Q&A with Thibaud Poirier
How would you describe your photographic style?
My photographic style is meticulous and deliberate, emphasizing the interplay of light, space, and architectural detail, often using symmetry to create depth and perspective. Driven by a sense of nostalgia and a love for mid century modern design, I focus on landmark architecture, to create images that are both serene and powerful, inviting viewers to explore the stories within.
What are the key considerations for capturing architectural interiors?
Compositionally, guiding the viewer's eye with leading lines adds depth and perspective to architectural interiors, while emphasizing symmetry and balance enhances their aesthetic appeal. It's also important to capture both wide shots to show the overall space and close-ups to highlight details and craftsmanship, and including contextual elements to illustrate the building's relationship with its environment.
Benesse House in Naoshima, Japan (Tadao Ando)
Technically, lighting plays a pivotal role. Natural light accentuates architectural beauty, so timing shots to capture optimal light conditions is essential. Utilizing a tripod ensures stability for longer exposures in low-light settings and facilitates precise compositions. Selecting appropriate lenses, such as wide-angle or tilt-shift, enables the capture of expansive spaces without distortion and ensures sharp, detailed imagery in various contexts.
Your work delivers power from symmetry. What is it about symmetry that exerts such power on the viewer?
Symmetry holds a profound power over the viewer, evoking a sense of order, balance, and harmony. It creates visual stability that draws the eye into the composition, instilling a sense of calm and equilibrium. In my library and church series, I aimed to showcase these spaces uniformly, using a central viewpoint and selecting buildings with symmetrical attributes to enhance their inherent beauty and create a powerful, cohesive narrative.
Grimm Zentrum Library, Berlin, 2009
Saint-Martin de Donges, France (Jean Dorian, 1957)
What is it about libraries that makes them such compelling subjects? Which library affected you most deeply or was the greatest surprise?
Libraries are compelling subjects because they are rich with history, architecture, and the promise of knowledge. As repositories of countless stories and ideas, they possess a unique aura that invites exploration and contemplation, making them timeless and captivating, even in this digital age.
I would have to say the Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève in Paris affected me the most. Architecturally, it’s one of my favorites and was the first library I photographed. Its beauty and historical significance left a lasting impression. The mix of stone, cast iron, and wood gives it a noble yet industrial feel, embodying the spirit of the mid-19th century.
There could not be more difference between the almost clinical minimalism of City Library, Stuttgart and the baroque splendor of Biblioteca Joanina, yet they both suggest a reverence of books and ideas. What common threads have you found between all the different libraries you have photographed?
Each library is a testament to the cultural and historical context in which it was built, reflecting the aesthetic and intellectual values of its time. However, beyond their visual differences, they all embody the same purpose: to transmit knowledge from one generation to the next. This is evident in their carefully designed spaces, which are tailored to foster learning and contemplation. The sensory experiences within these libraries—such as the smell of old books, the unique acoustics, and the thoughtful lighting—create a familiar atmosphere of respect and wonder, regardless of the library's architectural style.
City Library, Stuttgart, 2011 (Yi Architects)
Biblioteca Joanina, Coimbra, 1728
There is a sense of deep contemplation and stillness about the way you have captured Modernist and Brutalist buildings. What is it about 20th-century concrete buildings that makes them such mesmerizing compositions to photograph?
My love for concrete architecture began during my teenage years in Japan, deeply influenced by the works of Tadao Ando. This fascination was reignited as a photographer when I visited the Berlin Crematorium in 2016. The serene atmosphere and masterful play of light in this structure sparked a newfound appreciation for the material.
Berlin Krematorium (Axel Schultes, 1999)
Photographing my modern church series deepened my understanding of concrete's versatility. Over half of the spaces in the series were built from concrete, allowing me to trace the material's evolution throughout the 20th century. From the pioneering works of Karl Moser and Auguste Perret in the 1920s to the innovative designs of Kenzo Tange, Guillaume Gillet, and Gottfried Böhm in the 1950s and 1960s, each building showcased concrete's ability to shape spaces that evoke a sense of contemplation and stillness.
