Josef Karsh, Photographer

It is regarded as one of the most famous portraits ever made by the greatest portrait photographer ever. Josef Karsh, also known as Karsh of Ottawa.

Over his lifetime he made over 15,000 portraits. But this portrait of Sir Winston Churchill stands out. Churchill was a bulldog of a Prime Minister known for his surliness and determination and this picture captures it all. It didn’t just happen. This quick, true story spells out exactly how this world-famous portrait was accomplished. 

Karsh was hired to do this portrait and knew he would have very little time to make the picture. He began by researching Churchill, taking notes on all of the Minister’s habits, quirks, attitudes and tendencies. When he finally got Churchill seated in the chair, with lights blazing, Churchill snapped, 

“You have two minutes. And that’s it, two minutes.”

Karsh asked the man to remove the cigar in his mouth. Churchill didn’t budge. Karsh knew he wouldn’t and, with a shutter release cable in hand, he walked up to the side of Churchill and yanked the cigar from his mouth. Church stiffened and growled as SNAP went the shutter and Karsh knew he had the portrait he wanted. 

Soon it became world famous.