2min chapter

Foreign Policy Live cover image

How Platon Photographs Power

Foreign Policy Live

CHAPTER

Intro

This chapter explores the art of photography through the lens of a renowned British portrait photographer. The conversation highlights the intricate stories behind iconic portraits and their impact on public perception, emphasizing the significance of visual storytelling in expressing themes of leadership and humanity.

00:00
Speaker 2
Hi, I'm Ravi Agrawal, Foreign Policy's Editor-in This is FP Live. So I'm taking a short break this week and I wanted to bring you a conversation that is not on the news. This week's episode is a bit different. It's longer, a bit contemplative, but most of all it allowed me to take a big step back. I hope you enjoy it. It's a conversation that works on audio, of course, because here we are. But if you at all have the ability to watch this one, I think you'll like that even more because we talk a lot about photography. We've linked to the video in the show notes and this one's free for anyone to view. Now that was a long preamble before I actually introduced my guest. His name is Platon. Even if you've never heard of him, there is no doubt you've seen his photographs. He's a British portrait photographer who's taken some of the most famous magazine cover images in history. Bill Clinton, Trump, Obama, Aung San Suu Kyi, George Clooney, Putin, and countless others. You have seen his work. Platon has a very distinctive wide-length style that captures striking and memorable moments in history. But his work is not just about the photographs. It's about connecting. Behind every portrait is a story, a history, a very human exchange. And even as an editor who deals primarily with words, I'm conscious that words alone aren't everything. There is something more. We speak with a lot of leaders and policymakers on this program. Platon has met more of them than almost anyone I know. I wanted to ask him about the stories behind a few of his most famous shots and see if we learn anything new. I think you'll enjoy this one. Platon also has a new book out. It's called The Defenders, Heroes of the Global Fight for Human Rights. As always, we love hearing from you. Email us at live at foreignpolicy.com. Let's dive in. Welcome to FPLive. It's so good to be here. Thank you for having me.

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