Karsh-style portraits in the Big Apple

Yousuf Karsh was a brilliant photographer who lived and worked in Ottawa throughout the mid- to late 20th century. He would have turned 100 in December and to celebrate his work, the Portrait Gallery of Canada is holding a celebration from June 12 through September 13 called Festival Karsh.

Ontario Tourism & Ottawa Tourism co-sponsored the refreshments at the April Canadian Tourism Commission Marketplace for American journalists and Canadian tourism representatives, and brought brilliant photographer Gary Crallé to take people's photos à la Karsh -- in black and white, with dramatic highlights and shadows. Participants could peruse a selection of famous Karsh shots beforehand -- Winston Churchill, Muhammad Ali, Jacqueline Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn, Albert Einstein, Prince Charles, etc. -- then recreate the pose themselves.

And for the results:

http://picasaweb.google.com/OTcommunications/KarshLikePhotosAtCanadaMediaMarketplace?authkey=Gv1sRgCKTNpaicqpDgOA&feat=directlink

A web story about a previous overnight stay I experienced in the 'Karsh suite', Ottawa, Canada can be viewed at the Olympus PDN Visionage website. Scroll down to the B&W photo of the waiter in Behind the Shot:
http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/cp/olympus/behindtheshot/index.jsp