Dutch photographer Joel Tjintjelaar transforms urban architecture into breathtaking abstract works of art. Rather than capturing a traditional image of the Empire State Building, revealing its extraordinary height, Tjintjelaar takes creative liberties to mask the imposing extent of its towering stature and opts to play with the light bouncing off the building’s textured facade. The edifice is now defunct of its vertical triumphs and instead a radiating horizontal extension of lines and boxes.

There’s often an asymmetrical harmony to Tjintjelaar’s images that can perhaps best be described as melodic and elegant. The artistic elegance with which the photographer captures each of these architectural achievements is only heightened by the fact that he works exclusively in black and white. Tjintjelaar says, “I love Black and White photography because with the removal of color the essence of objects, situations, sceneries and people can become more visible. Can become more visible because it’s up to you what you do with contrasts, light, shapes and lines to emphasize the essence, or what you see as the essence – no colors that will seduce the eye, only emotion that will capture the heart. If you do it right…“

Know more about Joel Tjintjelaar: Website | Flickr

Empire State Building, New York City

Erasmus Bridge, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Shell-Haus, Berlin, Germany

Lloydkwartier, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Rotterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam, Netherlands

The Hoftoren, The Hague, Netherlands

Rotterdam, Netherlands

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