His Life Through The Lens

Fergus Bisset delves into David Cannon’s superb book celebrating the life of a sporting icon

Ten years on from the untimely death of golfing great Seve Ballesteros, leading photographer David Cannon of Getty Images has produced an incredible book charting the Spaniard’s life in golf.

Seve’s journey from ‘Boy of Pedrena’ to ‘Golfing Icon’ is conveyed by many of the most memorable and stirring photographs taken of him by Cannon and others, accompanied by fabulous commentary from David, as well as excellent essays penned by renowned golf writer Robert Green. The book has been produced with the support of The R&A, The European Tour and The Seve Ballesteros Foundation.

What is perhaps most striking about the selection of images in this beautiful 176-page book is just what a showman and personality Seve was. His spirit and spark leaps from each page, whether it’s a shot of him simply grinning into the lens or one where he’s completing an almost ridiculously flamboyant swing in a pair of dazzling green slacks. It’s a superb reminder of a fabulous sporting life, lived to the utmost.

Green’s excellent essays on Seve’s life and career provide good reading within the photo-led sections, which themselves feature fascinating commentary and context on the images from Cannon. Also featured are a number of ‘Moments in Time’ where Cannon explains the significance of the image or images included, and how they came about.

The most famous photos of Seve must be the ones Cannon took of him holing the winning putt in the 1984 Open at St Andrews – letting out a roar of joy before repeatedly punching the air like a triumphant matador.

Cannon explains that he was pretty certain he had captured something great, but it’s interesting to read that, in those pre-digital days, it wasn’t until the following morning, when he returned to his offices in London, that he could be sure of what he had – one of golf’s most iconic images.

Those frames might stand out, but there are so many more incredible photos. Among the best are a fabulous image of a disgruntled Seve battling the elements in the 1985 Open; his strange decision to wear two hats at Royal Birkdale in 1991; another fist-pumping celebration in the 1992 Turespana Open De Baleares; looking like a young film star while practising at Royal St George’s in 1976… and basically anything of him at the Ryder Cup!

There are great reminders of Seve’s sense of humour, too, and the larger-than-life personality that made him so popular. Images of him playing trick shots, having a go at cricket and even giving a quick playing lesson to Sacha Distel will all raise a smile.

Some of the pictures are familiar, but there are so many amazing gems featured – any fan of golf, Seve or simply great photography will find it brilliant to just flick through. But dig a little deeper and, with the addition of fine words from Cannon and Green, together with messages from Martin Slumbers of The R&A and the European Tour’s Keith Pelley, the book gives a comprehensive and insightful account of one of golf’s greatest figures.

To buy a copy of this fabulous book, visit golfmonthly.com/seve