It’s common knowledge that architects have a penchant for wearing black, but for disciples of modernism, the most majestic antithesis of color can be found in pure white concrete, radiant rendered surfaces and perfectly polished steel. For this reason, Sebastian Weiss’ incredible eye for contemporary architectural photography has exploded in popularity in recent years, with 160,000 followers enjoying each carefully crafted composition as it appears on his Instagram feed — fittingly entitled Le_Blanc.
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The photographer professes a love for “concrete aesthetics and beauty seen in city shapes,” and these passions are reflected in a stunning gallery of minimalist masterpieces, featuring artful glimpses of buildings from Weiss’ travels around the world. Weiss’ images draw attention to the dramatic details of architecture, focusing on the contrast between light and shade, the subtle patina of weathered façades and the rhythmic patterns found throughout the built environment.
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Weiss’ eye for a compelling image is no real surprise given his experience — he currently works as a photo columnist for Architectural Digest in Germany — and the photographer has captured works by a vast array of iconic architects including Kengo Kuma, Santiago Calatrava, Peter Zumthor, Alvar Aalto and Herzog and de Meuron. Beyond Instagram, the prolific photographer has also harnessed a plethora of other social platforms to share his work, including Facebook, Tumblr and Behance.
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Weiss frequently seeks out an unexpected angle of recognizable works, transforming landmarks such as Zaha Hadid’s Pierres Vives building in Montpellier, France, into a striking abstract artwork. In other instances, classic details such as Le Corbusier’s rooftop smokestacks and Alvaro Siza’s extraordinary concrete canopy are picked out to emphasize some of architecture’s most inspiring moments.
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Enjoy this gallery? Check out our other features on incredible Instagrammers, including Dirk Bakker’s tribute to bold Dutch architecture and Serge Najjar’s stunning photographic portrait of Beirut.