A new book about the life of Seve Ballesteros is being launched next month to coincide with the tenth anniversary of his death.
‘Seve: His Life through the Lens’ has been compiled by Getty Images photographer David Cannon, doyen of golf photographers and long-time admirer and friend of the colourful Spaniard and former world No.1, who died aged 54 on May 7, 2011.
They first met when Cannon played in a Pro-am at the Leicestershire Golf Club and was drawn with an unknown Spanish golfer who spoke little English but could drive the ball 330 yards and play all manner of outrageous shots. Barely two months later, the young Spaniard led The Open at Royal Birkdale after three rounds and was on his way to becoming golfing royalty worldwide.
“My biggest aspiration for the book is that it captures not only the life and times of Seve, but his unique charisma and spirit…his pride and passion,” said Cannon, who tells the story of how he captured the now iconic images of Seve celebrating a birdie on the 18th green at St Andrews in 1984 to win his second Open title.
As well as photographs from Cannon’s portfolio and Getty Images’ archives, the book features many of the finest action images and portraits taken by other renowned golf photographers of Seve during a career that embraced 95 tournament victories around the world.
The book opens with a moving ‘Thank You’ letter written by his eldest son Javier and on behalf of his brother Miguel and sister Carmencita. The Ballesteros family have also supplied a number of previously unpublished family portraits of them with their famous father.
Cannon added: “This book would not have been possible without these generous contributions of the Ballesteros family, plus the invaluable support of both the R&A and the European Tour, and the book also contains forewords written by their respective CEOs – Martin Slumbers and Keith Pelley.”
Each chapter begins with an essay by renowned golf writer Robert Green, author of two books on Ballesteros and includes a ‘Moment in Time’ piece by Cannon where he reveals some of the background stories behind some of his favourite images of Seve. The book concludes with Sir Nick Faldo describing how his great rival acquired legendary status in the game and Jose Maria Olazábal paying tribute to a ‘very special friend’.
Published by Vision Sports Publishing, Seve: His Life through the Lens will retail at £35, or £120 for a collectors’ boxed version. This special limited run edition of just 1,000 includes a numbered art print (285mm x 210mm) of the front cover image of Seve winning The Open at St Andrews, signed by David Cannon.
For more details, visit www.sevethebook.com