The cost of some of the photos is comparable to the cost of the most famous works of the great artists of the Renaissance. What is the significance of these photographs? What distinguishes them from the millions of selfies, pictures of cats and children that we see every day? What reasons make art lovers to pay awesome amounts of money for exclusive pictures? We present you the most expensive photograph in the world (March 2015).
1. Peter Lik: "Phantom" ($6.5 million)
Picture taken in 1999 by Peter Lik called "Phantom". Its cost is estimated at 6.5 (!) million dollars. While this is the most expensive picture in the history of the world. Peter Lik made her when he was in Antelope canyon, Arizona.
2. Andreas Gursky: "Rhein II" ($4.33 million)
This picture has repeatedly bypassed the Internet. The author is the German Andreas Gursky. Photo taken in 1999, is called "Rhein II". The price of the photographs is impressive: 4 338 thousand. Gursky — known photographer, and his collection includes some photographs sold for millions of dollars. In the photo the German Rhine river between the dams in the rainy weather. In the original version were present, the power plant, a passerby and a dog. All that the author retouched in photoshop. This is one of the images of the series "Rhine". The photograph was sold at auction in 2011 at Christie's auction. Its first owner was the Cologne gallery of Monika Spruth, then the work went to an unknown collector.
3. Cindy Sherman: "No. 96 ($3.89 million)
The extravagant work of photo-artist from America Cindy Sherman made in the technique of the so-called production photos. This is the most expensive and widely known work made in 1981, instead of the name is No. 96. Pictures bought for 3 $ 890 thousand. The picture shows a bright girl: red hair, freckles, orange clothes. Cindy Sherman, who calls herself an artist, performance artist, gives the photograph a special meaning. In her opinion, it was an attempt to capture the implementation of immature femininity through the image of a young innocent cute girl. A teenager holding a piece of newspaper with ads about Dating. The picture was sold in 2011 at Christie's auction.
Jeff wall: "dead soldiers" ($3.66 million)
"They say the dead warriors" — photo with such an epic title, strictly speaking, not the picture at all. It's a masterful photo collage made by Jeromeallen in 1992 and sold at auction for 3 666 $ 500. It looks very realistic, but is a statement. The story brings in 1986 in Afghanistan. Photo military ambush of the red army, in reality, posing a dozen professional actors. The historicity of the retained characters are made-up and dressed in the appropriate costumes. Picture taken in the Studio, Jeffwill later processed in the photo editor.
5. Richard Prince: "Cowboy" ($3.4 million)
In 2001-2002, Richard Prince created a picture for advertising of Marlboro and called it "Cowboy". In 2007, the "Cowboy" was sold at Christie's auction for the Grand sum of 3.4 million dollars
6. Andreas Gursky: "99 cents" ($3.34 million)
Insanely expensive diptych by Andreas Gursky "99 cents II", made in 2001, depicts the time from one day at the 99 cent store. Like "Rhine II", which has already been mentioned above, the extremely popular. Perhaps the style of photography, insane perfectionism in the organization of goods, the spirit of consumption — all this made the work one of the most expensive in history. The "99 cents II" was bought by a collector for 3 346 456 USD.
7. Edward Steichen: "the Pond moonlight" ($3 million)
This snapshot of Edward Steichen does not pretend to the depth of meaning or special eccentricities. Its uniqueness and value are defined by the fact that "Pond in moonlight" — the first color photograph in history of photography, made the night. Steichen did it in 1904. Now it costs almost $ 3 million.
8. Cindy Sherman: "No. 153" ($2.7 million) 
The photo of the author Cindy Sherman No. 153 of 1985— not a scene from the film in the style of Hitchcock. This very impressive snimaka "artist and performer" was sold in 2010 for an impressive $ 2 thousand 700 dollars.
9. Andreas Gursky: "Chicago Board of trade III" ($2.35 million)
Not less popular the Andreas Gursky, sold for 2 355 597 USD called "Chicago Board of trade III". He also made in the series in the period from 1999 to 2009. This photograph has exceptional resolution. Huge canvas print (approx 185 x 240 cm) depicts the everyday life of the chamber of Commerce in Chicago. If you enlarge the picture, to the smallest detail to see Desk staff, computers, to see the clothes. The picture was bought for two million dollars in 2013.