Yosaf Karsh

Early Life

• Karsh was born on 1908 to two Armenian parents.

• Karsh came to Canada on New years eve of 1925 from Syria. He came to Canada due to the genocide of Christian Armenians by the Turk government.

Young Karsh

Starting Out• Karsh lived with his photographer uncle George Nakash.• He attended school for a bit but mostly assisted his uncle in the studio.• George arranged for a famous photographer John Garo to let Karsh apprentice

with him. • After his apprentice work Karsh opened his own studio in Ottawa where he began

taking portraits of famous people.

Yousaf Karsh and his mentor John Garo

Karsh in Ottawa• In Ottawa, Karsh was discovered by Prime Minister McKenzie King. Who arranged portraits sittings with

visiting leaders from other countries.

McKenzie King by Yousaf Karsh

Winston Churchill• On December 30th, 1941 Karsh photographed Winston Churchill , the

prime minister of the United Kingdom. • This is Karsh’s favourite portrait he ever done as it shows a mean fierce

Churchill leading a country into battle.• The story goes that Churchill gave Karsh 2 minutes to photograph him. In

that time Churchill had a cigar in his mouth that he wouldn’t take out so Karsh went up to Churchill and said “forgive me, sir” and took out Churchill's cigar this explains the fierce mad look on Churchill's face.

Winston Churchill by Yousaf Karsh, titled “The Roaring Lion”

Karsh with Albert Einstein Albert Einstein

Pope John Paul 2nd with Karsh

Awards• Doctor of law: Queens university, Kingston Ontario• Doctor of law: Carleton university, Ottawa• Canada Council medal: 1969• Medal of Royal Canadian arts: 1975• medal of merit: 1989• Gold medal of merit: 1991• Presented to the combined house of the Canadian parliament: 1995• Companion of the order of Canada: 1990• Master of photography award: 1990

Conclusion• Yousaf Karsh is one of the most famous portrait photographers ever. He

has done thousands of portraits of many different types of people. • For over 60 years Karsh photographed the major international figures in

the 20th century. Karsh photographed important world leaders, scientists and celebrities. Karsh’s use of lighting skills and black and white photography made his portraits very unique.

• His portraits are permanent collections of the National Gallery of Canada, New York’s museum of modern art and National Portrait Gallery in London and many others.

• Karsh retired in 1992 at the age of 83 and went to live in Boston for 12 years where he died at the age of 93.

Karsh near retirement