The London 2013 Candidates Tournament was unsurpassed in drama, and undoubtedly will be long remembered by chess professionals and fans alike. The picture of the young genius, with his head resting against the staircase banisters, and his manager, rising to defend Magnus from the trespassing public, made the rounds of websites and newspapers around the world. The Norwegian photographer Morten Rakke managed to convey raw emotions and capture in one shot all the strain of this intense competition. ChessPro got in touch with Morten to talk about chess, photography, and life. 

- Morten, you are an experienced photographer, skilled at both documentary and staged photography. Which interests you more?
- When it comes to photo, I work in most genres, I love the variations this gives me. During my career for 20 years now I have divided my time in shooting commercial, press and magazine photos, and all the different styles appeal to me.
I started my career with reporting, and I guess that's where my heart lies. I've always loved to be able to tell real stories, with lots of passion and to be in the moment, as in sports and news. That said, the many possibilities that open when you are able to spend more time with big projects is fascinating, and I do like to stagemanage, to pull the strings. In both genres I use my skills as a storyteller to catch a real or a made up story through my pictures. 

- If you were to make a self-portrait to reflect your main professional traits, what would it be? Talk about your style in photography.
- My style is documentary and cinematic storytelling with emotions.
When it comes to shooting a self-portrait I guess I'm like many other photographers, what I like best is to be on the opposite side of the camera. 

- Do you often work chess tournaments? How did you get involved with the Candidates Tournament?
- I did my very first chess tournament in December 2012, here in London. I have worked with most genres in sport, most of it is quite different than chess. So by now I have only covered two tournaments in chess. It is great interest of Magnus Carlsen in Norway, and through NTB Scanpix which is the leading picture agency in Scandinavia, I served all the Norwegian medias with photos from the Candidates Tournament. 

- Were you rooting for your compatriot?
- In a big tournament like this it's kind of special to only follow one participant, for me Magnus Carlsen. He is so young, and still he is the big favorite, with lots of pressure on his shoulders. I must admit I have become a great fan of Magnus, and do hope he keep winning the big titles! 

- Chess is a very special sport; it lacks dynamics, visuals, it's more of a mind game. How do you manage to make your pictures emotional? Is there a special technique?
- All of the photographers get 10 minutes in the beginning of each round, and will then have to wait until the round is over before the players attend the press conference where photos is allowed again. Then we are allowed to follow the attendants when they leave the pit. It is not much time to find good angles, and much is going on without any big feelings involved. It is very important to concentrate during the little time we get, and to have a keen eye to all the details, even the smallest gestures, the attendant make. And since the procedure repeats itself every day of the tournament, I pay special attention to find different angles every day. 

- Morten, we noticed that during the Candidates Tournament you often worked behind the scenes. Does it give you a better chance to capture emotions?
- My goal as a photographer in such a tournament is to follow my target (in this case Magnus Carlsen) also outside the ring. It's always interesting for the media readers to view other sides of the sport, and to see Magnus Carlsen in a different situation than in front of the chess table is important. In a big tournament like this when a lot is at risk you can see the feelings in the attendants face and body language, and all the feelings that comes to the surface after a win or a loss is always very interesting to me. 

- Tell us the story of the Magnus and Espen shot.
- The picture is taken after his loss for Peter Svidler on the last day of the tournament, but it still made Magnus as the overall winner. Magnus went directly into the pressroom after the match, and he was obviously very tired after being fully concentrated for almost 8 hours. He answered the first few questions, and then told the crowd that he would need a rest and come back in 10 minutes. He stood up and walked towards his manager Espen Agdestein who opened the door behind the pressroom. I sensed the situation and followed him when he leaned over the staircase, totally exhausted, and got to take 3-4 shoots before Agdestein closed the door. That was a moment I never thought would come, and suddenly I saw chess as any other sport, it really has lots of insensitivity, and is tremendously difficult for the attendants. It really takes everything out of them.

- For you, what is an ideal picture? Did you already make your ideal picture?
- I guess I've not yet taken the perfect shot. I will keep on working to get the utmost out of the situation I'm in, and to eager for the photo that will tell the best story of the happening as it happens, that will always be my goal. I would love to photograph more chess, and I would like to come even closer to the chess players by doing arranged portraits of them. I think they are interesting people, with lots of mystique wrapped around them. It would be a cool challenge to reveal some of it in a portrait. 

- Morten, apart from photography, do you have hobbies? How do you spend your free time? What are your plans for the future?
- I spend much time in my career as a photographer out on location and on the road. So it means a lot for me to spend the most time outside of work with my wife, our three children and our dog, a fast running Whippet. I am an avid golfer and when I have time for it I try to hang out with that too.
Photography is a passion for life. New stories will come my way, new techniques will be explored and there will be lots of histories to catch with my camera. My goal is to continue to evolve through both still photos and film. I think it's great opportunities to further develop my own style and visual storytelling in the future. I am lucky to have so much fun while at work, and I love what I do.