Recently, I have focused on capturing these masterpieces with an emphasis on their interaction with light. This material's ability to convey both strength and subtlety makes it a captivating subject for my photography.
Espace Niemeyer in Paris (Oscar Niemeyer)
Couvent de la Tourette (Le Corbusier - 1959)
The Goetheanum (Rudolf Steiner - 1928)
Both Modernist spaces and the more classical spaces of the libraries you have photographed, all use geometry and scale to evoke a sense of higher ideals – whether books and ideas or politics and society. Is this why you are drawn to these spaces as a photographer?
Absolutely. In modernist architecture, the bold use of geometric forms and monumental scale creates a sense of power and purpose. The interplay of light and shadow enhances their architectural drama, making them visually compelling. These buildings are designed to make a statement, and their strong lines and vast volumes offer a dynamic canvas for my photography.
Boston City Hall (Kallmann McKinnell & Wood - 1968)
Couvent de la Tourette (Le Corbusier - 1959)
You have captured that sense of higher ideas and awe in your images. How do you do this?
My focus lies in telling a compelling story through composition, lighting, and perspective. In my work, architecture serves as more than just a backdrop; it becomes the protagonist, conveying deeper truths about society and the human condition. Each photograph aims to capture the soul of the space, reflecting its physical, emotional, and conceptual significance.
By thoughtfully composing my shots and playing with light, I strive to evoke a sense of wonder and contemplation. In my Sacred Spaces series, for instance, architects used innovative materials and shapes to create powerful visual and spiritual impacts. These modernist churches and government buildings exemplify how architecture can embody higher ideals and engage viewers with the broader narrative of our constructed world.
Your photographs of La Cité Radieuse seem to have captured the soul of this space, and it is a very intimate portrayal – I can almost smell the concrete and polish. There is a vulnerability to it as well. How did you approach this project? What impressions did the building make on you?
For the La Cité Radieuse project, I took a different approach compared to my usual meticulous preparation. This time, I shot the project quickly and spontaneously, mostly handheld at sunset, which provided beautiful natural light. Using primarily a 50mm lens and avoiding wide-angle shots, I focused on capturing the intimacy and textures of the space. This approach allowed me to showcase the raw beauty of the concrete and the interplay of light and shadows, which brought out the building's unique character.
Le Corbusier famously said, "Light creates ambience and feel of a place, as well as the expression of a structure," and this philosophy guided my shoot at La Cité Radieuse. I love these types of spontaneous projects as they push me out of my comfort zone of extensive preparation and help evolve my photographic style. They offer a fresh perspective and allow me to capture the essence of a place in a more instinctive and organic way.
For more information check out the blog post on my shoot at La Cité Radieuse
What is your go-to camera?
My go-to camera setup consists of a Sony A7R4 camera paired with Canon tilt-shift lenses, particularly the 24mm and 50mm variants. I appreciate the versatility and image quality offered by this combination, allowing me to achieve precise control over perspective and distortion in my architectural photography.
Are there other photographers who have inspired or influenced your work?
Several photographers have significantly influenced and inspired my work. Hiroshi Sugimoto, known for his meticulous and contemplative style, has been a major influence. His approach to capturing the essence of spaces, particularly his theaters and architectural series, resonates deeply with my own pursuit of architectural beauty.
Thomas Struth and Edward Burtynsky have also inspired me with their powerful portrayal of man-made environments and their ability to tell complex stories through their images. Struth's architectural photography often reveals deeper social and cultural narratives, while Burtynsky's work on industrial landscapes highlights the impact of human activity on the environment, both of which align with my interest in the interaction between architecture and human existence.
Additionally, Vincent Fournier, whose work you've featured in the past, with his series on the city of Brasilia by Oscar Niemeyer, and Kosmic Memories, on brutalist soviet sculptures, has also been a source of inspiration.
For more inspiration check out the blog post on my top 10 fine art photographer