I was lucky to come around quite a bit in Europe’s most southwestern country, but a spot blank on my map of Portugal was to the East of Lisboa. The ancient city of Évora was founded by the Romans before Christ. On the day of my visit in early May, the opportunities for exciting shots were great, as a storm came with heavy clouds. However, the sun was still there, refusing to obey and shining on the beautiful buildings of Évora, making for a great and gloomy atmosphere.
Although I traveled to Portugal extensively, curiously, I had never been to the Algarve, the southern coast of the country, before. I must admit I had my prejudices. It seemed to me that this part of the country was reserved for the sun-seeking mass tourist. Northern Portugal seemed much more mysterious and exciting to me. It was the road less traveled. But boy – was I missing out! The Algarve, with its white architecture glowing in the sunlight, seems like a natural extension of the Portugal I know. Sure, there are tourists at this time of the year (beginning of May), but there are not more than in Lisboa. Give it a try!
Over the years, Portugal became a country and a topic I revisit now and then. Again, I had the chance to travel to this beautiful Iberian country and shoot some photographs there. This time, though, I had no access to my usual setup (Canon 70D with Tamron lens) and had to borrow equipment from my girlfriend. It was interesting to shoot with a camera different from the one I was used to. The Sony SLT-a77 is not as advanced as my Canon, but it has some merits. I liked the viewfinder, and the shots are wider by default, making them slightly more cinematic. The first series is a highlight reel of the week I spent in different parts of the country. From the first to last picture, the locations are Lisboa (bridge of the 25th of April), Capo da Rocca, Cascais, Fatimá, Óbidos.
In this personal post, my friend Lukas shares his thoughts about his passion for chess and the game’s current state in connection to a recent visit to New York. The pictures were shot in Union Square Park.
Chess has seen better days. Maybe it’s an underestimation of the current standing of chess, but the societal impact and prevalence of chess seem to be lower than in the past decades. If one does not explicitly look for them, few people are around to have a casual game or chat about the latest tournament results.
There are, of course, reasons for this. For a sport to be enjoyed and appreciated by the masses, skill must be apparent to the layman. Everyone can see the talent on display when a professional footballer scores a spectacular goal, shooting the ball right past the goalkeeper’s fingertips with only inches to spare. Chess is a different matter. The hidden reasonings of a complicated chess move can only be appreciated by people of at least somewhat similar skill levels.
I’ve always found it fitting to compare chess to a language. It can hardly be enjoyed by people who do not understand it. It demands continuous practice, or your proficiency will fade. And, not least of all, it takes two fluent speakers to create a good conversation. I’ve had a mixed relationship with chess over the years. I’ve had my past with chess clubs and tournaments, but the drain on my personal time was too significant to stick to it over the years. Most of my friends do not play, and meeting those who do get more difficult by the year as lives change and responsibilities pile up. Then there is, of course, the internet. Nowadays, people who need their regular dose of chess generally retreat to online platforms. This might be incredibly convenient – as one can play anywhere, anytime – but something is lost on the way.
On a recent trip to New York City, one of the most essential things on my personal to-do list was to visit the local chess-playing community, famous for playing in the parks of Manhattan. The weather could not have been worse when I finally found the time. The mild temperatures of the past week gave way to sporadic snow and a bone-chilling, uncomfortable cold. I was wondering whether I’d find anyone to play at all. Still, even in such harsh conditions, I saw people standing in circles, playing, silently watching, or engaged in light-hearted conversation. Not only did I get to play my games, I got much more than that.
As I was sitting there, at Union Square Park, in the heart of one of the most awe-inspiring cities of the world, sacrificing pawns, knights and queens alike, bantering and laughing with complete strangers, I was reminded once again: it’s a sad thing if you can’t share your passions with likeminded people.
Michael Hoffman Photography 