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Macron beats Le Pen to win second term

by: Cassandra Tanti
24/04/2022

Emmanuel Macron has been elected to a second term as French president securing 58.2% of the vote on Sunday night, according to the initial IPSOS polling institute.

His far-right opponent Marine Le Pen won 41.8% of the vote.

The margin is wider than polls had measured in the last week of the campaign but was far narrower than their 2017 clash when Macron received 66.1% and Le Pen 33.9%.

Voter turnout was just over 63% according to the Interior Ministry, down 2% on the last election and the lowest figure in 50 years.

The 2022 campaign was set against a backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a cost of living crisis in France, a surge in support for the far-left among younger generations, and suggestions of widespread voter apathy.

Marine Le Pen, who has now run for France’s presidency three times, chose to distance herself from her previous rhetoric on the European Union and euro integration and instead concentrate on the economic struggles of French voters.

Centrist Macron, 44, plans to continue his reformist agenda, recently promising to help France reach full employment and change the country’s retirement from 62 to 65.

But Macron can expect little to no grace period after many, especially on the left, only voted for him reluctantly to block the far-right from winning. Protests that marred part of his first mandate could erupt again quite quickly, as he tries to press on with pro-business reforms.

“There will be continuity in government policy because the president has been reelected. But we have also heard the French people’s message,” Health Minister Olivier Veran told BFM TV.

Victory for the pro-European Union Macron would be hailed by allies as a reprieve for mainstream politics that have been rocked in recent years by Britain’s exit from the European Union, the 2016 election of Donald Trump and the rise of a new generation of nationalist leaders.

The outcome of the election is expected to be confirmed by official results overnight.

 

 

Monaco experiences: Refined authenticity at the new Em Sherif

by: Cassandra Tanti
17/04/2022

In a country of spoils, there is always comfort in finding authenticity, tradition and family values on a plate, and that’s exactly what you get at Em Sherif in the Hôtel de Paris, with that famous Monte-Carlo touch, of course.

There has been barely an empty seat in Em Sherif since it opened its doors for the first time on 2nd April. Not only does Monaco revel in a new gastronomic experience, if it is to be had in the exquisite Hôtel de Paris, all the better.

To the left of the hotel’s grand staircase, Em Sherif welcomes you through a corridor filled with Graff diamonds – an unmistakable reminder of the two worlds that are coming together at this Beirut-born restaurant.

Mireille Hayek opened her first Em Sherif in Lebanon’s capital in 2011, the traditional restaurant concept celebrating a culture experienced through taste, sight, hearing and feeling.

She has since opened 12 more restaurants in the Middle East, and most  recently in London at Harrods. This opening in Monaco is the company’s first foray into Europe and is part of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer’s (SBM) aim of adding strong, international brands to its range of restaurants to appeal to a discerning clientele.

Mireille Hayek has entrusted the running of Em Sherif Monte-Carlo to daughter Yasmina, a charismatic and confident young woman who has trained at the prestigious Paul Bocuse Institute and worked under Mathieu Pacaud, who owns several Michelin starred restaurants in Paris, as well as two-starred Jean-François Piège and three Michelin star Chef and winner of the Bocuse d’Or Rasmus Kofoed in Denmark.

“People in Monaco have very high expectations, and we are in the world of Alain Ducasse at the same time, so there are very high Michelin standards here, and we have to meet those standards,” Yasmina Hayek tells Monaco Life.

Em Sherif at the Hôtel de Paris, photo by MCSBM

Em Sherif embraces the precious Middle Eastern culture of meal times, that of communal experiences in which family and friends eat together, not with separate plates but from a shared dish. And the sheer number of dishes here means that guests should definitely arrive hungry.

“It was nice to find a middle ground between this limit of what gastronomy you can do with Lebanese cuisine, and how to keep it at the same time generous with that sharing experience,” adds the 25-year-old head chef.

The hot and cold mezze selection includes four different types of hummus, including one with melt-in-your-mouth Wagyu; mutabbal of smoked eggplant, tahini and pomegranate; yalanji of rice-filled chard leaves; fattet kraydiss – crispy prawns with yoghurt and kadaif; and smake beyroutiyeh – sea bass fillet with beyroutiyeh sauce.

