I understand your reasoning in posting this image. However, I sincerely wish you had not. Its dominant trait is provoking revulsion and not a study of light, composition, and overall technique. Thanks for allowing comments.
Tom, I shared this image only for its photographic value, not for who it portrays. In fact, that’s exactly why I chose this portrait — to make the point that my platforms and publications are about photography, NOT politics.
Seriously? Of all the photos this photographer must have taken, you picked THIS?????? There is no photographic value to this. I'm sure a nice photo of a steaming cow pie would better illustrate the use of light and shadow without causing such anger and disgust. You really blew this one. Your copy-paste about being about photos and not politics is failing hard, since you had the option to chose any non-inflammatory image but you chose this. This is an extremely political decision and I don't think you can possibly claim that it is not.
Dear Lynne, it would be difficult to find a more non-political person than myself. I am not a fan of Trump (quite an opposite of that), and yes - I chose this photo intentionally to exactly make the point that a good photograph is not about the subject per se, but about it's photographical qualities. How would you comment on Anne Leibowitz' famous portrait of Vladimir Putin?
As a non-Russian, I would have a less visceral response. I know you aren't American, and much of your audience isn't either, but the real question is "how would a Russian who is currently under the oppressive boot of Putin feel about a photo of Putin?"
I imagine that as someone at least a bit removed (for now) from the disaster that is the current American regime, it's a bit easierfor you to be sanguine about the subject. But as someone watching with horror the great American experiment crumbling to dust at warp speed, there is no way to separate the subject from the substance.
I think that knowing that at least some of your audience is American, it's disingenuous to claim that there was no hint of agent provocateur in your choice!
Commenting on the photographical qualities - harsh, cookie-cutter, and unattractive. And I don't (just) mean the subject.
Could you not find a "better" example of the work? Apparently he has no personal boundaries with doing his photographs or perhaps he is one of the MAGA cult. Either way :(
Hubert, I shared this image only for its photographic value, not for who it portrays. In fact, that’s exactly why I chose this portrait — to make the point that my platforms and publications are about photography, NOT politics.
I completely get what you say, Tomasz, and your lack of interest in politics is probably why you chose this image. However, it's also true that posting an image of an individual such as this is guaranteed to generate extreme reactions, in one direction or another, and render the quality of the photography to being a secondary consideration. Personally, I believe that he is morally bankrupt and utterly repugnant. It's why I didn't comment or give the video or post a "like". There's no question that the photographer produces technically excellent portraits but there are times when, IMO, that just isn't sufficient.
Eric, I shared this image only for its photographic value, not for who it portrays. In fact, that’s exactly why I chose this portrait — to make the point that my platforms and publications are about photography, NOT politics.
Of course it's an excellent portrait and is a perfect example of Platon's work. I'm not questioning that at all. It's also good for eliciting reaction and engagement. 😉
However, let's just say the subject is, um, somewhat overexposed these days and it would have been refreshing to see a different face. A face we don't all see dozens or more times per day.
I think it's a great image!! I hate that the creative community, a place that should be one of the most open, works the hardest to supress and silence anything they don't like! STFU and move on if you don't like an image......I can't tell you how many times a photograph has angered me but I choose to not engage because it devolves almost every time to a pissing match. Sometimes the most wise words are none at all people!
If you ever show us a photograph of trump again, I will completely drop my subscription to Photosnack! As a matter of fact. I am going to unsubscribe immediately!
Was there no other presidential photo to post, rather than this cry-baby toddler that has turned democracy on it's head? We are literally the laughing stock of the world right now!
of course it was political, given the person depicted, it is intrinsically political, as is your decision to post this particular portrait. not funny, i’m gone.
It must have overloaded his Photoshop program to rid the image of the grossness of this fat, evil clown. An unplanned photograph shows how he looks, so well, that you can almost smell him. Evil emanates from every pore. Time and Photoshop can make a beautiful vase from a lump of cow dung. Which this image clearly is. The image taken from below raises Trump deliberately to show his supposed power and looking down like a father figure on us mortals actually he’s looking down on all humans as things that are less than him. As an artist photographers have a duty to search for truth. I think the snapper who took this is just a technically proficient snapper who prefers his income and job more than the truth. What he has done to his credit is create a lie which is exactly what Trump is a falsehood, a lie and a liar. P.S. It's not a magnificent image it's simply technically proficient and confirms the false image of Trump that his MAGA supporters have in their damaged brains. To be frank any depoliticised camera club member could jdo better with an iPhone.
I understand your reasoning in posting this image. However, I sincerely wish you had not. Its dominant trait is provoking revulsion and not a study of light, composition, and overall technique. Thanks for allowing comments.
I don't care how magnificent an image might be, but keep this replusive asshole off of your site !
Tom, I shared this image only for its photographic value, not for who it portrays. In fact, that’s exactly why I chose this portrait — to make the point that my platforms and publications are about photography, NOT politics.
Seriously? Of all the photos this photographer must have taken, you picked THIS?????? There is no photographic value to this. I'm sure a nice photo of a steaming cow pie would better illustrate the use of light and shadow without causing such anger and disgust. You really blew this one. Your copy-paste about being about photos and not politics is failing hard, since you had the option to chose any non-inflammatory image but you chose this. This is an extremely political decision and I don't think you can possibly claim that it is not.
