The Philosopher Photo

Photographer’s Note

Yesterday, in Radom Prof. Leszek Kolakowski took part in the celebration of his 80th birthsday.

"Born in Radom in 1927, Kolakowski is the outstanding living Polish philosopher. He has lived in exile since 1968 and is currently a Fellow of All Saints' College at Oxford.

His primary interest is the history of philosophy, especially since the eighteenth century liberalism, the philosophy of culture, and the philosophy of religion. Aside from philosophical texts, Kolakowski has written literary works. These, however, are closely associated with the author's professional concerns, and would have to be classed as philosophical tales (THIRTEEN TALES FROM THE KINGDOM OF LAILONIA and CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DEVIL). In these tales, Kolakowski uses an accessible and attractive literary form to analyze philosophical problems and paradoxes and to present discussions among different philosophical schools and doctrines. These stories are marked by intelligent wit and a mastery of literary conventions and styles, especially in the BIBLICAL TALES.

Kolakowski's books long appeared in Poland in underground editions, playing a prominent role in shaping the Polish intellectual opposition. Especially significant was the essay THE CHAPLAIN AND THE JESTER, which analyzed the attitudes of the intelligentsia toward authority. The first text of Kolakowski's to be confiscated by the censor - and, subsequently, the first to begin to function underground - was the 1956 manifesto "What is Socialism?", which he wrote for "Po prostu" magazine. In 1996, Leszek Kolakowski recorded ten short lectures on issues in the philosophy of culture (on authority, tolerance, betrayal, equality, fame, and falsehood, among others) for Polish Television. These were then published in book form as MINI-LECTURES ON MAXI-ISSUES."

www.culture.pl

adipos, LamCam, Gierlinski, Paul65 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

adipos (116) 2007-10-27 3:03

Even with a different title, Agnieszka, one could easily read from the man's face that he is a philosopher.
I can even read the thought...
TFS

Adrian

LamCam (3603) 2007-10-27 3:14

Hello Agnieszka
A suitably solemn, but gentle portrait. What a multitude of thoughts have been held by that head over the years!
A 'soft' image but still with good definition.
Best wishes maggie

Booz (13842) 2007-10-27 3:25

piêkny portret - taki prawdziwy - tacy ludzie niestety gasn± - ich lampki siê wypalaj± jedna za drug± - oby p³onê³y jak najd³u¿ej - pozostaj± w pamiêci tych którzy poznali, próbowali rozumieæ.. - m³odzi ju¿ ich nie dostrzeg±...
Dziêki,
Tomek

Gierlinski (940) 2007-10-27 3:37

Czesc Agnieszka,
Bardzo ciekawy portret i oczywiscie osoba prof. Kolakowskiego, brawo.
1/30 to juz jednak na granicy poruszenia, ale ciekawe swiatlo nadrabia wszystko.
Powiem Ci jednak, ze troche jednak brakuje mi ucha... chociaz pewnie gdyby kadr byl pelniejszy zastanawialbym sie czy by go toche jeszcze nie przyciac...
Pozdrawiam serdecznie,
Michal

Polonaise (5634) 2007-10-27 9:25

Pierwsze momenty 'zderzenia' z L. Kołakowskm...

1981, Rome. Hotel 'Claudia'...

Czytanie wspanialej Paryskiej Kultury, a tam rozwazania profesora...
Wypieki na twarzy, szum w glowie...
Takie głowy Polska wydała...(???)
Opluwani, ośmiewani, tropieni, pogardzani ohydą komuchowskiej idei pisanej - przecie zyją, piórem swoim wspaniali jak nikt inny...
Artykuł za artykułem, strona za strona...
Juz ciemno za oknem, a ta Krycha wariatka juz trzeci raz wali do drzwi i wydziera sie na caly korytarz...
No co, skonczyłes już, Jurek ???
Inni tez czekaja...

Wygladzam starannie papier steranej od uzycia okladki...

Żyj nam wiecznie, profesorze ...

Głupia łezka w kąciku oka…

.........

Paul65 (1402) 2007-10-27 11:58

Witam Agnieszko!
Jeste¶ osob± niezwykle szczê¶liw±, obcowaæ z tak wielkimi polakami to rzadko¶æ i wielkie szczê¶cie. Nie bêdê tu wiêcej siê wypowiada³ na ten temat, bo temat ten jest jak rzeka. I niejedn± ksi±¿kê mo¿na by napisaæ i na pewno zostanie niejedna napisana.
A portret wspania³y, bardzo ciep³y, taki jaki chcia³bym by kto¶ mi kiedy¶ zrobi³.
Gratulacje!
Pozdrawiam Pawe³, mi³ej niedzieli.

jasmis (50094) 2007-10-27 12:22

Jesteś Wielka. Szkoda, ze dajesz dowody na to tak rzadko.
Zdjęcie w pierwszej dziesiątce tego roku.
Pozdrawiam!

ninaL (19446) 2007-10-27 14:41

Witaj, Agnieszko.
Znany czlowiek dobrze sfotografowany.
Jest tutaj ten hick, chociaz swiatlo pada na dolna czesc twarzy, a wolalabym nieco bardziej ku gorze...No ale jest to bardzo dobry portret...
Gratulacje.
Pozdrawiam. Grazyna.

Clairedelune (4885) 2007-10-27 16:29

Hello Agnieszka,
I, unfortunately, don't know the man. But I like the way they are talking about him, with much respect. And you show the same respect in your photo of Mr. Kolakowski. My problem is that I don't know how I can explain to you why I can feel that respect in your photo. Sorry. It might be his pose, his inward look... or your very simple, yet nice and effective, framing.
I just wish that you had a tiny faster speed, since he is a little blurred. But, I also see that you were close to the limits of your camera.
Nevertheless, a great portrait. Well deserved for a great man.
Claire

powoj (1655) 2008-01-03 16:53

Oglądnąłem kilka spotkań z Mistrzem w tv... Oprócz Mistrza wywodów,, fajna była oprawa, i muzyczna i (ja nie wiem jak się to fachowo nazywa) takie podkreślające złote myśli Mistrza cytaty na ekranie...
Zdjęcie, które przedstawiłaś jest jednak inne.. Dla mnie smutne... Psiakrew! Z punktu widzenia fotografa doskonałe... Lubię je.