麻豆传媒

Lifestyle

    • Body language, knowledge of the game and luck: the art of chess photography

    Maria Emelianova says she felt like a career in photography felt like "destiny." (Lennart Ootes) Maria Emelianova says she felt like a career in photography felt like "destiny." (Lennart Ootes)
    Share

    Two people hunched over a black and white checkered board, deliberating what moves they will make, how their opponent might counter and how they might counter that counter, with barely a flicker of emotion passing over their faces.

    At first glance, it鈥檚 a sport that doesn鈥檛 seem the most vibrant or colorful or particularly dynamic, which makes the art of capturing its drama and excitement more complex than most sports photography.

    Maria Emelianova is a leading chess photographer, tasked with traveling the world to document the highs and lows of the sport.

    With over 10 years of experience, Emelianova has become proficient at capturing the slightest flicker of emotion or tension etched in the faces of the sport鈥檚 stars.

    But even after years of experience, she finds it hard to put into words what makes it such a difficult profession to capture.

    鈥淭hat鈥檚 always a very difficult question,鈥 Emelianova told CNN Sport when asked how she would describe the art of chess photography.

    鈥淚t鈥檚 opening the very outliers in sports to a more general public through the eye of the camera. So like people who know very little of chess and of the personalities can kind of get very close to the game and feel like they are right next to this chess game.

    鈥淏ut I think if I knew the answer to this completely, I would probably have solved (it).鈥

    Ian Nepomniatchtchi reacts in frustration after losing a tie-break to Ding Liren in the World Championship match, while Ding's exhaustion at winning the three-week long contest is on show. (Maria Emelianova/Chess.com)

    'DESTINY'

    Growing up in Russia, Emelianova began playing when she was a six-year-old, facing off against her grandfather until she joined a club to practice against her peers.

    She earned her woman FIDE master status 鈥 awarded to players with a classical rating of at least 2,100 and is the third-highest ranking exclusive to women 鈥 in 2010.

    She went on to become a professional chess player before taking a break from competitive chess. She did, however, make a brief return at the British Online Championship in December, 2020.

    Emelianova switched her allegiances to the English chess federation in February, 2020, citing the affinity built with the organization during years of competitions in the UK and friends she made on the team as reasons for the change. She is also a staunch critic of Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine.

    Her Elo rating peaked at 2,144 in 2004. The Elo rating system measures the strength of a chess player relative to their opponents. For context, Carlsen holds the record for the highest Elo rating ever achieved by a human player when he reached 2,882 in 2014.

    Emelianova remembers her mother having a passing interest in photography.

    鈥淢y mother was doing some photography stuff when she was younger in university, but it was analog photography,鈥 Emelianova explained. 鈥淏ut I was quite fascinated with analog photos.鈥

    Analog photography is the process of using cameras loaded with film and processing the photos in a laboratory afterwards using chemicals.

    Emelianova continued: 鈥淚 would find slides which she had stored from her student trips, and I would really like to go through them because all this stuff, of course, there was no Pinterest or Flickr or anything at the time.鈥

    Emelianova鈥檚 life changed ahead of the 39th Chess Olympiad in 2010, which was held in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.

    She had been planning to go as a fan and to catch up with friends. At the time, she had been working as a journalist and translator for a magazine in Moscow, for which she occasionally was tasked with taking photos.

    A few days before the Chess Olympiad, she was asked at a press conference if she wanted to take some photos at the tournament. Despite having limited experience and equipment, Emelianova accepted.

    Emelianova said she had already booked a train ticket but was whisked to the event in a private plane. Then her friend allowed her to borrow his expensive camera equipment.

    鈥淎t that time, at that moment, I was like: 鈥榃ell, this cannot be a coincidence. There is something kind of like destiny to it, to have this happen,鈥欌 she said.

    鈥淪o I took a lot of photos. I had no idea what I was doing, but I published them online, just on Instagram 鈥 And magazines were reaching out, asking for photos, and I sold enough to get my own camera.鈥

    And from there, Emelianova has made it her aim to attend every major chess tournament as a photographer.

    Magnus Carlsen reacts with relief when he realizes he will beat Ian Nepomniachtchi after over seven-and-a-half hours of intense play in game six of the 2022 World Champhionships. (Maria Emelianova/Chess.com)

    THE SKILL

    There鈥檚 more to chess photography than just setting up position and snapping. When she began, Emelianova explained, using cheaper equipment meant the shutter sound was louder when a photo was taken, possibly disturbing players.

    鈥淚 was always trying to make sure that the moment in the game is either not as critical and I can take a photo where the player can hear me but won鈥檛 be too distracted, or I will do it when it鈥檚 a really important moment and very tense moment, but I would just try to time it with the move being made,鈥 she said.

