I met Karsh in his studio in Ottawa in the early seventies. He spent about an hour with me showing his work and looking at the very immature and inexperienced work in my portfolio. So embarrassing now when I think of it.
He was very gracious to offer both constructive criticism of my work and to sign one of his books for me, which I have to this day.
Karsh was a very reknowned photographer and a master at his craft but his work was somewhat rigid, or I should say stylized, which made it easy to spot a Karsh Portrait when you saw one. I understand he was also a national treasure in Canada and well known and loved around the world.
In some ways, Benji's portraits are similar in that they adhere to certain stylistic conventions. That doesn't make his portraits good or bad, you either like them or you don't.
I do agree with Benji that it is important to know "the rules", and of course the craft, in order to free yourself to be creative.
BTW Bob, the formal pose makes that baby look a little bit like Winston Churchill. Or maybe all babies at a certain age look like Winston Churchill ?
