Much of the world knows Platon for some of his more studio-style photography, but he’s also done much work on human rights, civil rights, etc. Some of the work that most folks don’t know him for are difficult topics like sexual violence in Congo, immigration issues, and human rights for people with disabilities in Russia. “It’s a difficult one. I mean, I’ll be honest, you know, at the beginning, I’d always come back from these trips emotionally – I don’t know what the word is – but you could say devastated…” he told the Phoblographer in a 2021 interview. In his latest book, the Defenders, Platon is putting those people in the spotlight.
All images by Platon. Used with permission. You can purchase the book on Amazon or check it out at the publisher’s page. Follow Platon on Instagram @platon.
“Each and every one of my subjects are unique individuals with different human experiences and backgrounds,” Platon tells us when we ask him about commonalities in the personalities of the people he’s photographed. The human condition is complicated and mystical. My job is to tune into my sitters’ frequency, to be curious, not judgmental.” To that end, much of his work is also quite photojournalistic.
Trust and authenticity are the greatest currencies in my work.
Platon
It’s a very important story to tell amidst everything happening in the world right now. Human rights are being violated in many ways, and misinformation is abounding on social media, with people not always understanding how to verify what they’re seeing.
“Let’s not forget what the ‘A’ in AI stands for—artificial—fake faces, imitation humanity, and counterfeit feelings,” Platon tells the Phoblographer when asked about AI. “My work is about a genuine human connection. That’s something you cannot manufacture.” Indeed, Platon’s stories about his subjects are often tearjerkers. When we interviewed him in 2021, he related a tale of how a woman he photographed was with her son, who was born out of rape. Platon told us about how sad the moment made him.
Oftentimes, it’s difficult to tell stories about these people with still images. That’s where video can be very effective or text alongside printed images. In The Defenders, Platon is trying to do just that. The book shows off the images in a way that’s unique and not digital. Instead, you’re holding the prints, and you’ve got more mental peace instead of activating three senses at once the way a mobile phone would make you do.
Thank you to Hasselblad for helping us secure the interview.