Yousuf Karsh, a find

Good Day,

On my recent vacation to rural Connecticut, I happened to stop at a "used book barn".
Browsing the used books in the photo section located in the lower darkly lit shelves collecting dust, I discovered the following text, "In Search of Greatness, Reflections of Yousuf Karsh."

This paper back book, which I purchased to add to my photographic library, was published in 1962 by the University of Toronto Press, selling for $1.95. I purchased it for $5.oo plus tax. Karsh's biography was a delight to read & insightful as well. His early life, the sorrows & happiness, were interesting. Karsh's mentors in life certainly sustained him.

His prints, for example of Robert Frost, was selling for approx $100 at that time as mentioned in the book. He identifies Churchill, Pope John, XXX111, Pablo Casals, Hellen Keller, Einstein & Schweitzer as his most "interesting" challenges just to name a few & that "Hollywood" types were the most "difficult".

His camera philosophy in a nut shell: The quality he looked for in a portrait is what he called, the "inner power" of the sitter. He stated that the "artists" job is to stir the emotions of the viewer & lay bare the soul of the subject. And the job of a photographer is to develop the skill of seeing his subject with one's eyes before he sees it though his camera.

I found this book to be an excellent "find" as well as a nice addition to my library.

Respectfully,

Raymond A. Bleesz

Photographer
Edwards, Co

Hi Raymond. Thanks for passing this on. It's nice to hear those thought between all the talk of equipment and technique. I am definitley going to try and find a copy for myself. Cheers.

I recently bought Karsh A Fifty-Year Retrospective for $2.00 at a garage sale.