Iconic Image - by Yousuf Karsh.

Yousuf Karsh (1908 - 2002) was an Armenian immigrant to Canada. He took up photography in Quebec with his uncle. He later became regarded as one of the best portrait photographers of the 20th century.

His breakthrough came in 1941 when he photographed Winston Churchill in Ottawa. Churchill had been speaking to the Canadian parliament and after his speech, Churchill was bought into the speakers chamber where Karsh has set up his equipment.

Churchill was not happy, and was in no mood for a photo. He had not been told of this photo session that made things even worse. However, Karshes charm prevailed and Churchill relented. However, at the same time he got a cigar out and started puffing away on it. Karsh describes what happened next.

"Churchill’s cigar was ever present. I held out an ashtray, but he would not dispose of it. I went back to my camera and made sure that everything was all right technically. I waited; he continued to chomp vigorously at his cigar. I waited. Then I stepped toward him and, without premeditation, but ever so respectfully, I said, “Forgive me, sir,” and plucked the cigar out of his mouth. By the time I got back to my camera, he looked so belligerent he could have devoured me. It was at that instant that I took the photograph."

That moment captured one of the most iconic images of the war. There were other photographs taken at this session, but Churchill was smiling in them and it in no way depicted the bulldog personality required to win the war! They were never used.

The image became known as the Roaring Lion as Churchill said the Karsh, "You can make a roaring lion stand still to be photographed".