In addition to the 21 mezze plates, there are five main dishes including shawarma lahme with beef fillet, and siyyadiyeh – a deliciously steamed whole sea bass stuffed with caramelised rice and aromatic herbs.

Two grilled dishes of whole chicken and beef round out the savoury menu, while a colourful array of desserts are designed to cleanse the palate with fruity flavours and floral aromas, like the orange blossom and rose milk pudding, while traditional pastries indulge the senses.

The baklava at Em Sherif Monte-Carlo, photo by MCSBM

“Pasty in France is important, so we refined all of our pastries at Em Sherif Monte-Carlo,” reveals Hayek. “We want to please clients who prefer the original while accommodating other clients who are looking for something more. Everything in Monaco needs to be elevated. It can’t be too greasy, for example, so instead of gee we use pure butter for our baklava. These are the type of edges that we try to do here in Monte-Carlo.”

Despite a string of new Em Sherif openings ahead in Paris, Greece and the United States, Yasmina Hayek plans on staying put in Monte-Carlo, excited at the opportunity to continue to share her family legacy with the people and guests of the Principality.

“I think that presence is very important here,” she says affectionately. “People love meeting the chefs, and every day we have guests wanting to visit us in the kitchen. We have already had so many people who came back to the restaurant, so it is beautiful to see the same faces.”

The journey of the senses continues outside in the Mediterranean garden where, surrounded by lemon trees, kumquat and wild sage, guests will be able to enjoy a chic Chicha Lounge Bar in the afternoons and evenings.

Yasmina and Mireille Hayek, photo by MCSBM

“Lebanon gifted me the culture I am so proud of. It’s what constantly inspires Em Sherif and it’s what has allowed me to succeed,” says the restaurant’s founder Mireille Hayek. “Bringing this culture to Monaco in a place as legendary as the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo is such a joy. It gives me the opportunity to transmit my love for my country.”

Em Sherif Monte-Carlo is open from Wednesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner. The Chicha Lounge bar will open from 4pm to 1am from Monday 18th April.

 

See more photos of Em Sherif in our Instagram post below…

https://www.instagram.com/p/CcYT4OUMJFN/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

 

 

 

Top photo of Yasmina Hayek by Monaco Life

 

 

 

 

Favourites thrive on the Monte-Carlo clay

by: Luke Entwistle
15/04/2022

Thursday was a day of few surprises at the Monte-Carlo Masters as big names advanced into the quarter-finals at a scorching Country Club. Here’s a round-up of all the action.

It’s not every day that foe turns friend on the tennis court. But that was the case for Taylor Fritz and Sebastian Korda on Thursday. Opponents on the Court des Princes in the morning, they found themselves on the same side of the net in the afternoon as they came up against Jamie Murray and Rohan Bopanna in the doubles.

Sharing a more literal, physical proximity on the court in the afternoon, fine margins separated the two in the morning as Fritz prevailed in an all-American affair (7-6, 7-5). It was a game of few rallies as it was played at a lightning pace.

Without any breaks of serve in the opening set, it was ultimately decided by a tie break in which serve still reigned supreme, before Fritz crucially broke the serve, prevailing 7-4.

Break points were like London buses, you wait over an hour for one and then two come at once. Fritz broke Korda midway through the second set, before the latter immediately hit back in the next game. The game seemed destined for a second tie-break, but the superiorly-ranked Fritz made sure that didn’t happen, breaking his compatriot to ensure progression to the quarter-finals.

Just moments later, both took to the court again, this time with the same goal: to progress to the quarter-finals of the doubles. Standing in their way were Murray and Bopanna.

Murray and Bopanna took the first set relatively comfortably, a single break of serve enough to decide it (4-6) before a tighter second went all the way to a nail-biting tie-break. The Americans prevailed (9-7) taking the game to a final set, which would be decided by a 10-point tiebreaker.

Four consecutive points from Murray and Bopanna changed the destiny of the tie, overturning a 6-4 deficit to go two to the good, they then converted to take the victory (4-6, 7-6, 7-10). A double dose of disappointment for Korda, who began the day in contention in both formats, but finished it out of the competition entirely.

Surprises at a premium

Fritz may be out of the doubles, but his victory against Korda in the singles was in fitting with the overriding trend of big names getting the job done, albeit sometimes in slightly arduous style.

