Photographer Platon Describes How He Evaded Burma’s Secret Police
TIME magazine’s new cover story looks at the life of Nobel Prize-winner Aung Sang Suu Kyi since Burma’s military regime released her from house arrest in November. TIME.com has a video interview with photographer Platon, who describes the lengths he and reporter Hannah Beech had to go to in order to meet with their subject inside Burma, where most foreign journalists have been banned. His tale involves disguises, a car chase, and a meeting with a woman who is revered as a heroine both inside her country and around the world.
Also on TIME.com you can see some of Platon’s color and black-and-white portraits of Suu Kyi.
Tags: Aung Sang Suu Kyi, Burma, portrait
December 30th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
Great story and images!
December 30th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
[...] Photographer Platon Describes How He Evaded Burma’s Secret Police By muntzphoto http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1 via pdnpulse.com [...]
December 31st, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Remarkable. Thank you.
January 1st, 2011 at 7:27 am
I was followed in Rangoon and also in the north while on an assignment in Burma. My room was searched when I left to shoot more images. (I hid the film in ventilation vents) They were on to me form the get-go even though I came through on a tourist visa and was shooting a tourism style piece. I was questioned several times by my “driver.”
Strange and beautiful place. Lovely people.
January 6th, 2011 at 2:13 pm
All I can say is, “Brilliant!”
January 7th, 2011 at 5:57 pm
Am I wrong in thinking that this cabbie is at incredible risk after these two “professionals” had their exciting adventure with him at the wheel. Won’t the police make his life hell? Imprison him? Torture him? Is a picture and story worth another person’s life or security? Or is ok because he is a local?
If I were the management at Time I would sack Platon and Hanna Beech immediately. That was inexcusably reckless and irresponsible action on their part. The worst that would have happened if they had not fled is they would have been sent home by the authorities. Too bad the same won’t happen to their driver.