AN award-winning photo of a baby's birth has been rehung at the National Wine Centre - with a translucent cover - after being removed when patrons complained it was "too confronting".

Adelaide photographer Victoria Berekmeri unleashed on social media after her award-winning picture of a baby being born was removed from a photographic exhibition.

Ms Berekmeri's photograph won a Silver Distinction at last week's South Australian Professional Photography Awards, but was removed from the wall of the prizewinners' exhibition at the National Wine Centre after someone complained.

However, after negotiations with the Australian Institute of Professional Photographers and the Wine Centre, the print has now been rehung with a translucent cover and a content warning for patrons.

National Wine Centre general manager Adrian Emeny defended the centre's concerns about the photograph.

"I understand people's comments but at the end of the day, it's a public venue and while some people find it a fabulous photograph, others find it a bit confronting," he said.

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Ms Berekmeri, a professional birth photographer, said she was happy with the outcome but disappointed that she had not been informed before the photo was removed.

"I was initially upset that I had only found out about (the photo being taken down) through a friend who had gone to view the image," she said.

"They've obviously taken the safe route after a few complaints … it is a controversial topic, and issue and image … it's just me as an artist getting a little perturbed by censorship.

"I'm disappointed of course but at the same time I'm relieved that I spoke up about my disappointment and that so many people have come on board to support something that should be celebrated and not hidden away in a closet."

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In a Facebook post that has been liked by nearly 1000 people, Ms Berekmeri - whose website is adelaidebirthphotographer.com.au - said she only found out her work been taken down after being alerted by someone who had gone to the centre specifically to view it, and found it missing.

"I do appreciate and respect people's views on this photographic genre (birth), however I am saddened that the honour I had to capture and share this image can't be celebrated the same way as other genres - despite it being judged and awarded as a documentary image," she wrote in the post.

"What we do as birth photographers is greatly misunderstood and underrated by the general population.

"Sadly the minority who do go so far as to complain about the confrontational nature of this work has cost me and my very proud client our space at the SAIPPA Exhibition this year."

The move caused outrage online, with the mother depicted in the photograph launching a petition on activist website change.org.

"I find it upsetting that after the photo being accepted and awarded by the professional photographic industry in SA, that for whatever perceived reason, you had a need to censor such a natural and beautiful moment in mine and my family's life," she wrote.

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