Review - NEW ORLEANS

As the books reach their new owners, the reviews flow in for NEW ORLEANS.

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From widely published photographer Bob Krist, who just produced his own book, Old Souls & Timeless Places.

Like Christmas in November! I just received my copy of Arnie Zann and Margo Taussig Pinkerton's beautiful book on New Orleans and wow, is it a stunner! Wonderful moments and an unblinking and colorful look at all that is gorgeous, gritty, and irreverent in this amazing city. This is a great example of storytelling photography that is beautiful, but not coy. Nothing is sugar-coated, but so much of it is hauntingly beautiful. I was going to give it to Peggy for her birthday later this month, but I think I might keep it. 🙂

    ~ Bob Krist, Maine and Guanajuato (Mexico)

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This came in an e-mail from Burk Uzzle, formerly of Magnum (also its President 1979 and 1980), whose photographs are in many prestigious museums.

Great Book!!!

Thank you so much for sending NEW ORLEANS my way!! Such fine work every page and beautifully printed. Like you folks, I have always enjoyed the French Quarter, and now your book lets me keep on enjoying it although my suspicion is that it may never be the same again after the Covid and climate change delivers one storm after another.

    ~ Burk Uzzle, North Carolina

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This is from our designer, Andy Lyons, who won many design awards when he was still in the annual reports world. Over the decades, he worked with many printers, so really knows good from ...

Sent you guys an email but the book is an absolute knockout. Can’t believe what a great job Brilliant did. The color is just amazing. Both of you should be very proud of this achievement.

...and from the e-mail and Facebook post...

Just received my copies of the New Orleans book from Arnold Zann and Margo Pinkerton this morning. I feel like a kid at Christmas finally holding the real thing after all these months of working and waiting. The printer, Brilliant, did an incredible job — can’t say enough about their attention to detail. We finally went with 4 color process with 2 separate touch plates and a second black with double varnishes. The richness of the photo images are just beautiful and true to the original photography. Glad to have been a part of this incredible project.

    ~ Andrew "Andy" Lyons, South Carolina

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This review came in from Lee Smith, author of close to 20 books and short stories, and recipient of many awards ...

Arnold Zann is all about the people. His graphic portraits capture the sex, weirdness, despair, loneliness and hilarity of the down and dirty — the hookers, the grafters and tricksters, and especially the musicians (oh, such characters! —you can almost hear that Cajun beat) who people New Orleans' fabled French Quarter. Each picture tells a story. By contrast, Margo Taussig Pinkerton is a poet of architectural detail, of the odd corners and ornate grillework and cascading plants and those color combinations you will find nowhere else in this world. Together they give us a wild and original trip to one of the most idiosyncratic and interesting corners of America.

    ~ Lee Smith, North Carolina - 01-21-2021

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...and from Hal Crowther, award-winning journalist and essayist, former media critic for Newsweek and writer for Time ...

As a former resident and a frequent visitor to New Orleans, I responded sentimentally and enthusiastically to this Zann/Pinkerton photo album, which captures both the funkiness and the Creole elegance of my favorite American city. "New Orleans" is as close to Mardi Gras as any of us will get this year.

    ~ Hal Crowther, North Carolina

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We received this from George Dalsheimer who started one of the earlier photo galleries in the country, in Baltimore. While the gallery was closed years ago, most of the photographs are in the Baltimore Museum of Art.

The book captures the activity, the mystery, and the spirit of New Orleans. Your vision is unique and reflects your individualistic approach to photographic imagery. David Kay’s forward says it all, far better than words that I can express. The design of the book is superb; the juxtaposition of people and the simplicity of just light and form is a credit to your collective vision.

Congratulations!

    ~ George Dalsheimer, Florida

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Author Janet Howle wrote this about our book.

This collection of original photographs of the Big Easy is a must for everyone who has ever fallen in love with New Orleans. Margo and Arnie have captured the color and characters of this city in their book NEW ORLEANS. The photographs show more than the touristy French Quarter, rather, the true shades of New Orleans as a unique playground and working city. This photograph is one of my favorites, the fog on the water, juxtaposed by the clarity of a man saluting his own wondrous world.

