I’ve wanted to create a photo post–I’ve been camping and chasing waterfalls–but my camera is in the shop for repairs. Instead, I’ll share the work by a few favorite portraitists:
Yousuf Karsh (1908-2002)
Yousuf Karsh Portraits Thank God for Uncle Nakash in Ottawa who received Yousuf in 1925. His displaced Armenian parents sent him to Canada for a better life. “If my first day at Sherbrooke High School proved a dilemma for the teachers—in what grade did one place a seventeen-year-old Armenian boy who spoke no English, who wanted to be a doctor, and who came armed only with good manners?” Yousuf’s uncle was an established photographer and Yousuf learned the basics. After opening his own studio in 1931, who sits for him other than Winston Churchill, catapulting Yousuf’s career. I like his shots because they show personality. Yousuf’s website
Annie Leibovitz (1949- )
I don’t often wish I were someone else, but Annie’s life is pretty amazing. Did you know she’s deemed a living legend? She thought she wanted to be a painter but became interested in photography in 1970. A new magazine came out called Rolling Stone and the editor liked her portfolio and made her a photographer for the magazine. What was her first assignment? John Lennon–how lucky is that?
She’s famous for her staging; there’s movement in the frozen image. Have you seen her collection featuring stars as Disney characters? I think they are beautiful.
Queen Latifa as Ursula, The Little Mermaid. You can learn more about her here: Annie Leibovitz
Gregory Heisler (1954- )
Famous for his 70 + Time Magazine cover shots, his mastery of shadow and light and wide variety of businessmen, officals, and athletes make him an exceptional portraitist. Gregory Heisler website
Do you like Mark Seliger’s work?
The saying “a picture is worth a thousand words” is clear when a portraitist captures the spirit of a person. Do you have a memorable portrait you love or photographer for whose work you are drawn?
Cindy Bruchman 
What a brilliant post.
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Ta, Alex. Just sharing true artistry. 🙂
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Simply a wonderful set of portraits! Kudo, Cindy 🙂
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Annie is my favorite of all. I would love to sit in on one of her shoots. Thanks, Michael.
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Brilliant post Cindy.
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Hi, Vinnieh! Any iconic portrait over the years that sticks with you?
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Not one in particular, but I do love the work of Cecil Beaton.
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Ohhh, nice call, Vinnieh! Great shots of Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, and Grace Kelly among others.
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Even with the basics solidly in place I doubt I could do what this guy did.
In a league of his own.
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Which one, my friend? Yousuf? Gregory? I ♥ them all.
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I’ve thought about doing something like this on my site. I love photography, especially celebrity portraits! Nice post!
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Hi Ms. Cool — there are so many fine artists out there. There are also those one-hit wonders that everyone recognizes like the 1984 Afghan refugee girl on the cover of National Geographic by Robert Capa or Dorthea Lange with her Depression era shot of the mother and kids–I’d be very interested in knowing what inspires you–your favorites?
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Wow some amazing pictures here!
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Hi Abbi,
Thanks–wish I could take credit for them. Too many others out there worth mentioning–it was hard to name only three. 🙂
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Thanks – Heisler is a discovery for me.
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Hi! Thanks for stopping by to comment. I was investigating and realized a lot of his work I was aware of but didn’t put the name to the artistry. 🙂
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Great images, Cindy. I love so many of them but the DiCaprio one is a beauty. Love the Jeff Bridges one too.
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Ta, Mark 🙂 Yes, DiCaprio is prettier than most women. The black and white is stunning. Jeff–what a grisly, delightful man. I’d love to hang out with him over a pint or three.
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Awesome stuff Cindy. Annie Leibovitz is simply a genius. Her work for Disney is incredible, wish I could afford buying the originals, I’d line up my basement w/ all those photos!
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Oops. Thought I answered you. Yes! I love the whole series. All our favorite stars, too. My favorites are Cinderella with Scarlett Johansson and this one here with Queen Latifa. They are stunning. Yes, our basements would be awesome–the best “girl-caves” ever 🙂
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Some amazing photos here. Thanks Cindy.
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I wish I could claim ownership 😉 Thanks Dave
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I really enjoyed this post, finally getting to know who the photographers of these iconic portraits were.
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Thank you, Malcolm — so many out there worth mentioning. Glad you stopped by 🙂
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What an incredibly engaging post, Cindy–I’m wholly captivated by the gorgeous photos. It’s so clear to see why these photographers are considered artists. Wow, to have a third eye like they do must be quite magical.
Last night, I watched the film Lincoln (finally!) and was so taken aback with the cinematography in one area: the profile poses of a thinking Lincoln. I was drawn in like a magnet. It was brilliant.
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Hiya Shelley–good call, there with Lincoln. Spielberg manages to settle in on poses like a portraitist–you are so right and I hadn’t really thought of that before. I think of Wes Anderson films when I think of posing. I like films that allow you to drink in and savor all the complexities of the composition–like good Scotch 😉
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Boy, did you nail my favorite word. Someone needs to do a series on the life of a single malt. If Rabbie Burns were still alive and could only operate a camera …
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I love these iconic portraits. It’s amazingly intimate you have to get with people to let their true inner self shine.
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They have a knack, for sure. I wish I were a portrait photographer. We all do selfies, and the art of a portrait seems to have gone out the window.
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Yes, selfies are a weird phenomenon.
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What a unique post. Really enjoyed it, I even checked out the websites of Yousuf Karsh & Mark Seliger, as well as the link of photographer Annie Leibovitz. And what an interesting contrast between the classic pics by Karsh and the modernist styles of Leibovitz. Love Leibovitz.’s work most from here. I’d like to add Andy Warhol, his Pop-art and post-modernist photography were both equally impressive and trés unique.
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Hi Nuwansen. Glad you’re back from Australia. Congrats to your sister. Thanks for taking the time to peruse the sites I discovered these formidable portraitists. Leibovitz is very special and sensual and I’m glad you mentioned Andy Warhol–he deserves a post all to himself. 🙂
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Thanks!!! And true, Warhol does deserve a post to himself.
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Awesome post Condy, absolutely love that Jeff Bridges photo.
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Hi Chris! Thanks for popping by. Yes, I love the Jeff Bridges shot, too. I think it’s the real heart of the man we see in the black and white–the ruffled hair, the contrast of I don’t care with high intelligence–wish I could claim ownership of the shot.
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That photo of Kurt is positively haunting. Thanks for sharing these fascinating portraits with us Cindy.
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I love that picture of Cobain. I can see his soul in his eyes. I wish I could take credit for the shot–alas, just sharing the love. 🙂
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Wonderful, wonderful pictures. Audrey Hepburn was just so cool, although they must have modelled Concorde on Jacques Cousteau’s nose!
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