Monday, March 18, 2013

Yosef Karsh

Trying to capture someone's personality in one photograph has proved been a challenge to say the least.

One portrait has stood out to me as capturing a personality (or at least perceived personality) more than any other.

This is one of Winston Churchill and Yosef Karsh is the man that captured this image.


You can read the story of how he captured this image here.

As I have read his autobiographical sketch, the thing that struck me the most about his life was his gratitude.  His life was not without early struggles, but I think he always made the most of what he found himself with.  His hard work and studies paid off.  Opportunity presented itself, and he was ready when it did.

He first learned to work with found light in his mentor's studio in Boston and later learned about composing light to work the way he wanted when he became involved with a theater group in Ottawa.

All of the portraits I have seen of his work seem to capture a unique quality about each person.
Of portraits, Karsch said, ""My chief joy is to photograph the great in heart, in mind, and in spirit, whether they be famous or humble."

It is my goal to study more about him and apply what I learn to taking portraits.

Yosef Karsh lived from 1908 to 2002.

To learn about Yosef Karsh, visit his website:




No comments:

Post a Comment