Abstract The Art of Design: "Platon: Photography"

The seventh episode of Abstract's season one explores the rhyme and reason in the art of photography by world famous British photographer Platon. Platon has photographed some of the world's most influential figures, such as Vladimir Putin, Prince, Barack Obama and many more. What's really cool about Platon is once you see a few of his photos, you can definitely pick them out of a crowd. His photos are so raw and silently emotional that just a glimpse of one would grant you a wide introspection. While watching the episode all about the Platon style and history, I couldn't help but notice one huge aspect present in everything he does: a desperate need for light and contrast. 

Let's be honest here, whether you're taking a selfie, doing homework late at night, mothering a plant, or taking photos, the right light coming from the right angle is absolutely essential. This idea of the right light and the right angle are repeated over and over in Platon's photos. His shots are all pretty much the same in that the background of the shot is a solid color, often the photo is in black and white, and the personality of the subject is the focus (as opposed to more material things like clothing or make up being the most important in the shot). His photos seem simple, but as many of the interviewees explained, he really "does his homework" and tries to connect to the subject on a personal level in order to capture their true self in the shot. Although the backbone of his photos are all the same, each shot is a little different in how the subject is presented. For example, in his famous Vladimir Putin photograph (one of the few that is actually in color), he captures the figure from a low angle and really hones in on the contrast of the light above with his dark clothing and dark wood chair. Platon tried to connect to Putin by bringing up the Beatles, which happened to be his favorite band. Who knows if that really did much to change the intensity of the event, however it made Putin open up just a little in order for Platon to snap the shot.  Additionally, the biggest thing in the photo is not the man's head, which you'd typically see in any given portrait, but rather his hands that are at the forefront of the photo, almost like the hands of Abraham Lincoln in the monument. After the hands, the eye is drawn to the facial expression. Totally unamused, down to business, and, well, Putin-like, the combination of the hand placement and the facial expression totally encapsulate the leader. The combination of the angle and the light really give Putin the vibe that he is a rock solid leader and not one to, say, laugh at knock knock jokes if you know what I mean. When compared to other shots of famous people in society, such as Robert De Niro, the focus is still on his hands from a low angle, however the clothing and facial expression are much more relaxed and comical, which aligns with the personality of De Niro. The two photos are shown below for a more visual comparison.

 

The lighting of both shots is so intense, just in slightly different ways. In the Putin shot, there is a halo-like glow, almost like what you'd see around Jesus in a painting in a church. With De Niro, there is obvious light on his forehead and it contrasts with the stark white of the background and dark wrinkles on his face and on his clothes. The cool thing about comparing these two photos is how different, yet how similar they are. Both men have wrinkles, yet they hold totally different meanings based on where the light is. Both photos have a focus on the hands, yet De Niro's are relaxed and supportive whereas Putin's are demanding and strong. 

Platon does an amazing job maximizing the personalities of each of his subjects in his photos and using light to do so. Just based on the placement there can be extremely different personalities expressed, as discussed with Putin and De Niro. Based on the lighting and the angle, an alien who doesn't know either figure would be able to tell you which one would be more likely to giggle at a knock knock joke, that's for sure.