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22 Pictures Of Beautiful Libraries That I Took While Traveling Around The World
I am a travel photographer from New York and I visited 101 countries to explore our everyday world. My favorite subject to shoot is architecture.
Libraries hold some of the most treasured interior architecture that I have ever seen. They are beautiful, colorful, ornate and exquisite to photograph. Here are many of the libraries that I have photographed during my travels.
Over the course of my career, my work has been exhibited in both museums and galleries, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, NY, AGallery in New York, NY, the Krause Gallery in New York, NY, The Skyscraper Museum in New York, NY and VERVE Art Fair, in Brooklyn, NY.
More info: artnet.com | richardsilverphoto.com | Facebook | Instagram
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Morgan Library And Museum, New York
Final score:
70points
I have been taking photos since I was a teenager, I’m now 60. Even when I had many careers I was always taking photos of my city, New York as architecture has been my favorite subject to shoot. In 2006 I submitted my work to a German Gallery with international galleries and they were the first company to sell my work. I was a real estate agent in Manhattan selling apartments when I left that career to become a full-time travel photographer in 2013. Photography has been my only form of artistry.
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#2
NY Public Library, New York
Final score:
60points
#3
Strahov Library, Prague, Czech Republic
Final score:
58points
Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 3 years ago
My goodness is that stunning. I feel like I could get lost in there for hours.
I consider myself an explorer of the world through my photography. As I mentioned, since 2013, it is my primary source of income, so I need more inventory of photos to submit to companies and hope they carry them to sell. I also find what I do as interesting a life that I can find. I was making a very good living selling real estate in New York but I wasn’t happy. Now I find my life more enjoyable even though I don’t make the big bucks like I used to.
#4
Hendrik Conscience Heritage Library, Antwerp, Belgium
Final score:
52points
#5
Real Gabinete Library, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
Final score:
52points
The Stuttgart Library in Germany is one of my favorites as I love symmetry and this modern, white library fits my fascination. Vienna library, Strahov library in Prague and the Red Cross library in Lisbon are amongst my favorites. Other than Stuttgart, the beauty of old-world charm using wood, gold details and colorful books makes me love li Tarifa to photograph.
#6
Saint Genevieve Library, Paris, France
Final score:
48points
#7
Austrian National Library, Vienna, Austria
Final score:
48points
It can be quite challenging to find the right spot to shoot a building. Most architecture that is popular has been photographed in every way possible but I always try and find a unique way of viewing the building. I do a series called Time Slice where I take 36 photos at sunset showing the change of day to night in one single image. It’s my way of looking at architecture in a truly new light. I love finding the places around the world when I travel and searching for new structures all the time.
#8
State Library Of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia
Final score:
45points
#9
Stuttgart Municipal Library, Stuttgart, Germany
Final score:
45points
Lenn 3 years ago
Its the white book-prison. Was there too, its so big and white... (I'm from Germany, 20 minutes away from Stuttgart ;))
Jenni Keestra 3 years ago (edited)
Yes - very clean and orderly but it looks like the books are doing time! Funny because (according to an old Ngaio Marsh book I've just read) "borrow" used to be police slang for arresting someone. Gives it a whole new meaning.
Load More Replies... Daniel Marsh 3 years ago
Impressive in its own right: huge, integral... but also sterile... linear... unadorned.... I'm genuinely curious why this made the list.
Ladyvischuss 3 years ago
This design would be a good use for a closed shopping mall. Each small store could be a subject, non fiction, self help...
#10
Red Cross Library, Lisbon, Portugal
Final score:
45points
#11
House Of The Redeemer Library, New York, NY
Final score:
44points
Chris Miilu 7 years ago
The F***k Museum also has a small library section. And a garden. And two paintings: Holbein and the anti-Holbein. The NYC public library is a wonderful place. The Greenwich library in CT has an agreement with the NYC library; I used that to check out books not available in the Greenwich stacks. Libraries carry our history; libraries are the soul of civilizations. The printing press made it possible for all people to access written material. The monks left a legacy of beauty in their illustrated works; I saw some of those lovely small books in Antwerp, Belgium. Protect our libraries and our right to vote: they represent civilization from over 2,000 yrs. ago.
