Qiang LI is an award-winning photographer previously based in Beijing, and based in New York since May, 2022.
He has won prizes including White House News Photographers Association Eyes of History Contest, National Press Photographers Association Best of Photojournalism award, and Picture of the Year awards for 9 times in consecutive years, including two First Prizes. (POY is the oldest and most prestige photojournalism award organized by Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia, Missouri.), and numerous national and international awards.
He has also contributed to international media, such as the Washington Post, Time, USA TODAY, AFP, Reuters, WNYC, the New York Times, etc.
He has traveled to almost all places in China, and around 40 foreign countries, the trips broadened his horizons, increased his interest in searching for the conflicts and roots of different kind of culture and societies via his visual works.
Previously, he was a photojournalist at the Beijing News covering breaking news all over China, and later the Director of Photography of China Newsweek Magazine.
In 2014, He founded an independent organization Yihe Image, promoting news photography international exchange between China, America and Europe. Qiang Li has helped more than 3000 Chinese photographers from over 200 news media and independent studios to participant international photo contests, exhibitions and workshops. (https://time.com/3713415/how-a-chinese-organization-is-helping-photographers-win-awards/)
Because of his achievements in organizing international photography workshops and activities, Qiang Li received exclusive interviews from Time Magazine, Washington Post, and numerous Chinese mainstream media.
Selected awards:
White House News Photographers Association Eyes of History Contest 2025
Third Prize, BEST DIGITAL STORYTELLING PACKAGE, IN-DEPTH
National Press Photographers Association Best of Photojournalism award 2025,
Second Place, Feature Story, Dreams in a New World: A Chinese Immigrant Family’s New Life in America
Picture of the Year International Awards:
1)The First Prize, the 81th Pictures of the Year, General News. 2024. No Where to Escape.
2)The Award of Excellence, the 81th Pictures of the Year, Sports Picture Story, 2024. Checkmating Boundaries: An Asian boy’s Chess Journey in America
3)The Award of Excellence, the 80th Pictures of the Year, Daily Life Single,2023.Fighting with COVID in a Hotel
4)The Award of Excellence, the 80th Pictures of the Year Daily Life Story, 2023.Fresh off the Boat.
5)The Award of Excellence, the POY Asia, Portrait Single, 2023
6)First place, Pictures of the Year 79 Sports Life,2022, Gaze
7) Award of Excellence, Pictures of the Year 79 Sports Life,2022, Ice Hockey Lovers
8) Finalist, Recreational & Traditional Sports, POY Asia 2022
9) The 2nd place of the 76th Picture of the Year,
Daily Life Category, 2019.Orphan Monks in Myanmar
His solo photography exhibition Fresh Off the Boat about his family’s daily life before and after immigrating to New York was held at the United Nations in New York from November 1 to November 30, 2022.
The exhibition photos are selected from these two photo series: https://www.liqiangphoto.com/stories/album/fresh-off-the-boat
http://www.liqiangphoto.com/album/the-never-ending-summer
The Washington Post report about Li Qiang’s family immigration story in 2023:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/interactive/2023/chinese-photographer-immigration-journey-to-america/
When he is not working for news organizations, he enjoys exploring the hidden gems of New York City with his wife and two kids, using his smartphone to record the precious moments, and looking for delicious Asian food in Flushing, Queens, New York.
Work Experience:
1
November, 2014 – Present,
The founder of Yihe Image
Based in Beijing, New York
Yihe Image is an independent organisation promoting news photography international exchange between China, America and Europe.
As the founder of Yihe, for consecutive six years since the end of 2014, Li Qiang has helped more than 3000 Chinese photographers from over 200 news media and independent studios to participant Picture of the Year International in America(http://www.poyi.org/), and World Press Photo( https://www.worldpressphoto.org/)
Because of his achievements in organizing international photography workshops and activities, Li Qiang received exclusive interviews from Time Magazine, Washington Post, and numerous Chinese mainstream media.
An exclusive Time report about Li Qiang: “How a Chinese Organization is Helping Photographers Win Awards”
February 20, 2015
http://time.com/3713415/how-a-chinese-organization-is-helping-photographers-win-awards/
2
January, 2012 – November, 2014
China Newsweek Magazine
Director of Photography Department at China Newsweek Magazine(中国新闻周刊)
Based in Beijing.
