I was especially moved by
Barack Obama’s eloquent and moving testimonials to this great man.
"It was precisely because he could admit
to imperfection, because he was so full of good humor, even mischief despite
the heavy burdens that he carried, that we loved him so," Obama said.
"He was not a bust made of marble, he
was a man of flesh and blood, a son and a husband, a father and a friend, that
is why we have learned so much from him and that is why we can learn from him
still.”
I photographed Nelson Mandela
in London shortly after he was elected President and came to Europe to
encourage trade with the new South Africa. He had recently recovered from a
bout of illness, but you never would have known it during the press conference,
as he sparkled with charm and wit, and his deep felt passion for his beloved
country. He was the epitome of charisma and I felt very privileged to have been
that close to such a great man.
And it is to Nelson Mandela
that I owe a very personal thanks and gratitude. Because of the photograph I
took at the Happy 70th Birthday/Free Nelson Mandela concert at
Wembley Stadium in 1988, I became involved in one of the most exciting and
fulfilling photography projects I’ve ever worked on, ‘Wembley to Soweto’.
Thank you Madiba!
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