    ~ Janet Howle, North Carolina

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The book is awesome! I keep looking at it…marvelous photos, and the colors are superb!

    ~ Mike L., North Carolina

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Since “discovering” New Orleans as a twenty-two year old hitchhiker in 1974 — I spent Halloween week that year in a youth hostel, “Head Inn,” now long gone, above Harry’s Corner Bar on the corner of Chartres and Dumaine in the French Quarter — I’ve returned as a visitor nearly every year since. In fact, over the past fifteen or so years I’ve spent at least ten weeks in the city each and every year. All of which is to say New Orleans has become something of a spiritual home for me, at the very least, my “happiest place.”

Given the impossibility of capturing the richness and complexity of greater New Orleans in a single book of photographs, Arnold Zann and Margo Taussig Pinkerton were wise to focus their cameras largely in the historic French Quarter, far and away the best-known part of town. As the most-widely-visited section of the city, the “Vieux Carré,” or Old Square as it is often called, is also the most photographed — Facebook and Instagram, for example, are lousy with tourist-eye pictures of this lively quarter. Given the abundance of French Quarter photos available online and elsewhere, arguably the most remarkable achievement of Zann and Pinkerton’s “New Orleans” is the distillation of story-telling details and images so saturated in color that they feel almost musical, a book of photographs that “reads” like jazz. What an extraordinary accomplishment — a book that looks and sounds like New Orleans! Congratulations, Arnie and Margo. Laissez les bon temps rouler!

    ~ Jerry S., Massachusetts

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The book on New Orleans is great! AND packaged for rain, sleet, or snow.

I should have filmed the unboxing.

Thank you and Arnie for taking (and publishing) a portrait of our fair city not seen by many even though we have thousands of Mardi Gras visitors each year.

    ~ Ray G., Louisiana

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New Orleans is my happy place – I usually meet a couple of my international friends there for a week every June! I love this book so much; it is the perfect, tangible, hand-held vacation in a time where travel is discouraged.

    ~ Alessandra S., Delaware

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What a beautiful book it is! ( I think I wrote something on FB about it).

You guys outdid yourselves, and the big fun is recognizing some of the people — I was with you on a couple of those trips — and many of the places.

I have been savoring and enjoying it since it arrived.

    ~ Leslie B., Texas

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I am on my third day of viewing the images in this book. I find that I not only enjoy the images but also linger to study why they are composed just so. Whether you photograph lifestyle or nature, this book is an enjoyable way to study how to make compelling and lasting images.

Later, George wrote the following:

I am a student of photography. I read, think, breathe and dream of image making. Not so much about making images but rather why make them at all. I have had your book for some time now and have studied it carefully. I have used whatever experience I have had and many of which you have taught me to understand this book. I have pondered each image to understand the ‘why' and ‘how' of each image and also how you have related the images in the facing pages as well as in the compilation to tell a story. Although, I am certain that I have not captured all the nuances of this work, I feel I am now ready to speak of my impressions.

New Orleans is a daunting subject, because it has been photographed by so many, and thus finding a refreshing approach must be difficult. I know these images have been made over many years and some may have influenced the way others have represented the subject. But I must say, as a body of work, this book touches a understanding that I would not have without it (unless perhaps I lived it every year for decades). When I think of New Orleans, I often envision the trite, gaudy and superficial depictions that I have seen both in photography and in my visits there.

This work transcends that opinion. Yes, the fun and gaudy is there; however I am struck most by the depth of the emotion and love the subjects have for this town and the celebrations of life. I live in a tourist town and know the need to cater to visitors and put on the face. I also know that the ones that live here have a very deep emotional attachment to the area that is often unseen. I see this in the images of New Orleans in your book.

It seems that each image takes the viewer gently into the community, into the lives of those that love, work, play and survive. It is a masterful work if you want to know more about the lives of these people. However, for me the mastery is in each composition. The ‘why’ you included these images is only superseded by the ‘how’. I viewed each image and saw the careful placement of the subject in each frame, nothing wasted, all necessary. Yes, I could see Margo taking a step to the left to make all the difference. Without that step, a totally different image, a totally different story. I could see the grittiness of Arnie’s image that captures that raw emotion that would be lost if the shutter was depressed one second early or later. The ease at which these subjects exudes suggest more than just ‘taking’ an image but rather a connection between the photographer and the subject. But what is also important, is that connection is conveyed to the viewer if time is taken to really immerse oneself in the story.

