Graf
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exploring nature’s infinite connections

Notes from the Woods

seeing · environment · exploration · photography

Most expensive photographs, and today?

Written by Mark

Born and raised in Detroit, c. 323 ppm CO2, Mark Graf is a Michigan photographer, naturalist, and diver whose muse is summoned by exploring the endless connections in nature; land, sea, and sky.

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5 Comments(s)

Monday, April 23, 2007

Just sharing an interesting link to a list over on Wikipedia. I don’t suppose I will ever understand why these images fetch the prices they do. I can understand some of them hold fairly significant historical reference, like one of the first color photographs. Ansel Adam’s Moonrise is on the list, and never struck me as one of his better images. But that isn’t what it is all about right?

Of course there is more tied to the price of these photographs than their asthetic appeal. And it has me thinking what types of images made today might make this pretigious list in 50 years or so. Of course, one of the prerequisites is you might have to die first. OK, we don’t want to explore that one further. At the top of the list, the photographer is still living. But what about the next great milestones in photographic history? Given we are in the dawn of the digital age, would the first digital image be one worth such noteriety? And how would one buy such a thing in 50 years? Just throw that flash card with the original up on the auction block?

I am curious as to what others think about this list, and if you want to take a guess at some future predictions just for fun.   I can make an “Edition of One” version of any image on this site available for a meager bid of $500,000.  🙂

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5 Comments

  1. Wine Art
    Wine Art on Friday, May 11, 2007 at 3:34 PM

    Amazing how much some of the photos can cost. Thanks for sharing the link!

  2. Wildlife Gardener
    Wildlife Gardener on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 3:43 PM

    Exquisite photography! Congratulations on being nominated for the “Thinking Bloggers Award” by Thalia.

  3. Thalia
    Thalia on Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 11:13 AM

    Hello Mark,

    Thank you for leaving a comment on my blog. Your blog is one of the most interesting ones that I have found.

    I have nominated your blog for the “Thinking Blogger” Award. Please check my blog for the details.

  4. Michael Brown
    Michael Brown on Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 9:33 AM

    If mine ever obtains any of that kind of significance 50 years after I fall over, then I hope that it will happen about 100 years from now!

    If you really want your images to have some historical significance one day, then shoot something today that will no longer exists in 50-100 years, and shoot it in a creative way.
    Your kids and grandkids might appreciate it too! 🙂

  5. wren
    wren on Monday, April 23, 2007 at 8:04 PM

    Seriously, I like your photos better than the ones on that list, but I have a rule that I don’t spend $500k on anything that doesn’t have a basement.