Montréal-based photographer Olivier Martel Savoie proves that “photography isn’t about the gear” in his exquisite Instagram series, #olive_libraries.
Armed with only his iPhone, Savoie visits libraries around the world to capture each one’s unique aesthetic. His study of interiors, which span institutions in major cities like Paris, Berlin, Moscow, Amsterdam, Boston, Budapest, and Rome, chronicle both the classical splendor and modern sophistication of today’s libraries: old spiral staircases juxtapose sleek escalators while opulent chandeliers contrast minimalist sculpture.
You can find Savoie’s architectural adventures on his Instagram account, une_olive, or check out the hashtag “olive_libraries” for a catch-all of this cultured collection.
Above image: Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library (Budapest, Hungary)
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm Center Library (Berlin, Germany)
Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library (Budapest, Hungary)
National Library and Archives (Montréal, Québec, Canada)
National Library of France (Paris, France)
Russian National Library (St. Petersburg, Russia)
Trinity College Library (Dublin, Ireland)
Klementinum Library (Prague, Czech Republic)
Malmö City Library (Malmö, Sweden)
Stuttgart Library (Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany)
Boston Public Library (Boston, Massachusetts)
Royal Library (Copenhagen, Denmark)
Strahovská Library (Prague, Czech Republic)
Rijksmuseum Research Library (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Russian National Library (St. Petersburg, Russia)
Main Library of the University of Helsinki (Helsinki, Finland)
Philological Library of the Free University Berlin (Berlin, Germany)
Olivier Martel Savoie: Instagram | Flickr | Vimeo
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All images via Olivier Martel Savoie.