Rhythmless, stuttering, but experienced and hard-fought best describe reigning champion Stefanos Tsitsipas’ victory against Laslo Djere (7-5, 7-6) on Court Rainier III. The Serbian Djere made Tsitsipas work for the first set, having held serve throughout, he gave his opponent two opportunities at the death, and although he held the first, two games later, the Greek player was given another chance and this time didn’t waste it (7-5).

The second set would be even tighter. In a match of very few rallies and low on quality for large swathes of it, Tsitsipas leaned back on his experience to see him over the line.

Djere took Tsitsipas to a tie-break, but thereafter couldn’t keep pace. The Serb looked exhausted, and frequent touching of his thigh alluded to an underlying injury as he succumbed 7-1 in the tie break and 7-5, 7-6 over the course of the match.

Zverev had no such issues in his match against Pablo Carreno Busta on the main court. The German, who is the highest ranked player left in the competition, sauntered to a first set victory (6-2). The Spaniard immediately hit back in the second, breaking Zverev in the first game, but the German hit back as he regained his grasp on the fixture.

Zverev then needed four bites of the apple to finish the match, but eventually broke Busta to advance into the quarter-finals.

Elsewhere, giant-killer Alejandro Davidovich Fokina breezed past David Goffin (6-4, 6-1), and Diego Schwartzman eventually prevailed against Lorenzo Musetti (6-2, 4-6, 6-3). Although the trend of the day was of favourites coming out on top, a few did buck that trend. Fourth seed Casper Ruud was beaten in straight sets by Grigor Dimitrov (6-3, 7-5) and in the final match of the day, the Italian crowd roared on Jannik Sinner to victory against Andrey Rublev (5-7, 6-1, 6-3).

Whilst the opening days of the tournament were defined by shock exits, the last few days have been defined by big names imposing themselves and getting the job done. Many will have sniffed a glorious chance of a title following Novak Djokovic’s exit, and with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal absent through injury, they may never have a better chance to win it.

 

Make sure you follow Monaco Life on Instagram for all the action as it happens from the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters! 

 

 

Photo by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life

 

 

 

“The most important two weeks in the club’s history”

by: Luke Entwistle
09/04/2022

During an exclusive interview with Monaco Life, AS Monaco Basketball’s General Manager Oleksiy Yefimov spoke about the team’s “fairytale” Euroleague season, whilst revealing grand plans to consolidate that success.

“I truly believe that those two weeks were the most important in the club’s history so far,” said Yefimov in the aftermath of the Roca Team’s qualification for the Euroleague play-offs on Friday. This unlikely feat is a tale of how AS Monaco Basketball ploughed on through adversity to make their dream a reality.

Although the last few weeks and months are the exciting third act of this captivating tale, the opening two acts carry an equal, if not greater importance, as Yefimov set the scene for a story that would captivate basketball fans across the continent.

Arriving in 2015, the Ukrainian has piloted a soaring project that has reached new heights with each passing season. Taking the reins of a LNB Pro B club, the Roca Team immediately earned promotion into the top division of French basketball, the LNB Pro A.

Just a year later, the side were competing in Europe, and in the 2020-2021 season, they won the Eurocup, securing entry into the Euroleague for the first time in the club’s history, as Monaco entered into the hall of the basketball elite.

New kids on the court

The odds were stacked against the Roca Team from the outset, who nonetheless had ambitious, clearly outlined objectives. “When we started the Euroleague, of course our main goal was to get into the play-offs, to remain in the competition for the upcoming season.” Announcing themselves on the largest stage of European basketball doesn’t come without its own set of unique challenges.

“Back in September, we had a lot of things to fix,” began Yefimov. The greatest source of those problems? The Salle Gaston Médecin. Its limited capacity (only 5,000) didn’t fulfil the requirements of the league, and this was a heavily disruptive issue in the run-up to the season.

“Only two weeks prior to the start of the Euroleague season, we got permission to host Euroleague games in Monaco. There was an open question about the home arena, so a lot of players in the beginning were hesitant because we didn’t have that kind of reputation at the highest level.”

Difficulty in recruitment was a major issue for a side that Yefimov believed in need of an almost completely refreshed roster. “We had seen that Euroleague and Eurocup levels were almost incomparable… The Euroleague is a completely different level, a much higher level than the Eurocup or any other European competition.”

