Whether you know it or not, you’ve seen the work of portrait photographer Platon. Gracing magazine covers and protest signs, his photos capture the truth behind the cliche “A picture is worth a thousand words.” While he’s celebrated for his searing portraits of world leaders and cultural icons, his new book, The Defenders: Heroes of the Global Fight for Human Rights, also shines a light on immigration activists, rape survivors, and free speech dissidents.
Platon will sit down with FP’s Ravi Agrawal to describe his process, what drives his art, and how he connects with his subjects, no matter how powerful they may be.
Platon
Photographer
Platon is one of the world’s most renowned portrait photographers and has photographed more world leaders, including six U.S. presidents, than anyone else in history. He has photographed more than 30 covers for Time magazine, and as staff photographer for the New Yorker, he won a Peabody Award and two National Magazine Awards. In 2013, Platon founded the People’s Portfolio, a nonprofit foundation dedicated to celebrating emerging global leaders in human and civil rights. He has published four books, the most recent of which is The Defenders: Heroes of the Global Fight for Human Rights.
Platon is one of the world’s most renowned portrait photographers and has photographed more world leaders, including six U.S. presidents, than anyone else in history. He has photographed more than 30 covers for Time magazine, and as staff photographer for the New Yorker, he won a Peabody Award and two National Magazine Awards. In 2013, Platon founded the People’s Portfolio, a nonprofit foundation dedicated to celebrating emerging global leaders in human and civil rights. He has published four books, the most recent of which is The Defenders: Heroes of the Global Fight for Human Rights.
Ravi Agrawal
Editor in chief, Foreign Policy
Ravi Agrawal is the editor in chief of Foreign Policy and host of FP Live. Before joining FP in 2018, Agrawal worked at CNN for more than a decade, including as the New Delhi bureau chief and correspondent. He is the author of India Connected: How the Smartphone Is Transforming the World’s Largest Democracy.
Ravi Agrawal is the editor in chief of Foreign Policy and host of FP Live. Before joining FP in 2018, Agrawal worked at CNN for more than a decade, including as the New Delhi bureau chief and correspondent. He is the author of India Connected: How the Smartphone Is Transforming the World’s Largest Democracy.