I am responsible for selecting topics, supervising the works by the photographers and photo editors, and covering the most important photo stories. I am one of the youngest photo directors in China.
In this job, I lead the photographer and video team to accomplish many important and influential national and international reports, and be an innovator of changing the magazine to cater for the readers in internet era.
China Newsweek is a weekly magazine with a national circulation, it’s a popular magazine which has Chinese version, American version(Called News China), Japanese version and Southeast Asian version.
3
July, 2008 – January, 2012
The Beijing News (新京报)
Photojournalist
Based in Beijing
I work as a photojournalist. It’s a daily newspaper based in Beijing, covering breaking news all around China. I am responsible for shooting important news all around China. During the period in the Beijing News, I won many national and international photography awards every year, became the youngest photographer who achieved the accomplishments.
4
Teaching Experience:
January, 2016 – September, 2016,
School of Art, Dalian Medical University.
The lecturer of Photography Major
January, 2017 -January 2020
School of Art, Dalian Medical University.
The Adjunct Associate Professor of Photography Major
Awards
White House News Photographers Association Eyes of History Contest 2025
Third Prize, BEST DIGITAL STORYTELLING PACKAGE, IN-DEPTH
National Press Photographers Association Best of Photojournalism award 2025,
Second Place, Feature Story, Dreams in a New World: A Chinese Immigrant Family’s New Life in America
Picture of the Year International Awards:
1)The First Prize, the 81th Pictures of the Year, General News. 2024. No Where to Escape.
2)The Award of Excellence, the 81th Pictures of the Year, Sports Picture Story, 2024. Checkmating Boundaries: An Asian boy’s Chess Journey in America
3)The Award of Excellence, the 80th Pictures of the Year, Daily Life Single,2023.Fighting with COVID in a Hotel
4)The Award of Excellence, the 80th Pictures of the Year Daily Life Story, 2023.Fresh off the Boat.
5)The Award of Excellence, the POY Asia, Portrait Single, 2023
6)First place, Pictures of the Year 79 Sports Life,2022, Gaze
7) Award of Excellence, Pictures of the Year 79 Sports Life,2022, Ice Hockey Lovers
8) Finalist, Recreational & Traditional Sports, POY Asia 2022
9) The 2nd place of the 76th Picture of the Year,
Daily Life Category, 2019.Orphan Monks in Myanmar
2014：
Canon 2014, Annual Top 10 Professional Photographer in China
2014：
Honorable Mention Photographer of the Year at 2013 Degree Celsius Sina Photo Awards.
November, 2014：
The 21th Golden Lens China Press Photo Contest (2013)
Bronze Medal, People in the News, Photo Story,
Heavy Wings
August, 2013：
The 20th Golden Lens China Press Photo Contest,
Golden Medal, People in the News, Singles,
Nobel Prize Winner Mo Yan
January, 2011：
The 19th Golden Lens China Press Photo Contest,
Golden Prize, People in the News, Singles,
Wronged Criminal Zhao Zuohai
March, 2011：
The 7th China International Press Photo Contest, Silver Prize, Portraits Singles, Wronged Criminal Zhao Zuohai
March, 2010：
The 6th China International Press Photo Contest,
Bronze Prize, War& Disaster, Stories，
Hegang Mine Disaster
February, 2010：
China Vision Alliance Annual Multimedia Grand Award, To Live （A Documentary）
February, 2010：
The Third China Moment China Press Photo Contest
2nd Prize, Self-Dialysis Center
January, 2010：
The 18th Golden Lens China Press Photo Contest,
Golden Prize, Photo Stories, General News,
Self-Dialysis Center
January, 2010：
The 18th Golden Lens China Press Photo Contest,
Silver Prize, Disaster Stories, Hegang Mine Disaster
January, 2010：
The 18th Golden Lens China Press Photo Contest,
The Annual Outstanding Photographer
February, 2008：
The 16th Golden Lens China Press Photo Contest,
Silver Prize, Daily Life, Singles,
Dance of Life
March,2008：
The 4th China International Press Photo Contest,
Golden Prize, Daily Life Singles,
Dance of Life
March, 2007:
The 4th China International Press Photo Contest,
Sports Stories，Excellent Award,
Dalian Blind Soccer
March,2006:
The 12th Canon Cup “Wonderful Asia” Photo Contest (2006) ，Social Life
Best New Photographer
The Road to School in Snow
2013
The Outstanding Alumni Award, College of Image Art, Dalian Medical University.
