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Yousuf Karsh

Yousuf Karsh Quotes

Photographer

Yousuf Karsh was a renowned Canadian photographer, famous for his portrait photography. His works are known for their exquisite technique and profound portrayal of human character. Born in Adana, Turkey, Karsh immigrated to Canada and began his photography career there.

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Famous Yousuf Karsh Quotes

“My personal interest in ordinary people is unlimited, but I am fascinated by the challenge of portraying true greatness adequately with my camera.”

People Interest Challenges Greatness Ordinary Cameras Fascinated Unlimited Ordinary People Portraying Personal Interest True Greatness

Book:In Search of Greatness: Reflections of Yousuf Karsh

Source: In Search of Greatness: Reflections of Yousuf Karsh

“I've also seen that great men are often lonely. This is understandable, because they have built such high standards for themselves that they often feel alone. But that same loneliness is part of their ability to create.”

Men Feels Ability Loneliness Standards Built Lonely Great Men Being Alone Being Lonely High Standards Loneliness And Solitude I Am Lonely Lonely Feeling Lonely And Alone Alone Lonely Alone Life I Feel Lonely

Author:Yousuf Karsh

“Look and think before opening the shutter. The heart and mind are the true lens of the camera.”

“Within every man and woman a secret is hidden, and as a photographer it is my task to reveal it if I can.”

Ifs Men I Can Secret Photography Men And Women Tasks Photographer Every Man

Book:Regarding Heroes

Source: Regarding Heroes

“Character, like a photograph, develops in darkness.”

Inspirational Character Darkness Photography Photographer Photograph Photography By Photographers Inspirational Photography

Author:Yousuf Karsh

“I have found that great people do have in common. . .an immense belief in themselves and in their mission. They also have gerat determination as well as an ability to work hard. At the crucial moment of decision, they draw on their accumulated wisdom. Above all, they have integrity.”

People Wells Hard Moments Found Belief Ability Decision Common Hard Work Integrity Draws Determination Missions Crucial Immense Great People Crucial Moments

Author:Yousuf Karsh

“There is a brief moment when all there is in a man's mind and soul and spirit is reflected through his eyes, his hands, his attitude. This is the moment to record”

Men Mind Soul Moments Hands Eye Spirit Attitude Records Positive Attitude His Eyes Brief Moments

Book:In Search of Greatness: Reflections of Yousuf Karsh

Source: In Search of Greatness: Reflections of Yousuf Karsh

“If it's a likeness, alone, it's not a success. If, through my portraits, you can come to know the subjects more meaningfully, if it synthesizes your feelings toward someone whose work has imprinted itself on your mind--if you see a photograph and say, 'Yes, this is the person,' with a little new insight--that is a beautiful experience.”

Ifs Knows Mind Littles Persons Feelings Beautiful Subjects Photography Photographer Photograph Insight Portraits Beautiful Experiences

Author:Yousuf Karsh

“I try to photograph people's spirits and thoughts. As to the soul-taking by the photographer, I don't feel I take away, but rather that the sitter and I give to each other. It becomes an act of mutual participation.”

People Giving Feels Trying Soul Spirit Photography Photographer Photograph Mutual Participation

Author:Yousuf Karsh

“The trouble with photographing beautiful women is that you never get into the dark room until after they've gone.”

Beautiful Dark Rooms Gone Trouble Photographer Beautiful Women Dark Room Darkroom

Author:Yousuf Karsh

“Within every man and woman a secret is hidden, and as a photographer it is my task to reveal it if I can. The revelation, if it comes at all, will come in a small fraction of a second with an unconscious gesture, a gleam of the eye, a brief lifting of the mask that all humans wear to conceal their innermost selves from the world. In that fleeting interval of opportunity the photographer must act or lose his prize.”

Ifs Men World Humans I Can Self Eye Opportunity Loses Secret Men And Women Tasks Photographer Every Man Revelations Unconscious Mask Prize Gestures Fleeting Lifting Fractions Intervals Gleam

Book:Regarding Heroes

Source: Regarding Heroes

“My chief joy is to photograph the great in heart, in mind, and in spirit, whether they be famous or humble.”

Mind Heart Joy Spirit Photograph Humble Chiefs

Book:Yousuf Karsh

Source: Yousuf Karsh

“The art is the challenge which you must meet every day: the technique you should learn to control with time. The science and the art of photography are really one, and not opposed to each other.”

Should Art Challenges Photography Art Is Technique

Author:Yousuf Karsh

“It should be the aim of every photographer to make a single exposure that shows everything about the subject. I have been told that my portrait of Churchill is an example of this.”

Should Has Beens Shows Subjects Example Aim Photographer Portraits Exposure

Author:Yousuf Karsh

“We may never be able to pay directly for the gifts of true friendship - but pay we must, even though we make our payment to someone who owes us nothing, in some other place and at some other time.”

May Able Pay True Friend Payment True Friendship

Book:Karsh: A Biography in Images

Source: Karsh: A Biography in Images

“If there is a single quality that is shared by all great men, it is vanity. But I mean by vanity only that they appreciate their own worth. Without this kind of vanity they would not be great. And with vanity alone, of course, a man is nothing.”

Ifs Men Kind Mean Courses Quality Appreciate Vanity Great Men

Author:Yousuf Karsh

About the Author

Born: December 23, 1908
Died: July 13, 2002
Known for: Photographer
Quotes: 16

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Photographer Photography Men Photograph Ifs Mind People Spirit Ability Beautiful

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

In Search of Greatness: Reflections of Yousuf KarshRelated source material

Regarding HeroesRelated source material

Karsh: A Biography in ImagesRelated source material

Yousuf KarshRelated source material

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