I have photographed Nelson Mandela many times in Zimbabwe and South Africa from 1990 to 2000.
There is much written about this man and more will be. I want to add my observations of him.
It was his gentleness that stunned me. He would talk to farms hands and Heads of State with the same warm respect. We photographers have learned to notice the difference between the politicians “grip n’ grin” in those terrible staples called “photo opps” and the real thing. Mandela would always be real. He seemed thrilled at the opportunity to be at an Agricultural show, a school or high-powered international conference. He would seek out ordinary people in a crowd that had patiently waited for a glimpse of him.
Let me give you an example from this series of images. There is one image of Mandela kissing a little girl taken at the University of Zimbabwe in 1990. He had been out of prison for three weeks. There were formal speeches and he received an honorary doctorate from the University. The ceremony had run its course and the press were rushing out the door to make their deadlines. I had the privilege of staying behind, as my photo agency did not work on a daily deadline. Mandela requested all the kids in the audience to come up and say “hello”. The audience instantly erupted into beautiful four-part harmonies that seemed to make the floor reverberate; kids ran to him and there were kisses, laughter and chaos. It is well known, Mandela was in awe of children and he loved their precious innocence.
Mandela has come to signify human nature at its most compassionate.