Regarding Heroes

What do Ernest Hemingway, Audrey Hepburn and Helen Keller all have in common? They all were photographed by an extraordinary photographer Yousuf Karsh. Although his name isn’t familiar to most, his photographs certainly are. Not only did he photograph these iconic figures but he has also photographed many others, which can be seen at the Chicago Art Insatiate exhibit titled "Yousuf Karsh: Regarding Heroes."

This exhibit is one that should not be missed. What makes this exhibit a “must see” is not only the rarity of one hundred iconic photographs seen together in one place, but the ability of Yousuf’s black and white photos which capture each individual’s personalities. I found myself mesmerized by each photo I observed. The photos that were taken by Yousuf in the exhibit compared to photography of today are much simpler. Compared to all the technology and techniques that photographers in our generation use now, there is still something truly amazing about Yousuf’s photos. What makes them so unique is not only Yousuf’s famous usage of lighting and posing his iconic subjects but how he manages to capture his subject’s individual personalities precisely.

One of my favorite photographs in the exhibit was a photo of Helen Keller. The photograph was taken in 1948, when she was 68 years old. She is photographed with her head resting in her hands while her eyes are closed. One of the reasons I was so attracted to this photo of Helen Keller in the beginning was because I don’t believe I have ever seen Helen Keller photographed in her later years. Not only I was attracted to this photo because of the year it was taken but because it truly captured what I have learned Helen Keller to be. While observing this photograph, it is known that Helen Keller has struggled through a lot in her lifetime and yet it shows her so content and peaceful. Most photographers' work I have seen, in my opinion, can rarely capture such an extraordinary complexity.

Another photograph that I enjoyed was of Jacqueline Kennedy. In my opinion any photo of Jacqueline Kennedy is amazing. Unlike the tons of photographs I have seen of Jacqueline Kennedy, this particular photograph is different. Jacqueline is standing in front of some short of a Japanese decorative screen .She is wearing a gorgeous embroidered strapless gown. She is not looking directly into the camera lens. While her head is turning to the right a little and her eyes are looking further to right. It captures a simpler Jacqueline Kennedy that isn’t always captured in photos. Although she is in a stunning gorgeous gown and in front of a gorgeous Japanese screen, Yousuf captured a more simplistic image of the first lady herself. This is one of the reasons I was so attracted to this photograph.

Although Yousuf Karsh name isn’t that familiar to a large audience, his photographs were recognizable. I highly recommend any one to go see this phenomenal work of one man's portfolio of captured iconic heroes. Yousuf Karsh; Regarding Heroes is currently at The Art Institute of Chicago and is running through April 26, 2009. For more information you can visit http://www.artic.edu/aic/