Oscar Niemeyer’s designs for Brasília, Brazil’s futuristic capital, embody his belief that architecture should be bold, fluid, and artistic. Commissioned in the late 1950s, Niemeyer worked alongside urban planner Lúcio Costa to create a city that symbolized Brazil’s progress and modernity.

Niemeyer believed architecture should serve the people and inspire imagination, which I feel is exactly what his Brasilia designs achieve.

I wanted to explore his modernist monuments and photograph them next to human subjects when possible to show massive scale. I wanted a clear blue sky to contrast the architecture so was pleased to have the right conditions. I also found inspiration observing the way light and shadow worked its way across the monuments so wanted to highlight that.

Below are a few of my favorite photographs from my time in Brasilia.