Episode #17 Two Beautiful Mistakes: Gary Zuercher and The Glow of Paris

Photographer and author Gary Zuercher joins host Hava Gurevich to share the story behind his signature series, The Glow of Paris: The Bridges of Paris at Night.  What began as an accidental overexposed photograph of the Alexander III Bridge became a five-year, winter-only project to photograph every bridge in Paris at night, followed by a year of historical research. Gary discusses the technique that shaped the work, the solitude of photographing along the Seine in winter, the book’s publication and awards, major exhibitions in Paris, and the chance encounter in Mexico City that first brought him to Paris and eventually to his wife. The conversation also explores his dual career in business and photography, how he defines success, and why he believes photographers should experience shooting and developing film in a darkroom.Gary Zuercherhttps://www.parisbridges.com/The Glow of Paris Podcast:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXoyu1A_mQ4SHOWNOTESHow an accidentally overexposed photograph of the Alexander III Bridge sparked the Paris Bridges ProjectUsing overexposure and under-development to create luminous nighttime imagesThe “two beautiful mistakes” that shaped the projectPhotographing every bridge in Paris at night over five yearsSpending an additional year researching the history of each bridge for the bookEarly experiences with photography through a Boy Scouts merit badge and a basement darkroomStudying at Ohio State University and the Parsons School of Design in ParisThe chance meeting in a Mexico City airport that led to Paris and meeting his future wifeWhy the project was shot only in winterPhotographing alone at night along the SeinePublishing The Glow of Paris in English and FrenchWinning a gold medal at the annual New York Book ConventionThe work entering permanent collections including the Library of CongressMajor exhibitions in Paris, including the Hôtel de Ville and public outdoor displaysDefining success as an artist versus success in businessAdvice for photographers to learn film and darkroom techniques alongside digital