Those recruitment difficulties were only exacerbated by a relatively small budget compared to their Euroleague rivals. “Last year we had the 10th or 12th biggest budget amongst Eurocup teams, this season we are operating with only the 13th or 14th largest budget in the league,” said Yefimov.

In addition to the squad rebuild, a limited budget and a lack of arena, history also weighed heavily against the Roca Team. “When you look at it statistically, there isn’t a case where a newcomer in the Euroleague reached the play-offs. Teams in the Euroleague for the first time are finishing 16th, 17th, 18th…Since the tournament became the Euroleague, no French division team has reached the play-offs.”

Despite using their funds in a “smart way,” the outlook wasn’t great in the opening stages of the season. Following a five-game losing streak in the Euroleague, and languishing in 14th position, a change was required and coach, Zvezdan Mitrovic was fired.

The Serbian saviour

“It was an extremely risky decision. Considering it statistically, in more than 80% of cases, when a team is changing a coach during the season the situation doesn’t improve,” admitted Yefimov. Risky, but certainly not reckless, the decision to bring in Sasa Obradovic was a heavily deliberated one. “You need to think not just twice, but 20 times prior to making your decision to part ways with your coach during the season.”

Serbian coach, Obradovic was always the standout candidate. Having already worked at AS Monaco, he knew the organisation, the league and also had experience of taking charge of teams mid-season.

Hindsight would reveal that Yefimov’s decision to bring him in to be a masterstroke. “When we brought in Obradovic, we were sure he was a Euroleague level coach. He really proved that by fixing the locker room and by converting us from the worst defensive team into one of the best defensive teams in the second part of the season.”

With 13 wins in 18 Euroleague matches, the Roca Team’s record since his arrival speaks for itself. Consequently, he has been rewarded with a new contract, which was announced by his agent Misko Raznatovic on Twitter, and later reported by BeBasket, on Wednesday.

According to Yefimov, Obradovic’s impact on the mindset of the squad since his arrival has been as clear as night and day; the collective has triumphed over the individual.

“In the beginning of the season, our problem was that we had a group of talented players, whilst in the second-half we had a real team. Every single player is humble and hungry on the court. In the second part of the competition, everyone was contributing and focused on the team result, no one was really focused on their personal stats.”

As a result, he said, “I don’t want to single out any player because we won it as a team. There was a huge pressure for results. They did it in the hardest arenas like in Red Star, they did it against Milano, which is one of the best defensive teams. The team did something really special.”

A mutually beneficial relationship

The play-offs now await, and as one of the most in-form sides in division, you can’t rule out the Roca Team making more history. Yefimov, however, has the bigger picture in mind, and is already thinking about consolidating their success.

Monaco have now qualified for next season’s competition, but beyond that, they aim to become a permanent member of the competition, and to do that Monaco must prove their worth, both on and off the court. “From day one, we were trying to prove that the Euroleague would benefit from Monaco’s participation. On the court, we are the first ever newcomer to reach the play-offs. Off the court, we showed that because of Monaco’s participation, the Euroleague can find a TV deal in Monaco. There is a huge demand for Monaco, not only in the Principality, but also in France.”

He added, “The TV ranking of our broadcasts of our games are so high that I believe it is now obvious that Euroleague and Euroleague clubs will only benefit if Monaco becomes a long-term partner and participant of the competition.”

Grand designs for a new home

Nothing represents the boundless ambition of Yefimov better than his plans for the Roca Team’s home arena. Yefimov was grateful for the government’s work in increasing the capacity to allow matches to be hosted at the Salle Gaston Medecin this year, whilst this summer, in just three months, the capacity will be increased further to 5,600. The run-up to the next campaign will therefore not be dogged by the same issues as this one. “Next season, we will not have problems or issues with hosting games in Monaco.”

That is only the beginning, however. Yefimov revealed plans to Monaco Life for an even larger stadium, away from their home within the Stade Louis II, in order to continue to prove their credentials to the Euroleague organisers. “One of the milestones will be to present an arena construction plan. This is something which is crucial and the most important, and we need to do this together, of course with the Monaco government. The minimum requirement for arena capacity for a shareholder club is 10,000.”

