What Am I missing: The World's Most Expensive Photograph
Dec 2, 2011 00:25:10 #
Attached is a copy of the world's most expensive photograph. It is called "Rhein II" by Andreas Gursky. It recently sold for $4,338,500. The old record also set this year is called "Untitled #96" by Cindy Sherman (see below). It sold for $3,890,000.
My question is why did these common-looking photos sell for so much. To be fair there is a bit of mystery in the young lady's photograph. Her skirt is a bit soiled, she is holding a crumpled note and she has an unfathomable expression. As for "Rhein II" maybe its very ordinariness is the reason it sold for so much.
Maybe I ought to try and sell my masterpiece photo. Anyone who buys it would be getting a terrific bargain; for it's really two photographs in one. The first, when hung normally, is called "Midnight Over the Red Sea". But if the new owner gets tired of this masterpiece all he has to do is turn the photo upside down and it becomes my second masterpiece, "Sunrise Over the Black Sea". Do you think I have a chance breaking into the million dollar photograph category. Critics are welcomed.
My question is why did these common-looking photos sell for so much. To be fair there is a bit of mystery in the young lady's photograph. Her skirt is a bit soiled, she is holding a crumpled note and she has an unfathomable expression. As for "Rhein II" maybe its very ordinariness is the reason it sold for so much.
Maybe I ought to try and sell my masterpiece photo. Anyone who buys it would be getting a terrific bargain; for it's really two photographs in one. The first, when hung normally, is called "Midnight Over the Red Sea". But if the new owner gets tired of this masterpiece all he has to do is turn the photo upside down and it becomes my second masterpiece, "Sunrise Over the Black Sea". Do you think I have a chance breaking into the million dollar photograph category. Critics are welcomed.
"Rhein II" - World's Most Expensive
"Untitled #96" - Old Most Expensive
Midnight Over the Red Sea
Sunset Over the Black Sea
Dec 2, 2011 00:54:44 #
Wow, can't imagine why these photos brought in this kind of money...The first is visually precise but boring and the second looks like a common department store ad at first..the soiling might tell the tale on closer inspection.
Following up on it, it seems the photographer often does lascivious photographs and this one is mentioned as a self photo with a personal ad in her hand and possibly it is about 6 foot.
Following up on it, it seems the photographer often does lascivious photographs and this one is mentioned as a self photo with a personal ad in her hand and possibly it is about 6 foot.
Dec 2, 2011 00:59:30 #
Dec 2, 2011 01:00:44 #
Greg-Colo wrote:
find out who the buyer was......I have some photos to show em....
I think we all do
Dec 2, 2011 01:01:27 #
Dec 2, 2011 01:24:20 #
Kasimir Malevich paintings are said to be worth about a million bucks. Here's an example.
Not too different from your creations. :D
Not too different from your creations. :D
Black square and red square
Dec 2, 2011 02:04:11 #
Maybe take your two photos print them out side by side with a space between the two on a canvas. Rap it around a frame, now you get a two sided double masterpiece!
Dec 2, 2011 02:52:44 #
as far as I know, it's a mammoth 6-by-11 feet print. To get a print this size with real fine grains and deatils is a sight to behold. Of course the fame artist's reputation and limited print does help the price.
Dec 2, 2011 08:30:33 #
"Midnight Over the Red Sea" and "Sunset Over the Black Sea" break a basic photography rule. The rule of thirds. The horizon line should be at a 1/3 level, never in the middle. The horizon line of "Rhein II" is in the middle. If everyone follows the rules (rule of thirds), photos that don't follow the rules are more unique and therefore more desireable. Your photos also have no details while every other photo has some sort of detail. Another unique feature. Also, yours is dual purpose depending on which way it is flipped. More value. For my money, I would say that yours is the most valuable and should set a new price record that should stand for a long time to come. But then, I have no money and will have to work for forty or fifty years after I die to pay what I owe.
Dec 2, 2011 08:52:07 #
Sunrisepano wrote:
"Midnight Over the Red Sea" and "Su... (show quote)
I like your thinking. You're obviously a person with taste. Also, you noticed what I noticed - namely that the strongest horizontal line is located in the precise center of the photograph.
Dec 2, 2011 10:19:24 #
PhotoJosh wrote:
I actually tackled this on my blog, and I found th... (show quote)
Great comment; very insightful! How about the old record-holder, "Untitled #96"? I've assumed it's the mystery surrounding the young girl that makes it worth so much.
Dec 2, 2011 12:15:24 #
docrob
Loc: Durango, Colorado
Sunrisepano wrote:
"Midnight Over the Red Sea" and "Su... (show quote)
Gosh darn it time for another "excuse me" from an old guy. 1) there are no rules in photography and that includes the "rule of thirds." Secondly, Cindy Sherman is a very well known photographer and while I do not personally care for her work, it is original, creative, and highly collectable.
Dec 2, 2011 19:29:14 #
Wabbit
Loc: Arizona Desert
plieber wrote:
No!Attached is a copy of the world's most expensive p... (show quote)
Dec 2, 2011 21:16:40 #
plieber wrote:
What Am I missing
The only thing you're missing is a buyer with millions of dollars and questionable taste.
The latter is easy to find, the former...not so much.
Dec 3, 2011 02:33:41 #
well the girl in the second pic is laying on my grandma's old kitchen floor. lol
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