I have many photo books and learn much from each, but I must say, this one touches me deeply, profoundly. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning not only about New Orleans, but also story telling with a lens.

Congratulations on a great work that I will cherish and revisit often.

    ~ George W., North Carolina

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I received my book today. I made sure my hands were clean, so I did not get any fingerprints on it — LOL. What a wonderful collection of photos of a special & entertaining city. The colors are exceptional. I can't wait for the next book! BCPA alumni, you need to order one if you have not already done so! Mine is now proudly sitting on my mantel.

    ~ Rose P., Ohio

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I love the book! It is beautiful. It makes me want to go back to New Orleans, as I have not been in a few years. It’s such a fun and interesting place!

    ~ Linda F., Texas

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What a beautiful surprise to wake up to in my mailbox this morning!

Congratulations on your beautiful book which has such personal meaning on many levels for me, having lived in NOLA during my residency 85-89.

These images are timeless, as these were sights and scenes I lived 35 yrs ago ...

I can still smell the aroma of the chicory coffee and sweetness of the beignets from Café du Monde!

    ~ Michon H., California

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Looking at the gorgeous book New Orleans by photographers Margo Pinkerton and Arnie Zann, I found myself applying my usual critical yardstick “…wish I’d make that one…” over and over.

Immediately I felt a sense of relief as I realized I did not have to put in the years of effort such a book requires. Margo and Arnie had done it for me and everyone else who has a copy.

A big thanks and congratulations to you both.

    ~ Michael M., North Carolina

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The artists have captured the diversity of color and light that help to make NOLA the fascinating city that it is.

The beauty of the city and its culture are on full display in this well-done volume of photos!

    ~ Jake & Laura H., Pennsylvania

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The book is fabulously fantastic.....makes me want to return to New Orleans.

    ~ Pam S., Manitoba (Canada)

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Margo, I want to thank you and Arnie for the beautiful book you created of New Orleans. Pam [see comment above] surprised me with it today.

It brought back so many wonderful memories. Great shots and what a wonderful coffee-table book!

    ~ Kayla G., Manitoba (Canada)

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We were thrilled to get our copy of NEW ORLEANS. Two of us – only one book. We spent the first evening passing the book back and forth, calling attention to an image that captured or challenged one of us. Since then, looking at it so frequently, I am about to wear out the pages! Thank you, Margo and Arnie, for your years of “seeing” New Orleans in gorgeous and unexpected ways.

    ~ Kim R., North Carolina

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Wow! Wow! Wow! What an outstanding example of spectacular photography telling the story of a "storied city."

Thank you so much and a job more than well done.

Congratulations on your book!

    ~ Bob & Kitty L., Illinois

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Amazing photography!!

    ~ Vandana D., North Carolina

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This is excerpted from the foreword, written by David Kay:

So many photographs have been taken in [New Orleans] that it is difficult to avoid the twin traps of either trying to replicate with a slightly different formula what has gone before or being satisfied with the many obvious, postcard-worthy attractions that fill NOLA...

Margo Taussig Pinkerton and Arnold “Arnie” Zann have made, in my judgment. the hardest choice if originality is your goal. And that was to focus on the French Quarter. How do you make original images in the one area that has had more photographs taken than any square mile of NOLA? The answer to that question is what makes this book such a delight...

This book goes well beyond being simply a feast to the eye or even evidence of a love affair with the French Quarter. You can witness and attempt to understand how photographers in their maturity who share a deep love for each other have maintained their own visual styles and can walk the same twists and turns of the French Quarter and both see and photograph very different things in very different ways....

Take your time and enjoy the images in this book not once, but repeatedly. They are images that pull you in to discover the source of their magic.

    ~ David A. Kay, Ph.D., Delaware

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A beautiful, autographed book arrived today! Such fun to look through!

    ~ Anne S., North Carolina