He continued, “We are discussing a few different opportunities with the government for the construction of the new arena. I am not empowered to give the exact dates, but we are doing our very best to find a solution as soon as possible. Our goal will be to find a solution in the following season.”

Lest we forget, amongst all of these grand plans, there is still a Euroleague title up for grabs, and Yefimov is hoping that it is his coach and playing staff that will do the talking on the court. “I would rather stay quiet, and hope that results will speak instead of me.” Regardless of what happens in the play-offs, it is clear that Monaco are comfortable at the top-level, and Yefimov endeavours to keep them there.

 

 

Photo source: AS Monaco Basketball

 

 

 

Monaco Streaming Film Festival prepares for powerful return

by: Cassandra Tanti
08/04/2022

After launching during Covid, the Monaco Streaming Film Festival is back even stronger this Spring, with a heavy focus on powerful women and a goal of advancing the video-on-demand industry. Here is what we know so far.

After five years contemplating the idea of developing a streaming event in Monaco, Tony Davis gathered a team together and put the wheels in motion for the world’s first video-on-demand festival, the Monaco Streaming Film Festival, in 2021.

“There was no festival or event specifically focussed on viewing-on-demand, or streaming, and there was, in fact, a level of hostility towards streaming platforms from the film and theatrically-oriented industries,” Tony Davis tells Monaco Life.  “So, we decided to create a platform for the industry to understand itself better, to communicate more easily, to network, and identify relationships and opportunities.”

Despite all the drawbacks of hosting an inaugural festival in the middle of a global pandemic, including last-minute cancellations and health restrictions, the Monaco Streaming Film Festival (MSFF) last year made headlines across the world and attracted some big names in the field.

Meanwhile, the Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the demand and subscriber growth in streaming video services massively. Disney+, for example, launched in November 2019 and reached its goal of 60 million subscribers globally by 2024 four years ahead of schedule.

But, the video-on-demand industry is still very much in its infancy.

So, over the course of four days, from 31st May to 3rd June at the Grimaldi Forum, the Monaco Streaming Film Festival (MSFF) will bring together industry professionals, content creators, investors, and the general public for a series of film premiers, conferences, cocktail and networking events, Q&As, screenings, and a gala.

It is a jam-packed schedule that will see the showcasing of 100 films in just three days, including 80 shorts and 20 features.

Monaco Life can reveal that among the highlights is the premier screening of a film produced by Sean Hepburn Ferrer, Audrey Hepburn’s son.

The festival will also welcome keynote speaker Cherie Blair, wife of former UK prime minister Tony Blair, who is a renowned barrister and advocate for equal rights and female empowerment. She recently made her first foray into film-making, serving as executive producer on the drama The Rock Pile. The film tells the story of Time magazine correspondent Bob Hastings who, while on assignment in Jerusalem, uncovers a story of three young boys of different faiths who are brought together through football.

“There is going to be a very strong theme of powerful female leaders,” says Davis, adding that the festival is representative of a contemporary industry. “The Streaming Festival is a modern festival. We don’t pay attention to the history of film, we are about the video-on-demand and streaming industry, and it is very important to us that we are a completely inclusive event, that we are open to all people, be they a film maker like James Cameron (Terminator, Aliens, The Abyss etc.), recently out of film school, or not from film school at all… there is a place for them to come along to the festival, to enjoy and learn.”

Unlike the highly exclusive Cannes Film Festival, which ends just two days prior, the MSFF encourages the public to attend conferences, and watch film premiers and screenings. Organisers are even going so far as to offer free popcorn and coffee as a special treat.

Meanwhile, on International Parent’s Day, Wednesday 1st June, the festival is teaming up with local group Entreparents to offer free back-to-back screenings of children’s films. Stay tuned for some big-name announcements here soon.

For industry professionals, or those wishing to enter the industry, the festival will host film and production distribution organisations from all over the world, providing a platform for the guidance and support of producers and distributors as they navigate their way in this new frontier.

Finance through NFTs is also a hot topic.

The Streaming Film Festival 2022

The event will culminate in the Monaco Streaming Film Festival Awards on Friday 3rd June, during which 12 individuals and organisations will be rewarded for their successes at a black-tie event.

