Brain Power Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

I'm not a journalist, but am a huge chess fan. So two days ago I sneaked into the exclusive press conference for the upcoming World Chess Championship match Kramnik - Leko.

How is this connected to Hamburg ? Hamburg is the home of the famous company Chessbase, who is responsible for the best chess computer program, maybe some of you remember the match man (Kramnik) vs. machine in 2002.

If you are interested you can read an article (.pdf) (incl. this picture with credit) that I wrote for Chess Today - the first daily chess newspaper here or from my chess website here.

BTW there were three pro photographers present and from what I saw in the news their pictures are pretty much the same, even they couldn't get rid of the flash reflection.

One more btw I like how the chessboard stands out because it doesn't have the yellow frame line.

cmartos, ChrisJ, digi-mom, avigur_11, timotey has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

cmartos (6086) 2004-05-14 4:35

Hi Jan, I played chess for long years (when I was youg ;-)) but I stopped some years ago, just not enough time. Nice to see that your happy with your new cam. Just let me know if you need some tips for raw files processing. Nice framing here and good light management, though I would have choosed a lower angle to strongly emphasis chessboard. It seems also to me that picture could be sharper. Anyway a nice catch of this event with interesting attitudes.

[2] +

izanoza (777) 2004-05-14 16:35

Great! These guys are alike :) You catch very good moment. It seems that they don't play chess, they just have interesting conversation. Photo is very good composed. Very good sharp and suitable frame. Very well done!

digi-mom (1064) 2004-05-14 18:58

Their intense conversation makes me stop and look. I like the repetition of colors here too - the golds and blacks. It is a shame about the light reflection, but you did catch an interesting moment. I like how you included the Earth information in your note too. :o)

avigur_11 (21301) 2004-05-15 3:07

A very interesting photo, Jan and a good note. The pose of the left guy's hands gives the feeling he's playing a piano. I wonder what they are talkimg about. Nice shot.

ChrisJ (70335) 2004-05-15 3:24

Even though it's been taken with a flash, it's still an effective shot & well composed.

timotey (1926) 2004-05-25 12:44

A close frame that shows us two competitors sharing something about their own technic. Your picture is like a symbol of the natural fair play found in a game that breathes respect between opponents. That's my feeling :)

hojper (2830) 2004-05-31 11:41

Good catch Jan, only a pity you had to use the flash. I always find that white reflection in whatever background you have annoying in flash shots - but you noticed that already. Are they playing here? It looks like a debating society rather than a chess game. But the two guys look completely unaware of you - and that's good.