Exhibitions:
1
The United Nations in New York
Solo photography exhibition Fresh Off the Boat about his family’s daily life before and after immigrating to New York
November 1 to November 30, 2022.
2
Photoville York International Photography Festival
WWII Veterans
New York
From Sept 3 to Sept 14, 2015
3
A Different Dongguan City
Group exhibition at National Museum of China,Beijing
December2015，
4
Solo exhibition, the World
Yi County International Photography Festival
Huangshan City, Anhui Province.
November，2015，
5
The world in Yihe Members’ Eyes
The curator of Yihe member’s group exhibition
Yi County International Photography Festival
Huangshan City, Anhui Province.
November, 2016
6
Construction Workers ,Solo show
Beekeepers in Urban Cities, Solo show,2006
7
China Pingyao International Photography Festival.
August, 2006
8
Labourer (Migrant Workers in a construction site in Dalian)
Group Exhibition of 22 People, China Photoshop Art Corps.2006
9
Kids with Visual Impairment , The 8th Shanghai international Photographic Art Exhibition,2006
10
The Road to School, The 8th Shanghai international Photographic Art Exhibition, 2006
11
In Those Special Days, single,
China Central Archives. Permanent collection. 2010
12
Looking for Water Source, photo series,
Xu Xiaobing Monuments. Permanent collection. 2010
13
Self-Dialysis Center, photo series,
Xu Xiaobing Monuments. Permanent collection. 2012
Judging Experience:
1
The judge of the annual Utah News Photographers Association 2023 Photojournalism Competition, general news category.
2024.
2
The member of Recommended Committee of the Xu Xiaobing Cup China Documentary Photography Exhibition, 2018.
3
The China tutor for Beijing International Youth Travel Festival，2016
Beijing
4
The organizer and judge for the Beijing Portfolio Review in April, 2016.
Beijing
5
The judge of Anhui Yi County International Photography Festival and 100-people photography workshop in 2015.
Anhui Province, China
6
The judge of“Celsius 2014” Annual Photographer Competition for the final round, April, 2015.Beijing, China
7
Curator at the 3rd Phoenix Folk-culture International Festival
Phoenix( Fenghuang) Ancient Town, Hunan Province
2017
Activities and Workshops held by Li Qiang:
1
Four day workshop for professional photographers and photojournalists.
January 16- January 19, 2015,
Beijing
2
100-people Photography Workshop for photographers all around China:
From Nov 1 to Nov 5, 2015,
Yi County, Huangshan City, Anhui Province
3
Be the guest of American top photography workshop Eddie Adams Workshop.
In October of 2015 and 2016
New York.
4
Long term Projects Sharing Forum by Chinese and International Photojournalists
On January 16, 2015
Beijing
5
International Musical and Photo Slide Show
Youth Shooting Beijing Theme Activity of Beijing International Youth Travel Festival
September 22, 2016
Beijing Ming Dynasty City Tower at Relic Park.
Organizer, host
6
Photographers from G20 countries Shooting Hangzhou City
May, 2016,
Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province
Organizer
7
Symposium: The dialogue between World Press Photo judges and winners
World Press Photo judges, staffs, and Chinese photographer winners
On March 13, 2015,
Beijing
Organizer
8
Focus Group Discuss: World Press Photo and Chinese Photographers
Speaker: World Press Photo judges, staffs, and Chinese photographers and photo editors
On Sept 14, 2015,
Beijing
9
Lecture: How does Time Magazine Photography Department run?
Speaker: Myles Little, the senior photo editor of Time Magazine
On September 17, 2015,
Beijing
Education
September, 2004 – June, 2008:
Bachelor of Art and Photography,
College of Image Art, Dalian Medical University.
