I was driving back from a shoot today when I passed a cemetery in Ottawa’s east end. As I glanced over at some tombstones and shrines, the late afternoon light illuminating them nicely, one of them in particular caught my eye. I decided to pull over, get out of the car, and investigate. What serendipity. It was the grave Yousuf Karsh and his wife, Solange.

For those who don’t know, Yousuf Karsh was one of the most well known, respected, and talented masters of photography the world has ever known. Click on his name above and you will discover (or re-discover) his incredible portraits that spanned a 70+ year career.

I knew he lived in Ottawa most of his life, but had never contemplated his resting place and where it might be (he was originally from Armenia). Of all the graves in that massive cemetery, I’m still pondering how his caught my eye and how I thought to actually stop the car and go take a look.

Feeling very blessed for the experience.

Such fine portraiture… Representing my home town of Ottawa, no less. Yousuf Karsh continues to be a mentor for many portraitists, my father, photographer Michael Bedford, included.

Yousuf Karsh at Photography-Now.net – The International Artist Index