Diane Keaton's photobooth strips, which sold for over $14,000 at auction, reveal a photographer's eye and a deep understanding of the medium. These strips, taken with a Rolleiflex, showcase Keaton's ability to capture movement and sequence, drawing parallels to artists like Warhol and Hockney. What's fascinating is how Keaton used the photobooth as a tool, rather than fighting against its limitations. This approach is evident in her other works, from rescued hotel interiors to county coroner's car crash photographs, where she stripped away the intention to make art and focused on the photographic process itself. The auction results, which totalled $4.2 million, highlight the market's appreciation for Keaton's creative work, with photographic pieces consistently outperforming fashion items. What's most striking is the modesty of the photobooth strips, which cost a few coins to make and show a woman with some sneakers and a curtain backdrop. This is not a celebrity's hobby, but a photographer's eye, and it's this understanding of framing, sequence, and timing that makes Keaton's work genuinely interesting. In my opinion, the auction results tell us that Keaton's legacy as a photographer is secure, and her work will continue to be valued by collectors and critics alike.