He has won prizes including White House News Photographers Association Eyes of History Contest, National Press Photographers Association Best of Photojournalism award, and Picture of the Year awards for 9 times in consecutive years, including two First Prizes. (POY is the oldest and most prestige photojournalism award organized by Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia, Missouri.), and numerous national and international awards.
He has also contributed to international media, such as the Washington Post, Time, USA TODAY, AFP, Reuters, WNYC, the New York Times, etc.
He has traveled to almost all places in China, and around 40 foreign countries, the trips broadened his horizons, increased his interest in searching for the conflicts and roots of different kind of culture and societies via his visual works.
Previously, he was a photojournalist at the Beijing News covering breaking news all over China, and later the Director of Photography of China Newsweek Magazine.
In 2014, He founded an independent organization Yihe Image, promoting news photography international exchange between China, America and Europe. Qiang Li has helped more than 3000 Chinese photographers from over 200 news media and independent studios to participant international photo contests, exhibitions and workshops. (https://time.com/3713415/how-a-chinese-organization-is-helping-photographers-win-awards/)
Because of his achievements in organizing international photography workshops and activities, Qiang Li received exclusive interviews from Time Magazine, Washington Post, and numerous Chinese mainstream media.
Selected awards:
White House News Photographers Association Eyes of History Contest 2025
Third Prize, BEST DIGITAL STORYTELLING PACKAGE, IN-DEPTH
National Press Photographers Association Best of Photojournalism award 2025,
Second Place, Feature Story, Dreams in a New World: A Chinese Immigrant Family’s New Life in America
Picture of the Year International Awards:
1)The First Prize, the 81th Pictures of the Year, General News. 2024. No Where to Escape.
2)The Award of Excellence, the 81th Pictures of the Year, Sports Picture Story, 2024. Checkmating Boundaries: An Asian boy’s Chess Journey in America
3)The Award of Excellence, the 80th Pictures of the Year, Daily Life Single,2023.Fighting with COVID in a Hotel
4)The Award of Excellence, the 80th Pictures of the Year Daily Life Story, 2023.Fresh off the Boat.
5)The Award of Excellence, the POY Asia, Portrait Single, 2023
6)First place, Pictures of the Year 79 Sports Life,2022, Gaze
7) Award of Excellence, Pictures of the Year 79 Sports Life,2022, Ice Hockey Lovers
8) Finalist, Recreational & Traditional Sports, POY Asia 2022
9) The 2nd place of the 76th Picture of the Year,
Daily Life Category, 2019.Orphan Monks in Myanmar
His solo photography exhibition Fresh Off the Boat about his family’s daily life before and after immigrating to New York was held at the United Nations in New York from November 1 to November 30, 2022.
The exhibition photos are selected from these two photo series: https://www.liqiangphoto.com/stories/album/fresh-off-the-boat
http://www.liqiangphoto.com/album/the-never-ending-summer
The Washington Post report about Li Qiang’s family immigration story in 2023:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/interactive/2023/chinese-photographer-immigration-journey-to-america/
When he is not working for news organizations, he enjoys exploring the hidden gems of New York City with his wife and two kids, using his smartphone to record the precious moments, and looking for delicious Asian food in Flushing, Queens, New York.
Work Experience:
1
November, 2014 – Present,
The founder of Yihe Image
Based in Beijing, New York
Yihe Image is an independent organisation promoting news photography international exchange between China, America and Europe.
As the founder of Yihe, for consecutive six years since the end of 2014, Li Qiang has helped more than 3000 Chinese photographers from over 200 news media and independent studios to participant Picture of the Year International in America(http://www.poyi.org/), and World Press Photo( https://www.worldpressphoto.org/)
Because of his achievements in organizing international photography workshops and activities, Li Qiang received exclusive interviews from Time Magazine, Washington Post, and numerous Chinese mainstream media.
An exclusive Time report about Li Qiang: “How a Chinese Organization is Helping Photographers Win Awards”
February 20, 2015
http://time.com/3713415/how-a-chinese-organization-is-helping-photographers-win-awards/
2
January, 2012 – November, 2014
China Newsweek Magazine
Director of Photography Department at China Newsweek Magazine(中国新闻周刊)
Based in Beijing.