    鈥淪o they are already making the move or I know that the position on the board is already simplified and, of course, playing chess myself helped to see those moments and see that this moment 鈥 the emotions are still there.鈥

    Once she could afford better, quieter equipment, Emelianova got closer to the action.

    With the access she gets at matches 鈥 she admits she鈥檚 had to battle organizers to trust her to not intrude on ongoing games 鈥 and her knowledge and relationship with players, she knows where and when to take her shots.

    鈥淭he most important, I think, is that the players trust me to not overstep the boundary. And I also, myself, I sometimes have to even fight with myself like one part is a journalist and another is a chess player,鈥 she said.

    鈥淎nd the journalist is like: 鈥榊ou need to come closer and get this moment鈥 and the player鈥檚 like: 鈥楴o, no, you cannot do that.鈥 Sometimes, being a chess player also stops me from getting a better moment.鈥

    When she approaches a game, Emelianova 鈥 who has been working as an in-house photographer at leading chess website, Chess.com, since 2018 鈥 says she has a number of different cues she is looking for to get the best snaps.

    She says that her experience as a former professional player allows her to identify from the flow of the game, or seeing the current setting, whether or not she needs to have her camera at the ready.

    Outside of the game setting, Emelianova says she is constantly studying the players鈥 body language.

    鈥淪ome of the players don鈥檛 really show anything. But I already know enough to even, like 鈥 to catch a really, really subtle head shake or sitting like too straight or pretending to be very relaxed,鈥 she said.

    鈥淚 think my favorite part is portraits, but portraits with emotions. They have to be in some moment, not just taken out of the context. But I think, mostly, it鈥檚 the reactions of the players, the emotions and the moments which define the decider of the tournament or the game or the match.鈥

    Her personal knowledge of the players also helps her prepare. 鈥淎longside with knowing the players as personalities and kind of knowing what to expect from each one of them depending on the situation, I can quite often be there before something even happens,鈥 Emelianova said.

    But even with all that prior knowledge and planning, luck plays a big part in her photography, she admits.

    Despite knowing what she鈥檚 looking for, it doesn鈥檛 make the job any easier. She specifically remembers the skills she learned on a photojournalism course at Moscow State University, which helped her fine tune her craft.

    She also says that her work now as a chess streamer has given her a great appreciation for chess photography, as it鈥檚 allowed her to approach and talk about her work in an open forum.

    鈥淭he fact that it鈥檚 difficult to find something that stands out is a challenge enough to search for it and, when you find it, it鈥檚 like really redeeming and almost impossible to repeat,鈥 Emelianova said, adding that her job 鈥渋gnites a sparkle鈥 in her.

    鈥淥f course, sometimes I also struggle to find something that makes me go: 鈥榃ow,鈥 after so many years. But I will still keep looking because, when I do find [it], especially when it鈥檚 a player who barely shows anything, they鈥檙e completely emotionless, that鈥檚 important.

    鈥淚 think when you can make a story (is important). So like when somebody (who is) not from chess can look at the photos, not necessarily on text, but on the photos and read the story from there, that鈥檚 the most important thing.鈥

    CTVNews.ca Top Stories

    A 72-year-old inmate serving a life sentence for a brutal murder that happened in Chilliwack in 2016 has died, according to the Correctional Service of Canada.

    A U.S. driver somehow squeezed her vehicle through a parkade hallway at a Metro Vancouver casino Thursday, before getting stuck at an elevator bank.

    A tale about a taxicab hauling gold and sinking through the ice on Larder Lake, Ont., in December 1937 has captivated a man from that town for decades.

    Two Italian citizens have been apprehended after allegedly illegally crossing over the International Railroad Bridge to the United States.

    A former Canadian military reservist has been sentenced to house arrest after posting a video of himself firing a shotgun at a picture of a member of Parliament whom he accused of being a 'communist agent' for China.

    More than 550 symptomatic people responded to an online questionnaire about a gastrointestinal illness at a Prince Edward Island shellfish festival last weekend.

    The family of Jon Wells, a man who died in an incident involving Calgary police earlier this month, say they are seeking time to grieve their loss.

    Canada

    • A 72-year-old inmate serving a life sentence for a brutal murder that happened in Chilliwack in 2016 has died, according to the Correctional Service of Canada.

    • Two Italian citizens have been apprehended after allegedly illegally crossing over the International Railroad Bridge to the United States.

    • A U.S. driver somehow squeezed her vehicle through a parkade hallway at a Metro Vancouver casino Thursday, before getting stuck at an elevator bank.

    • More than 550 symptomatic people responded to an online questionnaire about a gastrointestinal illness at a Prince Edward Island shellfish festival last weekend.

