Peter Turnley II

In just a couple of weeks, just in time for spring in the Northern Hemisphere, we're going to reprise one of our most popular print sales ever. Our first Peter Turnley sale, back in 2010, featured pictures of Paris from his out-of-print book Parisians. I've just been through the fun and satisfying process of choosing, with Peter, several new pictures to offer as fine prints—and I'm really hoping you'll approve of the ones we picked! The body of work Peter has to draw from is enormous—he's been in the process lately of working on an all-new book of Paris pictures.

As before, the prints will be made by Voja (pronounced "Voya") Mitrovic, who for many years has been the master printer for some of the most famous photojournalistic-style black-and-white photographers on the planet—not only Peter, but Henri Cartier-Bresson, Sebastiao Salgado, Josef Koudelka, and many others. If you haven't read Peter's article about him, now would be the time. Voja has now seen all our choices and approved them (meaning, he knows the negatives and knows each one prints beautifully).

Now that the first sale has already happened, many readers have already seen Voja's prints of Peter's work firsthand, and can attest to their quality. (Remember this great video, from Pak Wan?) If you love classic 35mm B&W (as I do), they are...what do the French call that gesture where they kiss their fingertips and then open the hand?

Also as before, we're going to offer these prints for very "democratic" prices compared to art gallery prices. One of the very most gratifying things about our sales is how many people tell us it's the very first time they've bought original artwork.

The five-day sale is now pretty firmly scheduled to begin on Sunday, April 1st (no foolin'). Please be sure to check in at least once that week and take a look.

Mike

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Original contents copyright 2012 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved.

Featured Comment by Itippi: "In Italy the gesture means 'al bacio' (worth a kiss)."

Featured Comment by Ed Buziak: "I've spent 11 years in a bar here in France and there does not seem to be a word for the actual gesture. However, the words 'C'est chouette' or just 'Chouette'—loosely translated as 'It's great' or 'Really nice'—are generally uttered at the same time as the gesture. 'Chouette' is pronounced like the word 'sweat' but with 'shh' (as when mama tells a child to be quiet) for the initial 's'...or try saying 'shh-wet.' 'Chouette' is also French for Owl...such is the beauty and complication of this language largely based on Latin."

[Ed is the Founding Editor Emeritus of Darkroom User magazine. —Ed.]

Comments

[Xavier]

I don't think that we have a name for this gesture. But at the same time, I thought we borrowed that from the Italians. Any Italians around?

[David Bostedo]

Yay!

[rob grey]

I'm not certain what the gesture itself is called, but in french you'd exclaim "magnifique!" along with or in lieu of said gesture. High praise, in any language.

[John Brewton]

Perhaps the French "Beau Geste"? Anyway I missed out on the first Turnley print but not this time!

[Mark Johnson]

Whoooo Hooo! If he offers this one: http://www.peterturnley.com/printsite/page09.php

It will be mine! All MINE! AHAHAHA! (perhaps the maniacal laugh was a bit over the top, but I am excited)

[Michel]

i'm French (Canadian) and bellissimo is what comes to mind. Can't wait to see what you picked.

[Gordon]

And for the first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, may I suggest a print sale from Jim Richardson's archive? For example: Huge thunderheads out on the plains.

[Ken]

Cool! I was regretting missing the first sale - it was bad timing for me financially. But this time I am ready. I am looking forward to seeing the selections.

[David Dyer-Bennet]

You're going to torture me again? Maybe I shouldn't have bought that new lens yesterday!

Seriously, this is cool, and who knows, I might feel rich this time.

[Paris]

I got one from the first sale. Way expensive for me, but worth it.

Bring'em on.

[A Facebook User]

I'm down for a print!

[NikoJorj]

No name known either, from here in France... We just do it. The turkish expression "çok güzel" comes to my mind, though.

[Winwalloe]

It could just be my first purchase as well. I'm looking forward to seeing the selection!

[Lars Siebold]

Wow, I didn't know him and I'm normally not very much into street photography (I usually find it rather boring I must confess), but I really like his pictures - especially the b/w ones from Paris. I really dig his compositions.

[jean-louis salvignol]

Ed is absolutely right. Some similar expressions : craquant(e) (dishy,handsome) ;impec - for impeccable (flawless); nickel (perfect(ly).

Oh! and totaly OT, help me : one favorite expression of Barkley Rosser, speaking of Paul Krugman works: pop-schlop !

What is this, pop-schlop? Mister Rosser seem more often then not very very bitter, indeed.(Aigri)...

[jean-louis salvignol]

Sorry for Peter, I miss the most important: this girl is craquante. And this picture is Nickel!

[Doug Howk]

Loved the image. I'd love to have a print but there is a certain responsibility with such ownership. So I await Peter's next book, and did find a copy of the "Pariseans" at a reasonable price.

[Keith I]

I am still amazed by my purchase from the 2010 sale, but I am still terrified to frame it incorrectly! It is still in the packaging, only pulled out now and then to view.

[Andre]

I have a huge soft spot for a Parisian street photography and every time Peter's work shows up on this site I regret missing out on the first sale. I won't make that mistake again!

[Max]

"magnifique!", over superb food, for example.