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Platon

is a worldrenowned photographerspecializing in politicsand portraiture. Hedocumented the 20 most fascinating men in Americafor the premier issue of George magazine and sincethe early ‘90s has shot for publications such as Time, Rolling Stone, The NewYork Times Magazine,Vanity Fair, Harper’sBazaar, Esquire, GQ, Newsweek, Arena, i-D,The Observer and theSunday Times.Visit PlatonPhoto.com to see his work.

n the beginning,everything ishard, no matterwhat professionyou choose. i wasalways obsessedwith the ideawhen i wasyounger of “howdid other peoplemake it?” whenyou’re a student,you feel you’reon the other sideof things,

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The intent should alwaysbe more, more, more and tobe 100 percent committed.

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photo by Norman Jean Roy

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that there’s this beautiful, imaginary castlewhere everybody goes when they’ve “made it.”

I nally learned “made it” doesn’t actually exist;

it’s just an idea you look up to when you’rebeginning. When you’re on the tracks, it’s thecontinuous journey that makes a difference, notthe end result. The end result is when you kickthe bucket.I always looked foolishly and naively at howother people became successful or “did it,” andI came to realize that it’s actually irrelevanthow anybody else does it if you’re lookingfor a formula to apply to yourself. The truthis, everyone’s journey is different, everyone’spersonality is different, and everyone’s talentor weaknesses are different. It’s more importantto really get to know yourself and understandwho you are, understand your Achilles’ heel andyour strengths, which can often be completelyunrecognized in the beginning. Your instinctsare your true guide, and a lot of young peopleare bullied into not listening to their instincts

because they don’t t into the protocol of the

establishment. It’s your instincts and emotions

backed with resilience, drive and condence

that make you empowered. If you keep pushingthrough, eventually you break the ice.

VYING FOR VOGUE

I was very driven as a young photographerand was obsessed with working for Vogue asa student and had always envisioned what itwas like to work there. I went in 36 times in

three years with my portfolio before they nally

gave me a job. I think I showed every singleperson my work, even the receptionist. I was just so committed to getting in there that, I thinkeventually, they just felt sorry for me and wantedto shut me up. You have to have the mentalitythat you won’t take “no” for an answer and lookat what you’re aiming for at that moment in timeand see how to make it happen.As you get older, your journey and youraspirations change, and my journey has takena completely different path into politics andportraiture. But I’ve always listened to thatvoice inside, and you have to remind yourselfto listen to it even as you get older. I remembera few years ago I went to see the legendaryarchitectural photographer Julius Shulman -who’s almost 100 now - and I’m a huge fanof his, so I wanted to go and pay homage tohim. When I saw him, I said, “Have you gotany advice for me? I’m a young guy trying tobe successful.” He said, “I’ve got great advicefor you. You represent the younger generationwho are all obsessed with trying to ‘make it.’I’ve made it now, and I’m an old man. I can’teven focus the camera very well, I need helpgetting up and down the stairs. This is ‘madeit’? If this is ‘made it,’ then ‘made it’ sucks.” Hecontinued, “The beautiful thing is the journey,and you’re already on the journey, and you haveto enjoy every single step of the way.” Thisadvice really put things into perspective for me,that there’s no “arrival,” because you’ve always

got the next step on the journey. Young people

need to understand that, they need to feel that.When you’re intimidated by the establishmentor successful people, or you feel like you’re notworthy in some ridiculous way, then you’vegot to remind yourself that they’re on the same journey that you are, and believe me, they’re justas frightened of you as you are of them. You’reyoung, you’re talented, you have a burningenergy they don’t have, you have no history, noskeletons in the closet, you’re just liberated.

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When you’re intimidated by theestablishment or successful people, or youfeel like you’re not worthy in some ridiculousway, then you’ve got to remind yourself thatthey’re on the same journey that you are...

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That’s a very empowering thing, and youngpeople need to hear and realize that.

FACING YOUR DEMONS

When I’m taking someone’s portrait,I have to face my own demons everytime. I have to get out of mycomfort zone and reachout with an open heart.You have to be bravepsychologically andemotionally to open up,because there’s a goodchance that people

will abuse that; they

can be rude back, ornot play, or chooseto offend you if youopen yourself uptoo much.I’ve come to realize thatmost of the time, peoplerespond to my opennessby opening up themselves,and human beings willalways look to each other fora sign from the face or body thatsays, “Are you OK? Are you notOK?” That’s what smiling is for.When you smile at someone, you’regiving them a sign that you’re content,happy and that you have something to give. Ifyou grimace at somebody, you give them thesign “Back off, I’m vulnerable” or “I’m in pain,stay away from me.” That simple gesturecan transform a meeting, can transform ahuman relationship.

Politicians and movie stars have gured

it out - doing it as an act is one thing,but really believing it is another. Peopledo know the difference. That’s something Ilearned early on, and that’s got nothing

to do with photography; that’s just

studying the human conditionand really trying to understandwhat makes people tick. That’smuch more valuable to me asa photographer than learningabout f-stops and all that. Whatyou don’t learn out of a bookis people skills and overcomingyour fears and being brave with yourinsecurities and saying, “I’m just goingto sail right out there and open myselflike a bloody book for this personto read.” Nine times out of 10, themost beautiful warmth comes backfrom people.

WELCOME TO THEWHITE HOUSE

Last week, I photographedMichelle Obama in the

White House for her rst iconic

session. On meeting her, I held out myhand and said, “Mrs. Obama, it’s an honor tomeet you,” and she brushed my hand aside, puther arms on my shoulders and gave me a kiss onboth cheeks and said, “Welcome to the WhiteHouse.” Now that’s a devastatingly beautifulthing. That’s someone who has something togive. Of course people can abuse that, peoplecan choose not to be bewitched by that charm,but I found it incredibly beautiful. From thatmoment on, we connected.

This is a human thing. I’m not an intellectual;

I’m really not, even though I spend most of mylife dealing with really clever people. I’m anintuitive person, I’m a human person. That’s

my job, that’s my career. I nd that I can be in

a room full of the most intellectual people onthe planet, but you can cut through all that byfeeling something and showing it and beinghonest about yourself. You can’t lie to peopleabout yourself, because it shows. Honestyis the one thing you can communicate withanybody about. You can meet a king or a poorman on the street, and the one thing you have incommon with them is that you’re honest about

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I’m just going to sailright out there andopen myself like abloody book for this person to read.

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photo by Mike McGregor