Gary Zuercher

There are three distinct audiences who will relish The Glow of Paris: those who hold affection for the city, image-driven viewers who enjoy photographs of cityscapes and bridges, and readers interested in histories about bridges in general and Paris in particular.

Zuercher spent five years photographing the 35 bridges of Paris at night during the winter months, but he didn't stop there. He spent an additional year researching their history. His approach was to pair his gelatin-silver photo prints with anecdotes and history, and the result is an artistic collection of black and white photos that gathers rare information about the bridges, and so enters the realm of a history as much as an artistic, photographic display.

It's relatively rare to see an art production so well-supported by accompanying historical facts and information. Anyone interested in bridge construction will also be fascinated - which means that this will reach an unusual audience of structural engineers who aren't typically attracted to artistic photography productions.

Even Parisians who live in or are used to their city will find this new book captures many scenes by night that transform what they are familiar with in daylight. Photography is all about shadows and lighting. History is all about exposing rare facts and (hopefully) adding a lively tone in the process.

The Glow of Paris: The Bridges of Paris at Night brings these two elements together in a marriage that proves more than its parts - and that's the difference between a one-dimensional approach and one that cultivates added perceptions and, ultimately, added value and new audiences.… (altro)