Why the Hell Does an Image Cost 1000 Bucks?

Being a provider of high-resolution image material, we are hearing this question quite frequently. The leading image databases in this business are selling photos for dumping prices or even providing them for free. But why do we sell images for 1000 bucks? Where does the price come from? And why on earth is somebody buying them?

We would like to give some insights into the process of creating (really) high-resolution image material. The important thing to note here: most probably, the one asking this question does not need such a bespoken image.