The 6th International Photography Symposium and 2025 Lishui Photography Festival will be held from Nov 7 to 11 in Lishui, Zhejiang province. The results of the 2nd International Photography Lishui Award have been announced, with German photographic artist Thomas Ruff being honored this year.

He will attend the festival to present a solo exhibition, deliver a thematic lecture, and participate in academic discussions, activities expected to enhance the event's academic profile and foster international artistic exchange.

Ruff was unanimously selected by a panel of nine international judges from five countries. The panel evaluated globally renowned photographers, based on criteria such as artistic achievement and academic influence.

The International Photography Lishui Award is an academic initiative organized by the Photography Museum of Lishui, which previously honored Stephen Shore in 2023.

Born in Germany in 1958, Thomas Ruff is a seminal figure in photography. A key representative of the Dusseldorf School, his work spans portraiture, architecture, astronomy, and more, and is held in major global collections.

He is best known for his Portraits series, begun in 1981, which uses large-scale prints to emphasize the physicality of the photographic medium. Judges noted Ruff's continuous exploration of photography's possibilities.

His conceptual approach is evident in his Stars series, in which he used archival astronomical plates rather than taking new photographs, thereby expanding the definition of photographic practice.

Judges praised the remarkable breadth, depth, and consistency of his work, recognizing his profound influence on contemporary art and photography.