Clive Barda was born in 1945 on a British ship at sea on its way from Alexandria to Cyprus. He grew up in Alexandria to an English mother and a French father. His mother was Christian and his father was Jewish. His father converted to the Church of Scotland in Egypt after his marriage, but on Jewish festivals brought Jewish foods home. Clive attended boarding school in England from 1954 and is an acclaimed photographer, specialising in the photography of classical musicians.