The cover of Seve: His Life Through The Lens

Many of his favorite memories come from Seve Ballesteros, the charismatic Spaniard who transformed the Ryder Cup and won five major championships before passing away in 2011 at the age of 54 from brain cancer. The photos Cannon has taken of Ballesteros range from candid backstage photos at important moments to photos taken at his home.

To commemorate Ballesteros' life and the tremendous impact he had on golf, especially in Europe, Cannon compiled a photo book titled "Seve: His Life through the Lens", which was released in early May to coincide with the tenth anniversary of Seve Ballesteros' death.

"This book would not have been possible without the support of many amazing people", said Cannon, who photographs for Getty Images, in a press release featuring the book. “Seve was a true global icon and I saw and photographed him in many parts of the world, but it was the friends I made along the way who contributed to this book with images that I did not have. never seen before and that's what makes it so special. I hope Seve fans around the world will enjoy this book as much as I did while making it. "

Seve: His Life Through the Lens features previously unseen photos of Seve Ballesteros. (Courtesy of David Cannon)

The book includes a thank you letter from Ballesteros' son, Javier, and each chapter begins with a story from writer Robert Green, who has written two books on Spanish. There are also “Moment in Time” stories by Cannon, in which he reveals behind the scenes of some photos.

There are also stories from contemporaries of Seve Ballesteros, such as José Maria Olazábal and Nick Faldo.

"I look at two special photos and I think of a very special friend", wrote Olazábal. “I remember it perfectly (Pedreña 1984) because it was the first time I met Seve. I was just 18 and so of course I was in awe of “Seve the player” - the four-time Major champion - but the strongest impression I got from that day was his presence and his warmth as a player. that no one. "

Not all photos shown are those of Cannon. He preferred to include shots from many photographers in order to best present the visual history. Former Ballesteros caddy Billy Foster sees this book as a fitting tribute to the “The last of the great hitters and the ultimate warrior, the Pied Piper who captivated crowds with his magical little game that was second to none. "

The book, supported by the R&A and the European Tour, was published by Vision Sports Publishing and is available for £ 35 (approx. € 41) at www.sevethebook.com. There is also a special limited edition boxed version priced at £ 95 (€ 111) which includes a numbered print of the cover image of Ballesteros winning the British Open at St Andrews, signed by Cannon.