Comments on: Foto Week DC Starts Tomorrow

By: Don Cudney

Don Cudney — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:26:23 +0000

I laugh whenever a photographer (including myself) believes they have created something “original” and then we realize Karsh was “doing it” over 50 years ago. In my opinion…the best portrait photographer to date!

By: Joe Meadows

Joe Meadows — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:53:47 +0000

Karsh created photographs his sitters loved. Churchill in a moment of determination and power, and with every nuanced look he brought out the inner character of the people who sat before his lens.

He may have been the Greatest Portrait photographer of the 20th Century.

There is no doubt in the sheer volume of the important figures that craved the attention a Karsh Portrait gave them. They all knew, at that moment in time, he would record them for History. His brilliance became a reflection of their own genius. Having Karsh do a portrait meant that you had achieved a certain level of importance and greatness, maybe even vanity. For Canada he is a National Treasure, and for the rest of us mere mortal photographers he is a virtuoso with a view camera.

By: Ed Hamlin

Ed Hamlin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:07:29 +0000

It is interesting how focus can be changed, I caught myself not even acknowledging the finalist for Fotoweek DC. Nice! Congrats to the winners.

By: Ed Hamlin

Ed Hamlin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:04:00 +0000

Great snippet on a great eye and talent, love the aesthetics of using black and white. I have know a little about Karsh from when I started out. The photos of Eisenhower and Kennedy intrigued me when I was research a paper for school. Loved the contrast, the power in the images.

By: Victor John Penner

Victor John Penner — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:06:37 +0000

@k4kafka,

I think that comes with his process. Hot lights, slow film, large format/sdof. Maybe Karsh wanted to control these powerful people, these leaders, have them obey him?

I don’t know. Personally I have never been a fan but I found the trailer interesting and would like to see this film.

By: k4kafka

k4kafka — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:52:53 +0000

Very little humanity on view here. Karsh succeeded in turning all his subjects into stiff wax museum figures.