Why Chess?

Those who know me might ask why I shifted my focus from landscape photography. Actually, I haven’t really "turned away"; I just found a new project: capturing the beauty of chess boards and pieces. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves—this story started a long, long time ago…

My dad was an avid chess player. In fact, he was a bit of a fanatic, always eager to play “the game.” When I was a kid, he taught me the basics of chess: the moves, the concept of checkmate, and the unique look of each piece, from pawns to rooks. We didn’t have a “real” wooden board, just a foldable one made of oilcloth. After each game between my dad and his friend, it was my job to set the pieces back on the board.

Every Tuesday, my dad would visit his friend, and I would tag along since his friend's grandchild was my age. We would spend the afternoon together, making memories that are still vivid today, even though forty years have passed.

I grew up, and while I didn’t pursue chess as passionately as my dad did, my love for the game—and my respect for those who play it—remained.

The chess set from my childhood was a Viennese (Wien) set, much like the one in this photo.

To be continued…