I am responsible for selecting topics, supervising the works by the photographers and photo editors, and covering the most important photo stories. I am one of the youngest photo directors in China.
In this job, I lead the photographer and video team to accomplish many important and influential national and international reports, and be an innovator of changing the magazine to cater for the readers in internet era.
China Newsweek is a weekly magazine with a national circulation, it’s a popular magazine which has Chinese version, American version(Called News China), Japanese version and Southeast Asian version.
3
July, 2008 – January, 2012
The Beijing News (新京报)
Photojournalist
Based in Beijing
I work as a photojournalist. It’s a daily newspaper based in Beijing, covering breaking news all around China. I am responsible for shooting important news all around China. During the period in the Beijing News, I won many national and international photography awards every year, became the youngest photographer who achieved the accomplishments.
4
Teaching Experience:
January, 2016 – September, 2016,
School of Art, Dalian Medical University.
The lecturer of Photography Major
January, 2017 -January 2020
School of Art, Dalian Medical University.
The Adjunct Associate Professor of Photography Major
Awards
White House News Photographers Association Eyes of History Contest 2025
Third Prize, BEST DIGITAL STORYTELLING PACKAGE, IN-DEPTH
National Press Photographers Association Best of Photojournalism award 2025,
Second Place, Feature Story, Dreams in a New World: A Chinese Immigrant Family’s New Life in America
Picture of the Year International Awards:
1)The First Prize, the 81th Pictures of the Year, General News. 2024. No Where to Escape.
2)The Award of Excellence, the 81th Pictures of the Year, Sports Picture Story, 2024. Checkmating Boundaries: An Asian boy’s Chess Journey in America
3)The Award of Excellence, the 80th Pictures of the Year, Daily Life Single,2023.Fighting with COVID in a Hotel
4)The Award of Excellence, the 80th Pictures of the Year Daily Life Story, 2023.Fresh off the Boat.
5)The Award of Excellence, the POY Asia, Portrait Single, 2023
6)First place, Pictures of the Year 79 Sports Life,2022, Gaze
7) Award of Excellence, Pictures of the Year 79 Sports Life,2022, Ice Hockey Lovers
8) Finalist, Recreational & Traditional Sports, POY Asia 2022
9) The 2nd place of the 76th Picture of the Year,
Daily Life Category, 2019.Orphan Monks in Myanmar
2014：
Canon 2014, Annual Top 10 Professional Photographer in China
2014：
Honorable Mention Photographer of the Year at 2013 Degree Celsius Sina Photo Awards.
November, 2014：
The 21th Golden Lens China Press Photo Contest (2013)
Bronze Medal, People in the News, Photo Story,
Heavy Wings
August, 2013：
The 20th Golden Lens China Press Photo Contest,
Golden Medal, People in the News, Singles,
Nobel Prize Winner Mo Yan
January, 2011：
The 19th Golden Lens China Press Photo Contest,
Golden Prize, People in the News, Singles,
Wronged Criminal Zhao Zuohai
March, 2011：
The 7th China International Press Photo Contest, Silver Prize, Portraits Singles, Wronged Criminal Zhao Zuohai
March, 2010：
The 6th China International Press Photo Contest,
Bronze Prize, War& Disaster, Stories，
Hegang Mine Disaster
February, 2010：
China Vision Alliance Annual Multimedia Grand Award, To Live （A Documentary）
February, 2010：
The Third China Moment China Press Photo Contest
2nd Prize, Self-Dialysis Center
January, 2010：
The 18th Golden Lens China Press Photo Contest,
Golden Prize, Photo Stories, General News,
Self-Dialysis Center
January, 2010：
The 18th Golden Lens China Press Photo Contest,
Silver Prize, Disaster Stories, Hegang Mine Disaster
January, 2010：
The 18th Golden Lens China Press Photo Contest,
The Annual Outstanding Photographer
February, 2008：
The 16th Golden Lens China Press Photo Contest,
Silver Prize, Daily Life, Singles,
Dance of Life
March,2008：
The 4th China International Press Photo Contest,
Golden Prize, Daily Life Singles,
Dance of Life
March, 2007:
The 4th China International Press Photo Contest,
Sports Stories，Excellent Award,
Dalian Blind Soccer
March,2006:
The 12th Canon Cup “Wonderful Asia” Photo Contest (2006) ，Social Life
Best New Photographer
The Road to School in Snow
2013
The Outstanding Alumni Award, College of Image Art, Dalian Medical University.
