Project 7: Cover Page-Platon Interview

Another nominee of World’s 10 Greatest Photographers, Platon Antoniou shared his life story with V Magazine. Born in London in 1968, Antoniou was raised by English mother and Greek father and because his parents were an art historian and an architect, he was constantly exposed to the arts. Platon said, “While I was still a student at the Royal College of Art, I received British Vogue’s Best up-and-coming Photographer, and now I am receiving World’s 10 Greatest Photographers.”

After graduating, he started working for George, the

political and media cultural magazine and achieved one of his favorite projects, which was “a cross-country trip in order to document the 20 most fascinating men in America.” Since then, Platon’s fame spread all over the country and he has shot many commercials for luxurious brands. Now he is still a renowned photographer, residing in New York with his family,

Platon shared his story with his new project, Portraits of Power that he did for The New Yorker. Platon said, “This project was taken this past September, when there was a meeting of the United Nations in New York. I set up a tiny studio next to the General Assembly and hustled as many of them in front of my lens as possible. It was a five-day-long improvisation.” He added that It was very interesting to see the world leaders’ new faces through the portraits and added commentaries to each picture on the website Portraits of Power.

One of his portraits has made the cover of V Magazine, and us, the editors, thought it would be a perfect choice due to the model's hands. When asked about the

posture, Platon answered, "Oh yes, [chuckles] I totally had the desire to make the cover of V Magazine and asked the model to posture his hands. [chuckles] Actually, I had the model put up a V sign because I wanted to show the juxtaposition between his serious face and his hands. His face and clothing all say that he is a powerful, rich man. However his hands show a playful side of him and that is what I wanted to show with the portrait of the president of Brazil."

Original Photograph by Platon Antoniou

Original Magazine Cover

Project 7: Cover Page-Irving Penn Interview

Nominated as one of our World’s 10 Greatest Photographers, Irving Penn revealed his life story with the V Magazine. Irving Penn, born in June 16, 1917 started studying arts from an early age. Penn revealed that his paintings and drawings were published by Harper’s Bazaar for two years and has worked as an office boy and apprentice artist. He added on his experience working at Vogue magazine.

Penn continued on his story to his early career when his fame started to spread. During his assistant years with Alexander Liberman, he has gained a lot of recognition from Liberman and his one photograph as an assistant was published as the cover for Vogue magazine. This photograph, according to Penn, “launched [him] on his photographic career.”

At Vogue, he shot a lot of fashion photography and eventually founded his own studio in 1953, developing his own style of simplicity. Many depict his style to be d

istinct where there is a subject in front of a monotone backdrop or an acute corner. When asked about his technique using the corners, Penn answered that the technique is “a mean of closing people in,” and added that some felt secure and some felt trapped in the corners. He was able to capture their reactions on his photographs. He added “I am a professional photographer because it is the best way I know to earn the money I require to take care of my wife and children.”

The above photograph is one of his latest works from his project and in this picture, he once again has used his typical technique of corner. When asked about the photograph, Penn responded, "If you see closely, the model's posture looks a bit awkward. His right arm is too far up. However his facial expression and posture all emanate a sense of isolation and loneliness. This sense goes very well with the use of corners, as he felt trapped in by the corners."

Penn has had many exhibitions, including Metropolitan Museum of A

rt, National Gallery of Art, J.Paul getty Museum and most recently National Portrait Gallery in London.

Original Photograph by Irving Penn