Dear Lynne, it would be difficult to find a more non-political person than myself. I am not a fan of Trump (quite an opposite of that), and yes - I chose this photo intentionally to exactly make the point that a good photograph is not about the subject per se, but about it's photographical qualities. How would you comment on Anne Leibowitz' famous portrait of Vladimir Putin?
As a non-Russian, I would have a less visceral response. I know you aren't American, and much of your audience isn't either, but the real question is "how would a Russian who is currently under the oppressive boot of Putin feel about a photo of Putin?"
I imagine that as someone at least a bit removed (for now) from the disaster that is the current American regime, it's a bit easierfor you to be sanguine about the subject. But as someone watching with horror the great American experiment crumbling to dust at warp speed, there is no way to separate the subject from the substance.
I think that knowing that at least some of your audience is American, it's disingenuous to claim that there was no hint of agent provocateur in your choice!
Commenting on the photographical qualities - harsh, cookie-cutter, and unattractive. And I don't (just) mean the subject.
Could you not find a "better" example of the work? Apparently he has no personal boundaries with doing his photographs or perhaps he is one of the MAGA cult. Either way :(
Hubert, I shared this image only for its photographic value, not for who it portrays. In fact, that’s exactly why I chose this portrait — to make the point that my platforms and publications are about photography, NOT politics.
I completely get what you say, Tomasz, and your lack of interest in politics is probably why you chose this image. However, it's also true that posting an image of an individual such as this is guaranteed to generate extreme reactions, in one direction or another, and render the quality of the photography to being a secondary consideration. Personally, I believe that he is morally bankrupt and utterly repugnant. It's why I didn't comment or give the video or post a "like". There's no question that the photographer produces technically excellent portraits but there are times when, IMO, that just isn't sufficient.
You could have chosen ANY wonderful Platon portrait for your post, yet you chose this one?
Eric, I shared this image only for its photographic value, not for who it portrays. In fact, that’s exactly why I chose this portrait — to make the point that my platforms and publications are about photography, NOT politics.
Of course it's an excellent portrait and is a perfect example of Platon's work. I'm not questioning that at all. It's also good for eliciting reaction and engagement. 😉
However, let's just say the subject is, um, somewhat overexposed these days and it would have been refreshing to see a different face. A face we don't all see dozens or more times per day.
Keep up the good work, Tomasz.
E.
I think it's a great image!! I hate that the creative community, a place that should be one of the most open, works the hardest to supress and silence anything they don't like! STFU and move on if you don't like an image......I can't tell you how many times a photograph has angered me but I choose to not engage because it devolves almost every time to a pissing match. Sometimes the most wise words are none at all people!
Impressive portfolio for the "A" listers included as well as those that are not.
Well, *that* was offensive in the extreme. WTF were you thinking? Serious question. Your readers deserve an answer.
Marc, you will find my answers in the comments above. I was definitely not planning to offence anybody.
If you ever show us a photograph of trump again, I will completely drop my subscription to Photosnack! As a matter of fact. I am going to unsubscribe immediately!
Dear Rick, no reason to get so dramatic here. I chose the image for its photographic qualities - Platon creates some outstanding portraits.
And when it comes to photographs of historically "questionable" personas created by famous photographers, here comes the list:
Platon – Vladimir Putin, Muammar Gaddafi, Bashar al-Assad, Donald Trump
Annie Leibovitz – Vladimir Putin
Yousuf Karsh – Fidel Castro
Arnold Newman – Albert Speer (Hitler’s architect)
Richard Avedon – Duke and Duchess of Windsor (known for Nazi sympathies)
Helmut Newton – Margaret Thatcher
Cecil Beaton – Duke of Windsor / British Royals with controversial WWII ties
Alexander Rodchenko – Soviet leaders / Stalinist propaganda portraits
All of those photographs are widely considered as outstanding imagery, regardless of the people being portrayed.
Once again, we have to separate the subject matter of any given photograph from the purely photographic qualities of the image.
Was there no other presidential photo to post, rather than this cry-baby toddler that has turned democracy on it's head? We are literally the laughing stock of the world right now!
Midtown Sacramento salutes this
Portrait.
You are commended for your bravery.
The Marxist /Progressives love pushing propaganda about 'Tolerance' when they are the most intolerant .
of course it was political, given the person depicted, it is intrinsically political, as is your decision to post this particular portrait. not funny, i’m gone.
It must have overloaded his Photoshop program to rid the image of the grossness of this fat, evil clown. An unplanned photograph shows how he looks, so well, that you can almost smell him. Evil emanates from every pore. Time and Photoshop can make a beautiful vase from a lump of cow dung. Which this image clearly is. The image taken from below raises Trump deliberately to show his supposed power and looking down like a father figure on us mortals actually he’s looking down on all humans as things that are less than him. As an artist photographers have a duty to search for truth. I think the snapper who took this is just a technically proficient snapper who prefers his income and job more than the truth. What he has done to his credit is create a lie which is exactly what Trump is a falsehood, a lie and a liar. P.S. It's not a magnificent image it's simply technically proficient and confirms the false image of Trump that his MAGA supporters have in their damaged brains. To be frank any depoliticised camera club member could jdo better with an iPhone.
A photograph of the devil himself.