Last year’s winners include ‘Lord of the Danse’ star Michael Flatley for Best Actor in his film Blackbird, ‘Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult’ for Best Documentary Series, and Jon Favreau, creator of the Star Wars Disney+ original series The Mandalorian, for the Reg Grundy Innovation Award.

“We decided that the award would recognise innovation because Reg Grundy changed television,” says Jo Cullen-Cronshaw, CEO of RG Capital and Director of the MSFF.

Reg Grundy is best known for the Australian television productions Prisoner, Neighbours and Sons and Daughters, as well as game shows Match Game and Wheel of Fortune.

“He wasn’t just a creator of programming, he created formatting. Copyrighting only existed in books etc. at the time, not in television, so how it all works today is down to Reg Grundy.”

The MSFF Reg Grundy Innovation Award is “specifically for game changers”, says Cullen-Cronshaw, “somebody who has changed the direction of film in all its genres. We admit, Jon Favreau will be a big name to follow.”

There have been 3,000 films submitted from around 112 countries for this award alone.

RG Capital is the main backer of the Monaco Streaming Film Festival, coming on board during a challenging inauguration. But an exciting line-up for 2022 has organisers confident that the event will attract more corporate sponsorship going forward.

They also expect to significantly grow on last year’s figure of over 100,000 people in virtual participation, 80% of which was in the US alone.

“The conferences will go out live again, so anyone in the world can tune in and participate,” says Davis. “This year, we are also packaging the films and series that we are screening for a number of global streaming platforms to share with their audiences. It will give producers an opportunity to be seen by a massive global audience to not only enjoy their work, but who may also help them develop and trigger their careers.”

The digital platform

While the MSFF will end after three and a half days, its mandate will continue through a new digital platform that will provide anyone around the world with ongoing access and networking opportunities in the world of streaming.

“The Grundy Creator Platform, which will go live the day the Monaco Streaming Festival ends, can be used for a number of reasons – to search for project financing, to seek distribution, to learn more from key industry professionals,” reveals Davis. “It is a financing, distributing and learning tool that they can come into anytime they wish.”

It will also be a platform on which people can upload their creations, a bit like the Tinder of streaming.

“People can place their projects on the platform and potential financiers will use our algorithms to identify the type of project they want to invest in,” explains Davis. “They can then look in to it further and interact with the producers, and hopefully get involved by funding the production of the project.”

Monaco Life is proud to be a media sponsor of the MSFF. Tickets are now available online at http://www.mcsff.com.

 

 

 

 

Photos source: MSFF 

 

 

 

Top AI pros come together at Cannes conference

by: Stephanie Horsman
06/04/2022

The Palais des Festivals is the scene for a high-level conference hosting more than a hundred speakers from around the globe offering their unique perspectives on the future of artificial intelligence.

Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is a wide-ranging branch of computer science concerned with building smart machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence.

This fast-growing field is being populated by some of the best scientific minds in the world and they are coming together from 14th to 16th April for the World Artificial Intelligence Cannes Festival (WAICF) to discuss the diverse world of AI.

The programme will focus on five main topics: AI for Society, AI Today and Tomorrow, AI Strategy, AI Technology and AI Applications.

AI for Society will showcase the benefits of this emerging technology for its people and our planet. AI Today and Tomorrow explores what AI can do in the here and now and what future innovations can bring to humanity and organisations. AI Strategy looks at key insights to scale businesses to the next level, whilst AI Technology will teach how to best use the different technologies to shape innovation. Finally, AI Applications will explain how to make practical use of AI in a variety of industries.

Speakers include a diverse list of professionals and experts such as Irakli Beridze from the UN Centre for AI and Robotics, Laurence Devilliers, Professor of AI and Ethics at the Sorbonne, Seth Dobrin, Chief AI Officer at IBM, and Lucas DiGrassi, Driver for Rokit Venturi Racing.

In addition to the speakers, networking opportunities abound as top CEO’s, entrepreneurs and potential partners will be in on hand, while the exhibition floor will harbour companies on the forefront of AI use. The city itself will also be a part of the event, as Cannes will be transformed into a learning and thinking hub.

The event is taking place both in person and remotely, giving people from all over the world access to the event.

 

 

Photo source: Possessed Photography on Unsplash