Heerlijk lijstje: zó zien deze Anne Geddes-baby’s er nu uit

Het is bijna onmogelijk om Anne Geddes’ foto’s níet te kennen. De vertederende beelden van ‘haar’ baby’s zijn al dertig jaar lang wereldberoemd. Maar kleine jongens en meisjes worden groot, zo blijkt wel uit de foto’s die de fotografe trots op haar Instagram-account deelt.

Lees ook
Zo zag Blake Lively eruit toen ze voor het eerst op de rode loper verscheen

Kunst
Iconisch zijn de foto’s van baby’s zittend in een bloempot, verkleed als peultjes of bedekt met kool – ze sieren nog altijd talloze kaarten en posters. Anne maakte van babyfotografie een kunstvorm, door unieke beelden te creëren, waarin het vieren van nieuw leven centraal staat.

Serieuze boodschap
Maar tientallen jaren later zegt Geddes dat mensen toch de belangrijkste symboliek, die verborgen is in de beelden, die altijd gelinkt zijn aan de natuur, niet opmerken. Geddes: “Mijn boodschap in mijn werk is dat we allemaal – en altijd – verantwoordelijk zijn voor alle kinderen op deze wereld. En we moeten er met z’n allen naar streven om het voor hén een betere wereld te maken”, vertelde de inmiddels 60-jarige fotografe onlangs aan de entertainment-zender Today. Haar filosofie? Het is niet alleen belangrijk om baby’s te koesteren, maar ook je eigen leefomgeving.

Heerlijk lijstje
Honderden kinderen heeft Anne Geddes inmiddels gefotografeerd. Ze heeft de beelden allemaal opnieuw bekeken en haar – ongeveer 200 – favorieten gebundeld in een nieuw boek: Small World. Wij zetten een aantal van die kleintjes naast hun inmiddels volwassen zelf. Even scrollen door een heerlijk lijstje:

BABY, LOOK AT YOU NOW! Way back in 1994 sweet little 2 week old Erin became a “Toadstool Fairy” for my first coffee table book “Down in the Garden”. And here’s Erin today – 22 years old and enjoying life in Wellington, New Zealand. With a strong passion for environmental issues, Erin took part in a Sir Peter Blake Leadership Course and at 17 was invited to be a youth delegate for New Zealand at the Rio+20 Sustainability Conference in Brazil. She went on to complete an Environmental Science and Biology Degree with The University of Auckland! Way to go Erin – I too am passionate about nature and environmental issues – in fact everyone should be! Nature has been my inspiration since the beginning of my 30 year career – have you noticed that Mother Nature never gets her colors wrong? Everybody seems to be loving my posts from this series and I’ve loved hearing from some of my “early babies” – if you were in one of my images and you’d like to take part – write to me at babylookatyounow@gmail.com and tell me what you’re up to these days – don’t forget to attach a recent fav photo of yourself. By the way, Erin’s full image is in my new @taschen book “Small World” XOAnne #protectnurturelove #annegeddesbaby #smallworld #babylookatyounow

Een bericht gedeeld door Anne Geddes (@annegeddesofficial) op 8 Mei 2017 om 8:25 PDT

… and I thought I’d repost this image of the girls as they are today – so beautiful! But oh dear all my babies are growing up way too fast … sigh! This is from my BABY, LOOK AT YOU NOW SERIES. You can read about what the girls are up to today further down my feed XOAnne #protectnurturelove #annegeddesbaby #smallworld #taschen #triplets

Een bericht gedeeld door Anne Geddes (@annegeddesofficial) op 27 Apr 2017 om 10:07 PDT

BABY, LOOK AT YOU NOW! Small is beautiful … well at least that was the case back in 1997, when I photographed tiny newborn Zac for my butterfly series, which appeared in the 1998 calendar. And here’s Zac today, still beautiful (oops sorry Zac – I meant handsome!) but a lot bigger … he’s topped out at 6ft 5 inches! I’m loving this series because I’m constantly amazed to see “my babies” as they are today! From Zac’s mother Audrey … “I remember him being the only 2 week old at the shoot whose outfit was a little short in the legs! Lol. And the arm raised over his head wasn’t staged – he posed all by himself! I also learned the BEST method for getting a baby to sleep!” Well we have a few tried and true methods Audrey – after 30 years I think I have quite a few techniques up my sleeve! Zac now lives in Melbourne, Australia and works front-of-house in the same restaurant where his sister Jaime is an Event Co-ordinator. He’s also done some modeling (his photo credit RPD Models). Many of you will have seen my plush toys over the years, and one was based on Zac’s butterfly image. Audrey told me Zac likes to say he has his own “action figure” which I think is hilarious! Every week in this ongoing series, I’ll be posting one of my early iconic images, with news of what the babies are doing today. So if you were one of those babies and you’d like to take part – I’d love to hear from you at babylookatyounow@gmail.com. Send a favorite recent photo of yourself and tell me a little about what you’re up to today XOAnne

Een bericht gedeeld door Anne Geddes (@annegeddesofficial) op 4 Aug 2016 om 4:15 PDT

BABY, LOOK AT YOU NOW! Who remembers The Potting Shed from my first book “Down in the Garden”? Tiny 6 month old Ashleigh was a cute little teddy bear in one of the pots, which by the way were all hand painted by local art students in New Zealand. Here’s Ashleigh today, an author in her own right – who’s working on her third book and also has her own book review website called The Literature Hub. Ashleigh has a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Creative Writing and works part time as the Education Coordinator for Papakura Museum in NZ. Well done Ashleigh – I’m proud of you! But yikes! All my babies are growing up way too fast 😳! I’ll be posting more updates on some of my early babies so if you were in one of my images and you’d like to take part, send a fav photo of yourself and tell me a little about what you’ve been up to at babylookatyounow@gmail.com XOAnne #babylookatyounow #protectnurturelove #annegeddesbaby #downinthegarden

