PLATON - one of the world’s most renowned portrait photographers - having photographed more world leaders than anyone else in history simply wowed the crowd on the Gold Coast to close the Connect 2018 conference.
He enthralled the Ray White and Loan Market brokers and agents with a recap of the time he got to photograph former US President George W. Bush at his ranch in Texas.
“When you step down from a position of responsibility you have time to reflect on your own legacy and he didn’t want me to document that regret forevermore," Platon said.
"In every single picture, he gave me a mask, a big cheesy smiling mask. W. Bush is notoriously camera shy and when I arrived at his ranch he poked his fingers into my chest and said, ‘you better be photographing a guy who is happy’. So I don’t presume to speak for my sitters but all I can do is give you my take as I am seeing it as I happen to be in the room.”
Platon also recalled the time he captured the last portrait of US President Bill Clinton while he was still in the White House.
“I was Esquire Magazine’s fourth choice and they wanted a dignified headshot of their president," he said.
"They closed down a 200 room hotel to do this picture and I only had eight minutes to do the photo. I saw the motorcade arrive as I was setting up my lights and it was just like in the movies and as time was running out I called to Bill and said, ‘show me the love’. His adviser warned him not to show me the love but Bill knew exactly what I wanted.”
Platon asked the delegates - what would they do if they were not afraid? It was a question that tech titan Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook asked him during his portrait sitting.
“I’ll be honest, fear plays a huge part of my life,” Platon said.
On the same stage earlier this afternoon, Dr Jordan Nguyen, a Vietnamese-Australian biomedical engineer and inventor whose achievements include creating a mind-controlled wheelchair, told the conference that his mission in life was to improve the lives of as many people as possible.
Dr Nguyen stays ahead of the next big trends and designs life-changing technologies focusing on intelligent, futuristic and inclusive technology for the disability sector, and beyond.
You may have seen the futurist on Catalyst on ABC TV.
“Intelligence in the ability to adapt to change,” said the 33-year-old engineer.
“Technology is an enabler, it’s all about how we can empower don’t be afraid of it. We come up with a challenge and we can come up with a solution. We are living at the fastest rate ever seen but we also might be living at the slowest rate of change ever seen. Think different and dream big.”
Dr Nguyen said he created a social business - which is between for business and a not-for-profit - to maximise social impact to put the mind into action.
“I apply the things that I see out in the world. Technology is moving so quickly,” he said.
“When we go into anything that is scary - like in virtual reality - it highlights your fears. Kids of today simply get this technology. Kids understand technology.”
Storyful CEO Sharb Farjami was another to take to the Connect 2018 stage today, sharing his insights into the world of social media and fake news.
“The vast majority of content you consume (80 per cent) is generated by users,” he said.
“When you think about quality control and fact-checking, it’s hard to control this when so much is generated by users. And it affects markets in a serious way.”
Storyful was created to address the rise of this fake news, disseminating the difference between fake news and what is actually happening in real time.
“The riskiest thing for a newsroom to do is to publish something that’s not true,” Mr Farjami said.
“Unfortunately quite often we see people and brands get caught up in issues. You can’t unsee what you’ve seen. They think what they think and they move on. There’s no time for correction.”
Mr Farjami told the audience that the impact of fake news spreading on social media can have long-term damaging effects, often catching brands and businesses off guard.
“Social media is extremely positive when used for good, but that is not currently happening and companies need to be aware about what is being said about them so they can adapt and respond,” he said.
“Most people live in an echo chamber of their own point of view.”
Two days of learning, networking and celebrating at Connect 2018 wraps up tonight with a Bollywood Gala Party at The Star, Gold Coast.
