In Search of Greatness

Yousuf Karsh (1908-2002) was an Armenian-Canadian photographer and one of the masters of 20th century photography. His body of work includes portraits of statesmen, artists, musicians, authors, scientists, and men and women of accomplishment. His extraordinary and unique portfolio presents the viewer with an intimate and compassionate view of humanity.
Yousuf Karsh (1908-2002) was an Armenian-Canadian photographer and one of the masters of 20th century photography. His body of work includes portraits of statesmen, artists, musicians, authors, scientists, and men and women of accomplishment. His extraordinary and unique portfolio presents the viewer with an intimate and compassionate view of humanity.

"Through In Search of Greatness we see a man who will work for days until he is satisfied with an expression, a shrewd psychologist who can draw out his subject and capture his personality on film, a technician who insists that the tiniest detail of a reproduction be accurate; a man who demands perfection."

"This is an intimate little book, sad and happy, a personal reminiscence aware of his weaknesses as well as his driving strengths. The book's deepest strengths are when he pauses along the way to discuss not some photographic coup but a portion of his philosophy or, more gaily, the fun of facing life's challenges. Yousuf Karsh's ability has indeed enabled him to meet the great and to learn something of the why of them and pass it own. This experience and insight helps to make this a good book."

"Karsh's autobiography tells dozens of anecdotes of his experiences in making photographs of the great men of the world, but the reader cannot help feel not just the greatness of his subjects, but the greatness of the photographer himself. . . . some of his skill with the camera moves over into his writing. Often his stories are as revealing of the subject as are his photographs."