    • A tale about a taxicab hauling gold and sinking through the ice on Larder Lake, Ont., in December 1937 has captivated a man from that town for decades.

    • The family of Jon Wells, a man who died in an incident involving Calgary police earlier this month, say they are seeking time to grieve their loss.

    World

    Politics

    Health

    Sci-Tech

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    Sports

    Autos

    • A tale about a taxicab hauling gold and sinking through the ice on Larder Lake, Ont., in December 1937 has captivated a man from that town for decades.

    • A U.S. driver somehow squeezed her vehicle through a parkade hallway at a Metro Vancouver casino Thursday, before getting stuck at an elevator bank.

    Local Spotlight

    A tale about a taxicab hauling gold and sinking through the ice on Larder Lake, Ont., in December 1937 has captivated a man from that town for decades.

    When a group of B.C. filmmakers set out on a small fishing boat near Powell River last week, they hoped to capture some video for a documentary on humpback whales. What happened next blew their minds.

    A pizza chain in Edmonton claims to have the world's largest deliverable pizza.

    Sarah McLachlan is returning to her hometown of Halifax in November.

    Wayne MacKay is still playing basketball twice at Mount Allison University at 87 years old.

    A man from a small rural Alberta town is making music that makes people laugh.

    An Indigenous artist has a buyer-beware warning ahead of Sept. 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

    Police are looking to the public for help after thieves broke into a Lethbridge ice creamery, stealing from the store.

    An ordinary day on the job delivering mail in East Elmwood quickly turned dramatic for Canada Post letter carrier Jared Plourde. A woman on his route was calling out in distress.

    • The leader of the BC Conservative Party laid out his strategy to solve the province's housing crisis Friday, which includes slashing red tape and letting the private sector take the reins on boosting supply.

    • More than 100 years after they were forced from the Sen虛谩岣祑 village, members of the Squamish Nation will soon once again call it home.

    • The man who was killed in a shooting believed to be gang-related in Langley last week was also a suspect in a brutal road rage assault on a couple in Mission earlier this month, police have confirmed.

    • Ontario Provincial Police say they have learned about more incidents of rocks being thrown at vehicles on Highway 48 in Markham.

    • A 17-year-old boy has been arrested and three more suspects are being sought in connection with an alleged gang sexual assault of a woman in St. Catharines earlier this month, which police believe was a 'targeted' incident.

    • Two Italian citizens have been apprehended after allegedly illegally crossing over the International Railroad Bridge to the United States.

    • The family of Jon Wells, a man who died in an incident involving Calgary police earlier this month, say they are seeking time to grieve their loss.

    • The Green Line LRT project seemed to stall in September but many say it hasn't gone off the rails, as Calgary's mayor and the province met again to discuss options on Friday.

    • Safaa went to Lebanon looking to meet with a specialist for her Crohn's disease. Now, she and her four children are caught in the conflict between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah.

    • The 20th annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Run (NPOMR) is underway, with participants expected to make their way into downtown Ottawa Saturday.

    • A rat infestation in Overbrook is causing a major headache for residents, who say the problem is out of control. Rats can be seen in yards day and night, with no sign of relief.

    • Parking rates at The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) will increase as of Tuesday for patients, visitors and staff.

    • A 31-year-old man has been charged following the death of a woman who went missing in southern Quebec earlier this week.

    • Montreal police say they've arrested a man in connection with the theft of tens of thousands of dollars in golf merchandise tied to the Presidents Cup PGA Tour being held this week in the city.

    • 麻豆传媒 Montreal at Six for Friday, Sept. 27, 2024 with anchor Mutsumi Takahashi.

    • There's one more week of pre-season games for the Edmonton Oilers before the National Hockey League team sets its roster for opening night a few days later.

    • Edmonton's mayor is, once again, asking the United Conservative Party government to pay its full share of property taxes on provincial buildings.

    • Edmonton Fire Rescue Services (EFRS) says it hasn't seen a rise in fires related to lithium-ion batteries, but is still encouraging Edmontonians not to overcharge their devices.

    • A youth who stabbed two staff members at a Bedford, N.S., high school in March 2023 has been sentenced to two years of probation, with certain conditions.

    • More than 550 symptomatic people responded to an online questionnaire about a gastrointestinal illness at a Prince Edward Island shellfish festival last weekend.

    • A 43-year-old man and a 45-year-old man, both from Sussex, N.B., have died as the result of a single-vehicle crash near Hay Settlement, N.B.

    • The Province of Manitoba has signed off on the sale of Portage Place, finalizing a deal with all three levels of government for True North to purchase the mall.

    • This is the first year Technical Vocational High School had an Orange Shirt Day walk.

