This seals it...I'm going into photography full-time

[Blue_Tires]

Record for any photo sold at auction set in NYC

..NEW YORK (AP) — A 1999 photograph of the Rhine river by German artist Andreas Gursky has sold for $4.3 million in New York City, setting a record for any photograph sold at auction.

Titled "Rhein II," the chromogenic color print face-mounted to acrylic glass, had a pre-sale estimate of $2.5 million to $3.5 million.

It sold Tuesday at Christie's. The buyer was not disclosed.

The previous record for any photography sold at auction was Cindy Sherman's "Untitled," which fetched $3.8 million at Christie's in May.

Gursky's panoramic image of the Rhine is one of an edition of six photographs. Four are in major museums, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Tate Modern in London.

http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/dXgecQinbEwfz63LZaOlWg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD0zNTM7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/

[petronius]

1. I'd be very curious to know what the bidders (and appraisers) would be willing to offer

if they were just shown that photo without the Gursky name attached... :shrug:

[Blue_Tires]

2. In a related development I'm changing my last name to Gursky

[Chan790]

4. Hater.

Yes, anybody could have taken that picture...but Gursky did. Not anybody's fault that you didn't see the artistry of the mundane scene and take a photo of it.

[SwissTony]

5. There can be artistry in mundane scenes

but I just can't see it in this.

[Chan790]

6. I think the lines and symmetry of it are beautiful.

But no, I understand...there are a few artists working today where I look at their work and think "meh! that's shit!"

To wit: Damien Hirst.

In Hirst's case, pretentious meh!

[SwissTony]

7. Yeah, I saw the symmetry and the balance.

Technically, it's fine. But it doesn't do anything for me, personally.

And Damien Hirst...one bad idea repeated 100 times.

And Tracy Emin's bed...nuff sed.

[petronius]

8. If you're going to use subject lines like "Hater", you should at least endeavor to understand

what it is you're replying to... :eyes:

[Chan790]

9. I understand completely and "hater" applies.

You've got sour grapes stains on your trousers, good sir. Of course the name has value, you'd pay more for an original work of art by an admired artist too rather than a knockoff by some schlub.

[SwissTony]

11. Sorry, I disagree.

It's a lousy photo. Just because it's a lousy photo taken by an admired artist doesn't mean it's worth millions. Even brilliant photographers take lousy photos.

Answer me this...if I took that photo (and I've taken many not dissimilar), would it be worth millions?

[edbermac]

3. $4.3 million for THAT???

Geez, Lohan is getting a million from Playboy and this pic doesn't even have any boobies in it.

:wtf:

[hunter]

10. Here's how I'm gonna make it a $5.3 million dollar picture!!!