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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Platon's Portraits of Power
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12/01/2009 08:11:21 PM · #1
Interesting piece on NPR about a photographer who set out to capture world leader's portraits as they visited the UN. You can see the portraits here in the New Yorker.

Which is your favorite?
12/01/2009 08:41:19 PM · #2
To be honest, I am not that impressed. I am not sure why though, they almost look like they have been made into caricatures. I dont really feel any power from any of them.

Let me ask this. If they where not world leaders etc etc. And you looked at this series of shots, would you get the feeling of power and importance from them. Would you be impressed with this series of portraits???

Message edited by author 2009-12-01 20:41:50.
12/01/2009 09:05:47 PM · #3
I'm just starting to view each of them without looking at the stats for each so I can be objective. There are some very good portraits & I'll come back later with my fav. One thing I notice right off the bat...I swear I'm seeing some Topaz here & there. Still an interesting group of images.

I'm also interested...which one's your fav?
12/01/2009 09:32:29 PM · #4
Another point worth noting is that many were shot with a relatively wide lens, and consequently the faces are bulging towards us just a bit, very aggressive...

R.
12/01/2009 09:37:16 PM · #5
Originally posted by JulietNN:

To be honest, I am not that impressed. I am not sure why though, they almost look like they have been made into caricatures. I dont really feel any power from any of them.

Let me ask this. If they where not world leaders etc etc. And you looked at this series of shots, would you get the feeling of power and importance from them. Would you be impressed with this series of portraits???


I would like to think that, that was the point. People of power are just the same as you and I,a person. Take away their title and you still see the human being and some character in the photograph. If you look at each photogragh you see a unique expression that tells a lot about the person and maybe see why their people have put them in the positions they are in. Afterall isn't politics about how you can be swindled into liking the person that's running?

No matter who you are, when there is a camera in front of you, you are vulnerable. It can bring the most powerful people down to a level we can all relate to.

I think Platon has done that. So I am impressed.
12/01/2009 09:47:40 PM · #6
Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Another point worth noting is that many were shot with a relatively wide lens, and consequently the faces are bulging towards us just a bit, very aggressive...

R.


Maybe that is why I am thinking they look odd.

LV, you are completely correct. But in a lot of them, it almost felt like there was 'nothing' there. Nothing of interest to make it stand out from all the other shots.

But whilst I was typing that, I realized that you can not make several hundred people look different from the others. I think that if he had done , say 4, shots, they would be different and have all the umpf they need. It is nigh on impossible for all of them.

I really liked the South Africa portrait, as it seems really real and an interesting face.
12/01/2009 09:57:02 PM · #7
Toomas Ilves, President, Estonia. Just kept coming back to that pic. Probably because of the bow tie.
12/02/2009 02:28:24 AM · #8
I like them a lot. Thanks for the link!
12/02/2009 03:06:11 AM · #9
I didn't recognize him at first (Mahmoud Ahmadinejad). I was drawn to the eyes, I was bothered that his smile did not touch his eyes. By far my favorite of the series, so serious, oozing the power that Juliet wanted. Scary dude, even more so when I read the name. Seems oddly at peace.

Message edited by author 2009-12-02 03:07:38.
12/02/2009 11:05:25 AM · #10
I agree with Ben. Ahmadinejad was my favorite.
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