Exhibitions:
1
The United Nations in New York
Solo photography exhibition Fresh Off the Boat about his family’s daily life before and after immigrating to New York
November 1 to November 30, 2022.
2
Photoville York International Photography Festival
WWII Veterans
New York
From Sept 3 to Sept 14, 2015
3
A Different Dongguan City
Group exhibition at National Museum of China,Beijing
December2015，
4
Solo exhibition, the World
Yi County International Photography Festival
Huangshan City, Anhui Province.
November，2015，
5
The world in Yihe Members’ Eyes
The curator of Yihe member’s group exhibition
Yi County International Photography Festival
Huangshan City, Anhui Province.
November, 2016
6
Construction Workers ,Solo show
Beekeepers in Urban Cities, Solo show,2006
7
China Pingyao International Photography Festival.
August, 2006
8
Labourer (Migrant Workers in a construction site in Dalian)
Group Exhibition of 22 People, China Photoshop Art Corps.2006
9
Kids with Visual Impairment , The 8th Shanghai international Photographic Art Exhibition,2006
10
The Road to School, The 8th Shanghai international Photographic Art Exhibition, 2006
11
In Those Special Days, single,
China Central Archives. Permanent collection. 2010
12
Looking for Water Source, photo series,
Xu Xiaobing Monuments. Permanent collection. 2010
13
Self-Dialysis Center, photo series,
Xu Xiaobing Monuments. Permanent collection. 2012
Judging Experience:
1
The judge of the annual Utah News Photographers Association 2023 Photojournalism Competition, general news category.
2024.
2
The member of Recommended Committee of the Xu Xiaobing Cup China Documentary Photography Exhibition, 2018.
3
The China tutor for Beijing International Youth Travel Festival，2016
Beijing
4
The organizer and judge for the Beijing Portfolio Review in April, 2016.
Beijing
5
The judge of Anhui Yi County International Photography Festival and 100-people photography workshop in 2015.
Anhui Province, China
6
The judge of“Celsius 2014” Annual Photographer Competition for the final round, April, 2015.Beijing, China
7
Curator at the 3rd Phoenix Folk-culture International Festival
Phoenix( Fenghuang) Ancient Town, Hunan Province
2017
Activities and Workshops held by Li Qiang:
1
Four day workshop for professional photographers and photojournalists.
January 16- January 19, 2015,
Beijing
2
100-people Photography Workshop for photographers all around China:
From Nov 1 to Nov 5, 2015,
Yi County, Huangshan City, Anhui Province
3
Be the guest of American top photography workshop Eddie Adams Workshop.
In October of 2015 and 2016
New York.
4
Long term Projects Sharing Forum by Chinese and International Photojournalists
On January 16, 2015
Beijing
5
International Musical and Photo Slide Show
Youth Shooting Beijing Theme Activity of Beijing International Youth Travel Festival
September 22, 2016
Beijing Ming Dynasty City Tower at Relic Park.
Organizer, host
6
Photographers from G20 countries Shooting Hangzhou City
May, 2016,
Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province
Organizer
7
Symposium: The dialogue between World Press Photo judges and winners
World Press Photo judges, staffs, and Chinese photographer winners
On March 13, 2015,
Beijing
Organizer
8
Focus Group Discuss: World Press Photo and Chinese Photographers
Speaker: World Press Photo judges, staffs, and Chinese photographers and photo editors
On Sept 14, 2015,
Beijing
9
Lecture: How does Time Magazine Photography Department run?
Speaker: Myles Little, the senior photo editor of Time Magazine
On September 17, 2015,
Beijing
Education
September, 2004 – June, 2008:
Bachelor of Art and Photography,
College of Image Art, Dalian Medical University.