This single click of the shutter resulted in the most lucrative photograph I ever made. It’s not the best photo I’ve ever taken, but it’s the one that fetched the highest selling price by far. With that in mind, let’s talk about the difference between monetary value and inherent value when it comes to art and life.
Shot in 2006 for an online magazine in Charlotte, this photo was later purchased by a real estate developer who paid a handsome sum to own exclusive commercial rights to the image for 10 years. My photo was one of three artworks that were selected to be featured as permanent 40-foot-high images on a trio of old silos – creating a highly visible artistic centerpiece for a new residential development in Charlotte's South End.
The photo had significant commercial value; hence the premium price. But what about the image itself? I’ve always liked the picture with its playful arrangement of lines, colors and shapes. As I said upfront, though: I wouldn't consider it my highest artistic achievement. It’s not as good as many other photos I’ve taken that earned a fraction of the sale price – or earned nothing at all.
The lesson learned: It pays to remember that the value of things cannot be measured strictly in dollars and cents.
That’s true for the fresh banana that was duct-taped to a wall and recently sold for $6.2 million at a Sotheby’s art auction. It’s true for people, too. Like the duct-taped banana or my photo emblazoned on the side of a silo, a person’s value can’t be judged by the dollars they’ve earned.
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