    • An Ontario woman who allegedly abducted her three children from Ontario and crossed into Manitoba was arrested in Saskatchewan this week.

    • A man from Weyburn, Sask. died following a collision on Highway 1 just east of Regina on Friday morning.

    • George Gordon First Nation has completed their second phase in search of unmarked graves.

    • Members of Yorkton Tribal Council (YTC) are taking action to address the growing addictions crisis through the grand opening of their new detox centre 鈥 Eagle Sky Healing Lodge Detox Centre.

    • It鈥檚 homecoming weekend for many students and alumni and preparations are underway to ensure it鈥檚 a safe celebratory weekend.

    • When Ontario鈥檚 minimum wage goes up on Oct. 1, another group of workers will also see an increase. But what is the homeworkers鈥 minimum wage?

    • It鈥檚 the first weekend for the big Bavarian bash in Waterloo Region and it鈥檚 starting with a bang.

    • Saskatoon's homeless population is on pace to more than double in one year, according to data from the Saskatoon Fire Department.

    • In the aftermath of a fire that destroyed Snow White Family Restaurant in Biggar Saskatchewan, a GoFundMe has been created to help the owner start over.

    • EXCLUSIVE

      EXCLUSIVE

      The most important issues for Saskatchewan voters depends on which party they support, according to a new poll.

    • A tale about a taxicab hauling gold and sinking through the ice on Larder Lake, Ont., in December 1937 has captivated a man from that town for decades.

    • The emotional cross-examination of the woman accusing Jacob Hoggard of sexual assault continued at his trial Friday, as the Canadian musician's defence lawyer sought to highlight possible issues with the complainant's memory.

    • There were some tense moments for a B.C. family this week after their dog came face-to-face with a protective mama bear right outside their front door.

    • The National Council of Canadian Muslims and Hikma Public Affairs Council have both released statements on social media regarding the reported incident.

    • Provincial police say they've laid charges against five people through an investigation into illegal cannabis stores in London.

    • The London Knights kicked off the new hockey season tonight at Budweiser Gardens against the Flint Firebirds

    • Several heavily armed officers descended on a home in the southeast area of Barrie Thursday afternoon after reports of a man armed with a crossbow.

    • A multi-vehicle collision on Highway 400 in Bradford caused some traffic backups ahead of the weekend.

    • Motorists planning to drive near the intersection of Essa Road and Anne Street South in Barrie over the weekend may have to pack their patience.

    • The federal and provincial governments are committing up to $1.5 million over the next four years to improve support for international agri-food workers (IAWs) in Ontario.

    • The Ontario government unveiled a new battery storage project in Tilbury that aims to provide reliable and affordable clean energy to families and businesses.

    • Over $100,000 has been donated to Brentwood Recovery Home on its 60th anniversary from St. Clair College and Windsor Rona+ stores.

    • Ari Kinarthy never imagined he'd become the focus of photographers on a red carpet, back when he was a boy fighting to have fun.

    • In the last provincial election, the B.C. Conservatives fielded just 19 candidates 鈥 and received less than 2 per cent of the vote.

    • The BC Prosecution Service says it has approved a charge against a Vancouver police officer over a collision with a pedestrian in 2023.

    • A pair of runaway pigs are in the custody of an animal sanctuary in the Okanagan after evading police and volunteers for hours earlier this week.

    • The Red Bridge, a historic landmark in Kamloops, B.C., was completely destroyed by fire early Thursday morning.

    • Animal protection officers in British Columbia have rescued three pit bulls 鈥 including one that gave birth to 10 puppies 鈥 from a rat-infested home in Kelowna.

    • The sentencing for three men convicted of helping lead and coordinate the COVID-19 protest blockade at Coutts, Alta., in 2022 has been delayed.

    • A 10-year-old boy from Lethbridge is being praised as a hero after a routine summer outing at the pool nearly turned tragic for his friend.

    • A man and woman have been charged after a Lethbridge ice creamery was broken into earlier this week. Staff arrived at Cookie Crimes, in the 300 block of Sixth Street South, just before 5:30 a.m. on Monday to discover the front window broken.

    • Police in Sault Ste. Marie have charged a 47-year-old suspect after a 911 caller reported someone asleep in line at a local drive-thru.

    • At its meeting Oct. 1, city council in Sault Ste. Marie will vote on a staff recommendation to buy the former Sault Area Hospital site on Queen Street East and Lucy Terrace.

    • Sault Police say a 50-year-old suspect had a busy morning Thursday, and is now charged with committing several offences between 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.

    N.L.

    Shopping Trends

    The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at 麻豆传媒. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop.聽Read about us.

    Stay Connected
    Follow 麻豆传媒