Australian photographer Peter Lik this week created a new world record by selling one of his pictures for 6.5 million US dollars, local press reported on Friday.

Named Phantom, the black and white picture shows a shaft of light cutting through a Arizona landscape and is reportedly the most expensive photograph ever sold, the ABC website said.

The identity of the buyer wasn't disclosed, but his lawyer, Joshua Roth of Los Angeles, vouched for him in a press release.

"In 2014, Peter shattered all world records by selling the most expensive photograph in history," his website said. "To accompany this sale, Peter's images Illusion and Eternal Moods were also acquired for 2.4 million US dollars and 1.1 million US dollars, respectively."

"Along with his sale of One for 1 million US dollars in 2010, Peter now holds four spots out of the top 20 most expensive photographs ever sold."