Former resident lian goodall will be signing her newest book here on Dec. 8 from 1 to 2:30pm.
Photographing Greatness: The Story of Karsh is goodall’s fourth book, and the first children’s biography about the famous photographer of Armenian descent.
goodall will sign copies of the book, for ages 10 to 13, at Roxanne’s Reflections. Cake will be available (while it lasts) to celebrate Yousuf Karsh’s birthday month.
The renowned portrait photographer was born in Mardin, Turkey on Dec. 23, 1908 and died in 2002, at 93. Most of his life he worked from his home base of Ottawa, capturing the faces of famous people around the world: Grey Owl, Helen Keller, Einstein, Churchill, Trudeau, and thousands more.
Karsh emigrated to North America in the 1920s, eventually settling in Ottawa. An early interest in photography inspired him to open his own studio. As he became known for the quality of his work, Karsh’s proximity to powerful leaders in Ottawa led to commissions of portraits of politicians.
He became known as the world’s finest portrait photographer for his gift of capturing a subject’s character. Over a 70-plus-year career, Karsh photographed many famous musicians, artists, actors, captains of industry, and politicians.
He was also a humanitarian who worked with sick children. The book is the first children’s biography of the man who immortalized the makers of history.
“I chose Karsh’s story because not only adults, but children are drawn to his dramatic black and white photographs. I also felt that it was important to give my readers the story of an immigrant to Canada,” goodall said.
“Karsh could never forget the difficulties his family experienced in Turkey at the time of the Armenian genocide – although he did not carry bitterness with him all his life.”
“Another reason that I had to do this story is that Karsh loved children. Recently the Emergency Department of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa was renamed the Estrellita and Yousuf Karsh Emergency Department,” goodall said.
The book is the author’s second in Napoleon Publishing’s Stories of Canada series. Her last one, Singing Towards the Future: the Story of Portia White, was an Our Choice selection and Hackmatack award nominee, which led to a book tour in Nova Scotia. The author now lives outside of Newmarket and teaches creative writing for the York Region District School Board in continuing education.
She is thrilled to come back to the town where she grew up.
“This book is dedicated to my Dad. He was a science teacher at Centre Wellington District High School, and a wonderful amateur photographer. He inspired an interest in art and science that led me to the story of Karsh,” goodall said.
“Every December, I’m used to helping my parents with their Christmas tree farm outside of Belwood. Now that the retail part has closed, I had to find another way to stay connected with the excitement of the season in Wellington County. Roxanne’s Reflections was kind enough to host a book signing, so it’s perfect.”
The Fergus visit is the first book signing scheduled. The official media launch will be held in Ottawa in January, and will co-incide with the opening of a photography exhibit at Laurier House National Historic Site. Many exhibits and activities are planned around the world in 2008 to honour the centenary of the famous Canadian’s birth.
Included is the release of three new stamps featuring Karsh photographs.
The other two books by goodall are Maradona: The Man with the Magic Feet, and William Lyon Mackenzie King: Dreams and Shadows.
