Peter Lik sits at the summit of landscape photography.

World-renowned, highly awarded, and boasting a huge international following, Lik’s journey had humble origins. Born in Melbourne, Australia to Czech immigrants, it was his parents’ gift of a Kodak Brownie camera on his eighth birthday that set young Peter’s course.

Entirely self taught, Lik worked hard at his craft before making a life-changing decision: to come to the United States in 1984 and photograph landscapes in all 50 states. Five years, 50,000 miles and 1,000 rolls of film later, the “biggest challenge of my life” was completed. Highlights of Peter’s American odyssey can be found in his book Spirit of America.

A chance meeting with fellow photographer Allen Prier in Alaska became a defining moment in Peter Lik’s life. He was introduced to the medium format panoramic camera and given the advice “Go big or go home.”

Lik did both, returning to Australia to photograph the vastness of the Great South Land, start up his own fine art publishing company, and open his first gallery in his adopted hometown of Cairns.

Lik’s stature as a photographer has been indisputably confirmed with his receipt of the award of Master Photographer from both the Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP) and the Professional Photographers of America (PPA). He has also been awarded fellowships by the British Institute of Professional Photographers (BIPP) and The Royal Photographic Society (RPS).

Now based in Las Vegas where he oversees his company LIK USA™, Lik’s career continues to boom. He has sold in excess of $200 million of fine art photography, has 13 galleries of his own, counts presidents and celebrities among his many collectors, is filming a TV series for The Weather Channel, and will soon release his own clothing line.

January of 2011 saw another landmark when Lik sold his shot “One,” taken on the banks of the Androscoggin River in New Hampshire, for $1 million.

Lik’s master works include “Ghost,” “Ancient Spirit,” Sacred Sunrise,” “Angel’s Heart,” and “Tree of Life.” The demand for each limited-edition new release always exceeds supply.

Now at the top of his game, Peter Lik is “loving it!” at full throttle and the animated Aussie is showing no signs of slowing down.

View more photos on Peter Lik's Website