Historic Concorde image joins NFT craze at auction
AN iconic photograph of Concorde soaring over the Clifton Suspension Bridge on its final flight is set to be the first of its kind sold via a trendy new form of auction for digital art.
The digital image, taken by photographer Lewis Whyld, has been hailed by CNN as arguably “the greatest aviation photograph of all time”.
It shows crowds of spectators watching the supersonic aircraft fly over Brunel’s Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, on November 26, 2003, before being permanently grounded.
And now a bidder can secure ownership of the historic moment, as the famous photograph has been ‘minted’ as a non-fungible token (NFT).
NFT’s transform digital works of art and photographs into verifiable assets that can be traded on the blockchain and paid for in cryptocurrency.
The term ‘minting’ means the image has been ‘ stamped’ with a unique bit of code, serving as a permanent record of authenticity.
In recent months people have paid eye-watering sums for NFTs – with one digital video selling for $69 million. Some speculators believe they could be the future of art – while sceptics think they may be a fad.
Mr Whyld, 43, of London, pictured right, said recent famous NFT artworks have sold for several million pounds, but he said his Concorde image was understood to be one of the first iconic photos to be sold this way.
The 24-hour auction will begin as soon as the reserve price, around £35,000, has been met.
He added: “This auction gives the buyer a unique opportunity to own the original digital photograph, unlike buying a print which is a copy of the original. It’s an incredibly rare opportunity to be able to buy an iconic historic photograph in its original format. This new marketplace is an exciting way of collecting art and photography.”
Like many NFT sales, purchasing the Concorde image does not include the copyright, but this isn’t something Mr Whyld believes discourages buyers.
He added: “People are interested in collecting original images, whether to keep in their collection, resell or print for their own personal use. The buyer can legitimately say they own the original of this famous photograph.
“The image was always about uniting engineering triumphs of the 19th and 20th centuries, showcasing Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s suspension bridge and the Concorde.
“Now, as an NFT, it unites those with technological advances of the 21st century.”
Mr Whyld says the image itself was taken on the cusp of digital photography emerging as a viable alternative to traditional film.
Reflecting on the moment he took the shot, Whyld said: “Standing on the skid of a helicopter at 3,000 feet, with my legs and hands numb from the cold, I suddenly saw the Concorde on the horizon, heading towards me at 300mph.
“The most iconic aircraft in the world would never fly again. I knew I had just one chance.
“A lot of people were saying it was an impossible picture to take as the camera wouldn’t be fast enough.
“There are so many reasons why it could have gone wrong, but it worked out perfectly… the position of the plane against the cliff edge, the bridge, the road and the people. It created a perfect frame.”
The 24-hour auction will begin as soon as the reserve price has been met. The price is set in cypto currency as 20 ethereum, which is equivalent to around £35,000.
To view the listing visit foundation.app/whyld
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