Karsh


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David Sarnoff, 1946 by Yousuf Karsh

Another cracking portrait by Mr. Karsh, which is not done any justice here in such a small size but is spectacular blown up!  

"Throughout most of his career he led the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) in various capacities from shortly after its founding in 1919 until his retirement in 1970."

Detail - what is this he is holding? 

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Albert Einstein, 1948 by Yousuf Karsh

It is the 100th anniversary of Einstein's Theory of General Relativity. Yousuf Karsh photographed Einstein at Princeton in 1948.

"At Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study, I found Einstein a simple, kindly, almost childlike man, too great for any of the postures of eminence. One did not have to understand his science to feel the power of his mind or the force of his personality. He spoke sadly, yet serenely, as one who had looked into the universe, far past mankind's small affairs. When I asked him what the world would be like were another atomic bomb to be dropped, he replied wearily, "Alas, we will no longer be able to hear the music of Mozart.""

The lovely Herman Leonard assisted Mr. Karsh on this photo shoot! Herman became one of the greatest jazz photographers of all time.

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Albert Einstein, 1948 by Yousuf Karsh

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Pierre Trudeau, 1968 by Yousuf Karsh

Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968, to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980, to June 30, 1984. Karsh photographed him during both his tenures. His son, Justin Trudeau, was just elected PM this week. 

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Pierre Trudeau, 1982 by Yousuf Karsh

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Ronald Reagan, 1980 by Yousuf Karsh

I'm surprised I haven't posted Ronald Reagan before. Jimmy Carter prompted me to do so. Here are a couple of Ronnie from 1980, photographed in colour as well as b/w. Which do you prefer?

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Ronald Reagan looking high-brow, by Yousuf Karsh

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Jimmy Carter, 1981 by Yousuf Karsh

Just one of the several black and white portraits of Jimmy Carter that Karsh made in 1981. Karsh photographed a whole twelve US presidents, coming out of retirement for the 12th: Bill Clinton

Today is Carter's 91st birthday. Check out this piece on WNYC's The Takeaway, 'What Life Would Be Like if Jimmy Carter Won a Second Term.' "The Supreme Court might be a lot more liberal. Environmental protections might be stronger." He lost, of course, to Ronald Reagan

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Princess Elizabeth, 1951 by Yousuf Karsh

The Bank of Canada honored the historic reign of Queen Elizabeth on September 9th, 2015, with the launch of a commemorative bank note. The note is a variation of the existing $20, and features this portrait from 1951 of then-Princess Elizabeth, by Yousuf Karsh. The same photo, with her tiara removed, was previously used for the 1954 Canadian Landscape series as well as for a commemorative note in 1967 marking Canada's centennial.  

If you like that sort of thing you can read more about the new note, and Canada's bank note history, in this interesting article. 

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Walt Disney, 1956, by Yousuf Karsh

Just because. Walt Disney by Yousuf Karsh.

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Pat Robertson, 1982, by Yousuf Karsh

Pat Robertson from the Karsh archives. 

Marion Gordon "Pat" Robertson is an American media mogul, executive chairman, and a former Southern Baptist minister, who generally supports conservative Christian ideals. 

"In late 1976, Robertson predicted that the end of the world was coming in October or November 1982. In a May 1980 broadcast of The 700 Club he stated, "I guarantee you by the end of 1982 (the year he was photographed by Karsh) there is going to be a judgment on the world.""

"In September 2011, Robertson and several others who incorrectly predicted various dates for the end of world were jointly awarded an Ig Nobel Prize for "teaching the world to be careful when making mathematical assumptions and calculations."

See also: Billy Graham.

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Robert Oppenheimer, 1956 by Yousuf Karsh

"Dr Oppenheimer greeted me warmly, in 1956, at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton... I detected in this famous scientist a certain brittleness and I thought that the record of deep suffering was written plainly on his face. After his experiences, this was hardly surprising."

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Charlton Heston, 1956, by Yousuf Karsh

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Charlton Heston's son, Fraser, played the young Moses in the Ten Commandments.

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Yousuf Karsh with Charlton Heston and Cecil B. DeMille, on set, by Malak Karsh.

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Bonus later colour photo of Mr. Heston


Lights, camels, action! 

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