New parents are constantly trying to document their child’s big life moments. And in a high-tech, social media-filled world, this is far from a challenge. But when it really comes down to it, it’s often the little things each day that are truly great to look back and reflect on at a later time.
English photographer Sam Cornwell embraced those everyday moments and took the desire to document his son’s journey from infant to toddler to a whole new level. Having recorded video footage of their newborn son, Indigo, every day for one year, Cornwell and his wife took one second from each day’s video and stitched it into an almost seven-minute long montage for their son’s first birthday. The result, “A Second a Day from Birth,” is a short but moving tribute to their little boy that shows the clockwork-like development in that first year on earth—all set to some soft background music.
As seasons change, so does Indigo—which is perhaps the most striking thing about the entire concept. This child literally grows up before your eyes. It’s touching stuff. Witnessing even just one second per day with this family is enough to make you feel like you know them by the end of the video. There are ups and downs, laughter and tears, as Indigo begins to express more emotions and to do things on his own. It’s pretty exceptional to watch a child transform from a tiny, mostly expressionless infant to a bubbly, smiling little boy who can feed himself and walk. The real quality moments come when Indigo looks directly into the camera and smiles, which is enough to make any viewer swoon.
This video, which went viral after Jezebel brought it to light, will make a truly wonderful gift for Cornwell’s son when he’s older. Even if you may not have the patience or technical skills to capture your baby’s first year in the same way, all parents can relate to this exceptional journey of childhood and growth.
