Which Karsh B&W portrait is your favorite?

[SocalAstro]

Mine would have to be the portrait of the rock band Rush. It was my first introduction to Karsh when I was in college :-) It's a sentimental thing I suppose.


My GF and I are going to check out the exhibit next week sometime BTW.

-Leon

[JamesFromSydney]

I really love the George Bernard Shaw photo, and the story behind it. Apparently Shaw sat down and delivered a brief anecdote, then leaned to deliver the punchline, at which point Karsh took the shot.

3rd photo here.

[papah]

Ernest Hemingway.

My favorite, too:
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1986.1098.12

Especially since I have a framed letter from him signed:
"...from your not-so-great Uncle,
Ernest Hemingway,
Havana, 1955"

[Shen45]

I spent a very enjoyable period of time going through the "star" portraits by Karsh and watching the interview with his wife. My thanks to those that have posted links.

Here is a question someone may have an answer for. I presume the majority of the work Karsh produced was on 10x8 most likely from what I understand with a 14" Commercial Ektar probably in the 11 - 16 aperture range [pure guesses ]

How would that translate to a 5x4? - Roughly??

What lens, aperture etc?

His use of hard hot lights is just wonderful.

[debanjan]

Pablo Casal.. followed closely by that of Helen Keller and her associate.

[bob carnie]

I am a fan of Karsh, the image of Churchill being my favourite .

But not to be party pooper, a lot of his work to me at least seemed very staged and contrived, specifically all the silly positioning of the subjects hands.

All time best portrait photogapher for me would be August Sander . His work IMHO is much more potent.

[John T]

Ernest Hemingway.

Camera Obscura Gallery in Denver has one for sale

[Jay DeFehr]

Bob,

I too admire Sander, but I don't find his work comparable to Karsh's. Sander's work was documentary; a collective portrait of a people, while Karsh's portraits were decidedly individual, most of his subjects being notable personalities. I think Sander's work is more directly comparable to that of Lewis Hine, another favorite of mine.

[bob carnie]

Jay

The early work of Sander ,studio portraits of military and other elite sitters is very comparable to Karsh's work, different era of course but all the same very compelling.
He was forced to move in the more documentary style later in life, partly or wholly due to what was happening in Europe at the time.

btw, I do like Karsh's work as earlier stated , but I do not think his work stands up to Sander's.

Bob

Bob,

I too admire Sander, but I don't find his work comparable to Karsh's. Sander's work was documentary; a collective portrait of a people, while Karsh's portraits were decidedly individual, most of his subjects being notable personalities. I think Sander's work is more directly comparable to that of Lewis Hine, another favorite of mine.

[Don Dudenbostel]

To see Karsh's work in books is one thing but in person is another. It's amazing to say the least. I have a tough time deciding which is my favorite as there are so many that are stunning.

Another photographer that I consider comparable is Edward Steichen. I believe Steichen to be one of the finest if not the finest photographers of all time.