#12
Riiks Museum Library, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Final score:
42points
Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 3 years ago
This interior just seems so warm and inviting--I love the spiral staircase.
#13
Los Angeles Public Library, Los Angeles, California
Final score:
38points
#14
Jose Vasconcelos Library, Mexico City, Mexico
Final score:
37points
Red Riding Hood 3 years ago (edited)
At first I thought I was looking at a old school cafeteria. The rails on each side looked like the partitions where you get your food on both sides,in a single moving line. 😳
#15
Boston Public Library, Boston, Mass
Final score:
36points
#16
Vienna College Library, Vienna, Austria
Final score:
36points
#17
Biblioteca Joanina, Coimbra, Portugal
Final score:
35points
Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 3 years ago
I remember visiting here when I was participating in a student study abroad program. It is absolutely stunning see it in person.
Sasa Vukas 3 years ago (edited)
I was on awe when visiting and could not resist taking few photos with my phone. Despite signs everywhere not to do that. They kicked me out instantly. I was 50 at the time. I left out looking down, guard being in flames :-)
Load More Replies... #18
University Library, Leuven, Belgium
Final score:
33points
#20
National Library Of China, Beijing
Final score:
28points
#22
National Library Of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
Final score:
22points
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What do you think ?
Jef Bateman 7 years ago
These are great pictures. It is interesting that some people like their libraries grand and imposing, while other people prefer them to be cozy.
Daniel Marsh 3 years ago (edited)
When people treasure something, they make it sacred. (I'm don't necessarily mean "divine," [godly] only "sacred" [set apart]) They house it in glorious settings with architecture that makes you look up, at soaring ceilings (the word literally means, "sky"), ornate structures, ornamentation. You must stop as you enter, to embrace your surroundings. The treasure must have a home worthy of itself, and it's obvious in most cases, even the Chinese National Library, that the designers of these buildings loved and treasured books. It's a very telling comparison with some modern churches, which Christians believe contain the very glory of the almighty God, and yet often look ugly, dead, brutal, concrete. Every time I see that bus station of a church that Pope Francis prefers to the Sistine Chapel, I feel a sense of outrage.
diane a 7 years ago
i have a confession to make - I threw away a 2nd edition of Paradise Regained from 1600's because it had bookworm - it cost me 50p
Mariele Scherzinger 3 years ago
I was waiting for the library at Trinity College, Dublin. Come on! Not only does it house the Book of Kells, it's also the Jedi archives!
Richard Silver (Post author) 7 years ago
I have not been to Dublin since I started the series but I hope to go soon. It's a must
Load More Replies...
Jef Bateman 7 years ago
These are great pictures. It is interesting that some people like their libraries grand and imposing, while other people prefer them to be cozy.
Daniel Marsh 3 years ago (edited)
When people treasure something, they make it sacred. (I'm don't necessarily mean "divine," [godly] only "sacred" [set apart]) They house it in glorious settings with architecture that makes you look up, at soaring ceilings (the word literally means, "sky"), ornate structures, ornamentation. You must stop as you enter, to embrace your surroundings. The treasure must have a home worthy of itself, and it's obvious in most cases, even the Chinese National Library, that the designers of these buildings loved and treasured books. It's a very telling comparison with some modern churches, which Christians believe contain the very glory of the almighty God, and yet often look ugly, dead, brutal, concrete. Every time I see that bus station of a church that Pope Francis prefers to the Sistine Chapel, I feel a sense of outrage.
diane a 7 years ago
i have a confession to make - I threw away a 2nd edition of Paradise Regained from 1600's because it had bookworm - it cost me 50p
Mariele Scherzinger 3 years ago
I was waiting for the library at Trinity College, Dublin. Come on! Not only does it house the Book of Kells, it's also the Jedi archives!
Richard Silver (Post author) 7 years ago
I have not been to Dublin since I started the series but I hope to go soon. It's a must
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