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Yousuf
Karsh has had a very interesting life. The now
91-year-old Karsh was born in Turkish Armenia.
Karsh was just 14 when the family fled the horror
of genocide in Armenia for freedom in Syria,
with nothing but the belongings on their backs.
At the tender age of 16, Karsh's parents sent
him to Sherbrooke, Quebec, to live and work
with his uncle, George Nakash, a portrait photographer.
Recognizing his nephew's talent, Nakash sent
20-year-old Karsh to Boston in 1928 to study
with John H. Garo, one of the top portrait photographers
in America. His exposure to the powerful and
famous in Boston would leave an indelible impression
on the young man and determine the course of
his life. Young, talented and hungry, Karsh
returned to Canada and set up a humble studio
on Sparks Street in Ottawa. Eventually, he caught
the eye of Prime Minister Mackenzie King, who
took a liking to the relatively unknown photographer
and helped him snag visiting dignitaries for
portraits.
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