20/05/2026
16 May 2022.
An afternoon I will never forget with Festus Mogae.
I walked into his office carrying cameras and creative direction, but left carrying perspective. Being in his presence felt calm, intentional and deeply human. Between the portraits were conversations that made the session feel less like work and more like sitting with a man whose life had quietly shaped a nation.
At one point during the shoot, he reached for a book from his office library — a signed copy of Churchill: A Biography by Roy Jenkins. Watching him hold it felt symbolic. Winston Churchill’s story is often tied to resilience, leadership under pressure and carrying responsibility through difficult times. In many ways, those same qualities defined Rre Mogae’s stewardship of Botswana — steady, thoughtful leadership that prioritized stability, discipline and long-term vision.
What stayed with me most was not power or status, but presence. The quiet confidence. The attentiveness. The humility.
As the evening softened, we stepped outside into his garden for the final portraits. The sun wrapped around him gently as he strolled around in the fading light, reflective and at peace. Looking back now, that final frame feels even more meaningful.
Some portraits become more than photographs.
They become memories of being close to history while it was still breathing.
