There were so many heart wrenching, bitter sweet moments leading up to the pictures you see here. However the one that I must share was a message from the Design Manager at Penguin Random House, my dearest friend #BevDodd. 

My memory takes me to the first day of the photo shoot for the book. I had communicated that I preferred not to be involved in the creative process. There was simply no more emotion left inside of me. By this time I had completed the manuscript, couriered the props from Dubai to Cape Town for the shoot and lastly, painfully…went through the photographs of my father that would be used for the book. I broke down completely a few days before submitting the photographs. I couldn’t continue, I was done. For months I refused to look at his photographs, the last visible and  personal trace of him were his fingerprints… on the death certificate. After seeing that, I vowed I would never allow myself to look at any of his photographs again… I received a message from Bev asking me to allow her to send only the first photograph they had styled and shot. She echoed: “just one”. She explained that if I approved the first one, it would give her an indication that they were on the right track. I agreed and as soon as the whatsapp pic came through, something stirred inside of me! All I saw was colour!

His book was literally coming to  life and the story of his life, was coming to life. For a moment I thought I heard a whisper beckoning me…”Come with me!” – a transcendent moment and one that I am eternally grateful for as Beverley Dodd allowed me to experience the birth of my father’s book in full blown colour, because one photograph turned into two and then three….and then there was a BOOK! 

#blessedarethosewhobelieve #Bev #samesameandyetsodifferent #lisaclark #nigeldeary #somuchloveforyou