Yousef Karsh. 23 Dec 1908 – July 13 2002 (Died Age 93)

Born December 23, 1908 in the city of Mardin in the then Ottoman Empire which is now Turkey, he fled to escape persecution at the age of 14 eventually living with his Canadian photographer Uncle George Nakash. His father could neither read nor write but had exquisite taste, his mother was well read and an educated lady which was rare in those days. Seeing his nephew’s potential, he arranged an apprenticeship for him with the portrait photographer John Garo in Boston Massachusetts.

On his return to Canada he established a studio near to the Canadian seat of government in Ontario and was discovered by the Prime Minister Mackenzie King He was asked for portrait sittings with many visiting dignitaries. He rose to international fame after photographing a glowering Winston Churchill. He had just two minutes to photograph him and had removed the cigar from Churchill’s mouth which provoked the expression. The image captured was thought to capture the indomitable spirit of Britain and Churchill of the time.

Churchill said of Karsh that “He could make a roaring lion stand still to be photographed.” Karsh titled the picture “The Roaring Lion” however the picture taken immediately afterwards, as Churchill’s face broke into a smile, was Karsh’s favourite.



This picture was among the first to bear the copyright “Karsh of Ottawa.”

His hallmark incandescent theatrical lighting lionized his sitters, creating spectacular stirring portraits of his influential and powerful clients. Though he said his chief joy was to ‘photograph the great in heart, in mind and in spirit, whether they be famous or humble.’ He is notable for including hands in his pictures often lit to great effect.

“The endless fascination of these people for me lies in what I call their inward power. It is part of the elusive secret that hides in everyone, and it has been my life’s work to try to capture it on film. The mask we present to others and, too often, to ourselves may lift for only a second—to reveal that power in an unconscious gesture, a raised brow, a surprised response, a moment of repose. This is the moment to record.”

Karsh and Kermit from the book American Legends
Appearing with the Muppets, the modern day equivalent of being on the Simpsons.

He was deservedly called a master portraitist and is said to have bought honour to all Canadians, of the 100 notable people of the century, named by International Who’s Who (2000) Karsh had photographed 51 of them, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada and then promoted to Companion, equivalent to a knighthood. Canada Post used his images in a series of stamps released to honour the 100th anniversary of his birth. His traumatic early years left an indelible mark on his memory and in later life he was still remained grateful for small things like running water.

He closed his studio in1992 retiring to Boston in 1997. His archives were put in order in 1987 and acquired by the National Archives of Canada. He’d lived a particularly long and productive life, he’d passed on his skills to many research fellows who’d assisted him in the same way he’d helped John Garo and he found this particularly rewarding.

Karsh Pictures


Karsh the Man Biography