When I think of Yousuf Karsh, I think of monumental portraits that belong in both museums and history books. Karsh documented the most powerful, popular, and culturally relevant icons of the 20th century.
Karsh learned the art of photography in a daylight studio in Boston--using available light in the day's early and late hours. He spent his lunch break walking the Boston Museum of Fine Art, where one would assume he absorbed the use of light and composition. Karsh also gained experience as the light designer in a theatre, which becomes apparent in his use of highly directed spot lighting. His portraits seem to accentuate elements of his subjects with extreme prejudice—a skill that is unbelievably difficult with digital, let alone film photographic processes.
Karsh's portrait of Winston Churchill, titled The Roaring Lion
Beyond lighting, Karsh also mastered the art of directing. The most famous account of this took place during WWII when the British commissioned Karsh to take a portrait of Winston Churchill. During the short portrait session, Karsh plucked a cigar out of Churchill's mouth, took an exposure, and captured Churchill's stern expression. The portrait became a symbol of Nazi defiance, but it's possible Churchill was simply annoyed that a photographer would be so bold as to remove a cigar from his mouth.
Finally, Karsh was a master in the darkroom. He didn’t create developer from a pre-packaged kit, he made his own from scratch. He had very specific requirements for processing. He used silver rich paper and applied gold tone to his prints, which gave prints subtle warmth.
Learn more about Karsh by visiting https://karsh.org.