Yousuf Karsh  Portrait Studio Master

Of all the photographers of the 20th Century, Armenian-born Yousuf Karsh is by far, my biggest inspiration. The expressions he captured and his lighting techniques set the level I’ve always reach for, but seldom (if ever) achieved. Yousuf Karsh, the portrait studio master, adored by many.

His is a story of the Canada I’m so proud of. Person escapes turmoil, arrives on the shores of our country, suitcase in hand, very little money, little if no family, and turning dreams into reality. Working in various portrait studios, before settling into his photography studio in Ottawa.

Karsh ( as his admirers know him ) at 17, arrived in Canada New Years Eve, 1925. His first look at Canada was the winter wharf of Halifax harbour. There he met his uncle (an established photographer ), who had traveled from Sherbrooke Quebec.

From his bio, at karsh.org.

“ We went up from the dock to the station in a taxi, the likes of which I had never seen. A sleigh-taxi drawn by horses. The bells on their harnesses never stopped jingling. The bells of the city rang joyously to mark a new year. The sparkling decorations on the windows of shops and houses. The laughing crowds. For me, it was an unbelievable fantasy come true. “

Imagine being on a boat for 29 days, on the Atlantic in December, traveling to a far off land and then experiencing this storybook scene. As a born and raised Canadian, I will never get to experience that part of Canada.

The Karsh story is a great one, I could type for hours, and only scratch the surface. For more go here.

Now let's meet some of his work.

I knew Karsh, long before I knew about Karsh. I had seen his portraits my whole childhood. Martin Luther King Jr., Humphrey Bogart, Albert Einstein, John & Jacqueline Kennedy, Alfred Hitchcock, Queen Elizabeth, Muhammad Ali, Elizabeth Taylor, Helen Keller. this list of people that sat in front of his cameras is endless. Here's a great gallery

Karsh is most famous for his portrait of Winston Churchill. Photographing people of power (self-imposed or otherwise) is a daunting task. Getting them to express themselves outside their usual statue like expressions is difficult. I’ll let this blogger here explain the iconic shot of Churchill here.
 

For me, my favorite Karsh portrait is of George Bernard Shaw. The lighting is Karsh. Notice the triangle shaped light on Shaw's right cheek. That is not a mistake or a fluke. It’s Karshesque. The forward lean, one ear, the raised eyebrows, the lighting levels on the jacket folds, all make for a great portrait. All make for my favorite Karsh.

If you’re undecided on a photography hero. Consider Yousuf Karsh.