World's most expensive photo - where we are going wrong

[MrB]

The price would only have made sense if it was signed by Ansel Adams.

In that case the price would have been at least 10 times higher, as the great man would have produced the photograph 15 years after his own death.

Philip

[MrB]

There are some more of Andreas Gursky's photos shown here -
http://www.pphotography.net/2012/09/...as-gursky.html
It seems to me that Rhein II is one of the least interesting - just my opinion, of course.

Cheers.
Philip

[rawill]

And if this sold for that much, it truly makes me wonder.

As said most wouldn't pay $20.00 for it.

So I press on to learn more about what will make my photos 'pop'.

For me the one posted here, certainly does not 'pop'

[Colin Southern]

For me the one posted here, certainly does not 'pop'

I think that was part of the "plan" actually - do convey the bland - repetitious - "conveyor belt" that is modern society.

[Panama Hat & Camera]

I expect many members will know this, but I didn't. This image, called Rhein II, sold for £2.7m in New York last year.

Worse, the image doesn't exist. A factory and some dog walkers had to be cloned out to make "an image of a modern river".

I don't think it would place in a CiC mini comp, but I guess that shows how little I know and why I'm not a millionaire

Who paid £2.7m for this photo?
Antonio.

[Andrew76]

Who paid £2.7m for this photo?
Antonio.

My wife suggested it was probably the photographer's grandmother!

[gcowan]

I hate to rain on a good parade; but have a look at this photographer's site and see what can be done with a minimalist approach. Look at the whole salt series....

http://www.murrayfredericks.com.au/projects/salt/#1

I have stood in front of this fellows images in awe, and some of them have less content than the one shown above.

Graham

[gcowan]

There are some more of Andreas Gursky's photos shown here -
http://www.pphotography.net/2012/09/...as-gursky.html
It seems to me that Rhein II is one of the least interesting - just my opinion, of course.

Cheers.
Philip

Hi Phillip,

Imagine what that image of the river would look like in a room full of the other images shown on his site say between the two F! pit stop photographs. It does say something about the state of the world.

Graham

[Colin Southern]

Who paid £2.7m for this photo?
Antonio.

It says "buyer unknown", but you can read more about it here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesi...-ii-photograph

[Colin Southern]

Hi Phillip,

Imagine what that image of the river would look like in a room full of the other images shown on his site say between the two F! pit stop photographs. It does say something about the state of the world.

Graham

The 2 F1 photos would be far more exciting

[rawill]

I think that was part of the "plan" actually - do convey the bland - repetitious - "conveyor belt" that is modern society.

Maybe so.

I guess using the camera to make this commentary might be less messy than using paint.

Maybe that is his purpose, but in my view it only applies to some of the "Developed West".
There are still many who are still figuring out how to survive.

[LeoLeo]

Well,

He IS the most "wealthy" guy... to have the most expensive first two picutures ... from sales point of view ..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK9Vz...=results_video

There is our guy. ( I love the whole "Contacts" series, 3 volumes). Also, there is another movie with image under discussion "explained", but is only in german language.

Leo
PS: the whole list is here....http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ve_photographs

[Panama Hat & Camera]

There are some more of Andreas Gursky's photos shown here -
http://www.pphotography.net/2012/09/...as-gursky.html
It seems to me that Rhein II is one of the least interesting - just my opinion, of course.

Cheers.
Philip

Philip,
I agree with you. I visited the site and saw some very good photos and other quite interesting. But in my opinion, this is not the case of Rhein II.
Antonio.

[LeoLeo]

I would call this "Cappa Effect".

See the Normandia project of Robert Cappa, beside Tony Vacaro.
Second, this is "art", and not commercial, no matter sale value, and this bring "photography" to one and foremost question: "It is photography, art?".

I will allways wander why I will buy an afro/asian/latin statue instead of "romanian masks" as piece of native/naive art. Maybe is the same with this one. (In counter part, I see plenty of forigners looking at "our marvels"). In the end, is matter of taste, trend, and money.

As Chuck Close said, "there are no accidental masterpieces in a painting, but there are accidental masterpieces in photography". Andreas Gursky is our 21st century Narar, imho. ( see Genius of photography first episode, BBC production)

At the end, between X.Y mil dollars and 1 mil dollar Colin picture, I will choose Colin. Why? after that I will be able to sell it for two. I will be crucified for this, but you HAVE to see it like this: no matter how much skillfull he is, and he is, newspapers will post this:" Colins' Southern picture X sold for 1 mil EUR". Those who didn't participate will wish to have it. Too bad that I don't have my million euros.......

Leo
PS: Colin, plese don't take it as offend, but you are the only proffesional photographer that I know on this site. And the best. You live from this one, and comapred to rest of us (ok, like me), there is no comparison, you are top above. I need to point to a proffesional among us. Apologise to use your name!
PSS: If I will have 1 mil EUR, for sure I will do it !!

[Panama Hat & Camera]

Must be big bathrooms - they're printed 73 x 143 inches.

http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/l...jectID=5496716

73 x 143 inches!! Wow!
How many megapixels has this picture? Which camera and lens was used to take this (...b...) photo?
Antonio.

[LeoLeo]

73 x 143 inches!! Wow!
How many megapixels has this picture? Which camera and lens was used to take this (...b...) photo?
Antonio.

Large camera format (Voightlanger, if I'm not quite wrong...)

Leo

[gaijin]

Well he's manifestly an artist who works in photography, and, because what he produces is considered to be art by the people who buy art, his works fetch art-world prices. Someone with a lot of spare cash on hand presumably bought it as an investment.

I rather like it. It's very reposing, isn't it? I would put in on the wall in my guard-protected underground bunker, as I would Malevich's White on White. The other works of his on the site given earlier (http://www.pphotography.net/2012/09/...as-gursky.html) are quite remarkable, and evidently constitute an œuvre, which is what art collectors like.