Een bericht gedeeld door Anne Geddes (@annegeddesofficial) op 9 Mrt 2017 om 12:34 PST

BABY, LOOK AT YOU NOW! Remember this sweet little pansy baby from my first book “Down in the Garden”? Well here’s Gracie today – 22 years old, with a passion for the arts. For the past 7 years she has performed on “The Revolution Tour” based out of her church in New Zealand. For 2 weeks each year they visit and perform at schools throughout the country with an anti bullying campaign and a goal to spread hope to victims. From Gracie … “It’s such a privilege to have been given an opportunity to influence and give hope to so many young people. To build relationships with them year after year and see how they’ve grown is so special, and so inspiring! I’m passionate about my generation and the generation to come, and love to do every little bit I can – especially when it’s so much fun!” Well done to you Gracie! I share your passion! And if you were one of the babies in my early images I’d love to hear from you as well – send a recent photo and tell me your story at babylookatyounow@gmail.com XOAnne #protectnurturelove #annegeddesbaby #babylookatyounow

Een bericht gedeeld door Anne Geddes (@annegeddesofficial) op 3 Feb 2017 om 5:55 PST

BABY, LOOK AT YOU NOW! Look what cute little yellow chicks turn in to! 22 years ago when I was shooting for my first book “Down in the Garden”, sweet little Brittany came to the studio with a yellow pacifier firmly in place, and she had that look on her face as if to say “remove it at your peril” 😳 So I just went with the flow, thinking what a stroke of luck that it was the perfect color! She was just learning to sit so we propped her up underneath with a soft foam pad. Here’s Brittany today a beautiful bride at her March 2016 wedding. She works in aged care, assisting the elderly in their own homes on the Gold Coast, Australia. Congratulations Brittany – you look gorgeous 😍 I have some wedding news as well – my own daughter Stephanie is getting married this weekend too so I’ll be mother of the bride for the 2nd time! Over the year I’ll be regularly posting updates on where my earlier babies are today, so if you were one of those babies and you’d like to take part I’d love to hear from you at babylookatyounow@gmail.com. Send a recent photo of yourself and tell me a little about what you’re doing today. Brittany’s wedding photo by @kissthegroomphotography XOAnne #protectnurturelove #annegeddesbaby #babylookatyounow #downinthegarden

Een bericht gedeeld door Anne Geddes (@annegeddesofficial) op 19 Jan 2017 om 6:35 PST

BABIES, LOOK AT YOU NOW! Back in 1993 when I photographed 7 month old twins Alexandra & Myles, I described them as the very essence of what I love about babies – those wonderful rolls and fabulous tummies! Look at the twins today – well travelled 24 year olds. Alex has a Bachelor of Communications degree majoring in Public Relations and Media, and Myles is a builder! They are both living in their home town in New Zealand. It was wonderful to hear how well you’re both doing and hi to your mum Jenni! Every week in this ongoing series I’ll be showing some of my early babies as they are today, so if you were one of those babies and you like to take part, I’d love to hear from you at babylookatyounow@gmail.com. Send a recent photo and tell me a little about what you’ve been up to! XOAnne #protectnurturelove #annegeddesbaby #babylookatyounow

Een bericht gedeeld door Anne Geddes (@annegeddesofficial) op 10 Nov 2016 om 6:19 PST

BABY, LOOK AT YOU NOW! On the left is Christopher at 7 months back in 1995 … and look at him today, 22 years old and at University studying Law, Information Systems & Marketing. I remember at the shoot there were 5 babies and Christopher was the only boy. The girls were more or less happy to pose in the vase but Christopher was simply rocking that hat! Every week in this ongoing series I’ll be posting one of my early images with news of what the babies are doing today – so if you were one of those babies and you’d like to take part, email me at babylookatyounow@gmail.com. Attach a recent photo of yourself and tell me what you’ve been up to! XOAnne #protectnurturelove #annegeddesbaby #babies #babylookatyounow

Een bericht gedeeld door Anne Geddes (@annegeddesofficial) op 13 Okt 2016 om 5:35 PDT

1994 was a very good year! And tiny twins Brooke and Starcia were 8 months old when I photographed them in a Slipper Orchid for “Down in the Garden”. I remember them at the shoot because they had the cutest eyebrows for little babies and totally identical expressions. Hmmm … BABIES, LOOK AT YOU NOW! The girls are now known as @theoneilltwins and work in the entertainment industry – they love love love singing, dancing and acting. They’re recording artists who have danced for Jennifer Lopez, opened for Ciara, opened and danced for Stan Walker (am I getting old? Who are some of these people?), featured in New Zealand’s 1st ever dance film “Born to Dance”, signed with Sony Music NZ and have danced for The Royal Family, Request Dance Crew! I think I want to lay claim to sowing the creative seed for these two 22 years ago! Well done to you girls – I love the videos on your website too! Each week in this ongoing series I’ll be posting one of my early iconic images, with pics and news of what the babies are doing today. So if you were one of those babies and you’d like to take part, I’d love to hear from you at babylookatyounow@gmail.com. Send a recent photo and tell me a little about what you’ve been up to XOAnne #protectnurturelove #babylookatyounow #annegeddesbaby #beautifulbabies

Een bericht gedeeld door Anne Geddes (@annegeddesofficial) op 22 Sep 2016 om 5:04 PDT

Beeld: Instagram.