About the book

How the book was created and why it is unique

While preparing this book, I reviewed 67,622 frames of 35mm film. I deliberately selected new, previously unpublished photographs, while also making sure to include several “icons” — such as the photograph of President Václav Havel caught off guard by a tidal wave on the Atlantic coast, which was awarded at World Press Photo 1991, or the photograph of Václav Havel walking away along a sandy beach in Portugal.

I decided to publish the book at my own expense. Distribution is handled largely without intermediaries, so that the final price remains accessible to all interested readers. During April–May 2016, the book was additionally offered as a pre-order at a discounted price.

With the photobook “Václav Havel – Tomki Němec, Photographs.” I close “my chapter” dedicated to this exceptional person. Incidentally — the period after the word Photographs on the book cover is not a mistake. It is a real full stop, marking the end of my extraordinary life story connected with Václav Havel.