as meeting the entry criteria. If you do not receive this email confirmation within 48 hours, please email info @ thegoodbirth.co.uk (note spaces to avoid spam) after checking your Junk or Spam folders.
• Contract: By sending photos to The Good Birth Company, you agree that: (a) You are the owner of the images and you are free to use them for any purpose as you wish; and (b) You grant to The Good Birth Company for 5 years a non-exclusive licence to publish the images in any media or format it chooses and to grant sub-licences to its trading partners.
• The Good Birth Company commits that we will not alter the images with the exception of cropping or resizing them to fit a publishing format, and that we will only use them to promote waterbirth, our company and our products.

Timetable

Judging Process

Amy Maclean will create a shortlist of 20 images for final review by herself and Dianne Garland. Amy and Dianne will agree the award of 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes.

Announcement of Prize Winners

Prize winners will be contacted on 14th December by email or phone to arrange delivery of prizes. Other entrants will receive an email confirming that they have not won a prize. A selection of entries will be published at www.thegoodbirth.co.uk/waterbirth-photo-competition-2009. Only first names will be used next to published images.

About the Judges

Dianne Garland is one of the world's leading authorities on water birth. Diane is author of Waterbirth: An Attitude to Care (new edition coming in 2010!) and leads waterbirth study days for midwives in the UK and all over the world. Diane is often called as an expert witness in midwifery and continues to practice in Kent. Diane's website is at www.midwifeexpert.com.

Amy Maclean is an Antenatal Teacher for the NCT, mother of 4 boys and Founder of The Good Birth Company, whose mission is the make waterbirth available to all women. Amy is author of a children's picture book about a forthcoming home water birth - Our Water Baby. Amy has had 3 fabulous home water births and is a keen amateur photographer.