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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