Peter Lik $6.5m Phantom - An unidentified private collector has bought a picture from renowned Australian photographer Peter Lik for a record $6.5 million.

Peter Lik's $6.5m 'Phantom' photograph is a black and white version of his 'Ghost' photo, which was taken in Antelope Canyon, Arizona.

The photo, in a cave, shows a misty figure surrounded by smooth flowing rock formations. Peter Lik's $6.5m 'Phantom' is a typical work of this photographer, who has revealed that his aim to is capture nature in such a way that it connects to viewers.

"Certain textures and contours found in nature lend themselves beautifully to black and white photography," he said. "The intensity of contrasting light and dark spaces was surprising, but made for some of the most powerful images I've ever created."

Prior to the trade of Peter Lik's $6.5m 'Phantom' photo, the record of the world's most expensive photograph was held by Andreas Gursky for his 'Rhein II' photo.

In 2011, Peter Lik shortly held the title of having sold the world's most expensive photo titled 'One' for $1m.

Besides the Peter Lik $6.5m 'Phantom' trade, the photographer also sold his 'Illusion' and 'Eternal Moods' photos for $2.4m ad $1.1m respectively, bringing his total earning from the recent sale to $10m.

Despite the growing popularity of photography - as evidenced by these sales - critics continue to downplay it as an art form.

The Guardian writes:

This record-setting picture typifies everything that goes wrong when photographers think they are artists. It is derivative, sentimental in its studied romanticism, and consequently in very poor taste. It looks like a posh poster you might find framed in a pretentious hotel room.

Someone has been very foolish with their money, mistaking the picturesque for high art.

The news of Peter Lik's $6.5m 'Phantom' sale has gone viral. "It is noteworthy that the sales of thee photographic works denote another milestone in the development of fine art photography, as well as a new benchmark for the value of Peter Lik's works," Mark G. Tratos, Lik's legal representative, said.

Click here to see Peter Liks' $6.5 'Phantom' photo.