Before I set out to the Italian photo trip, I had two themes in mind: History and Love. I thought the first is easy and the second harder. In contrary, I was lucky to capture so many great moments of love. Italy is such a romantic country that everyone can't help but falling in love.
Zili Zhang is an internationally recognized photographer based in Greenwich, CT. Recently named Conceptual Photographer of the Year by Exposure One, he also received Gold from the 1839 and ND Awards. His work has earned awards from the Smithsonian, Paris Photo Prize, TIFA, IPA, FAPA and more.
Zili Zhang uses landscapes to tell stories, allowing elements within his images to form quiet dialogues. Striving for simplicity, he seeks inner peace through a unique sense of color and form. His work transforms ordinary scenes from nature and the human world into poetic expressions of existence.
Awards 2025 Monochrome Photography Awards - Honorable Mentions(Conceptual)
2025 Tokyo International Foto Awards - Silver(FineArt: Still Life), Honorable Mentions(Fine Art: Minimalism, Fine Art: Collage)
2024 Chromatic Awards - 2nd Place(Street), Honorable Mentions(Abstract, Fine Art, Street)
2024 ND Awards - 1st Place and Gold Star Award in Special: Advertising, Honorable Mentions(Nature, Fine Art)
2024 Exposure One Awards - Conceptual Photographer of the Year, People's Vote Award, Honorable Mention(Fine Art)
2024 International Photography Awards - Honorable Mention(Special/Smartphone Photography)
2024 Minimalist Photography Awards - Honorable Mention(Landscape)
2024 reFocus Black and White Photography Contest - Honorable Mention(Series, Concept)
2024 Paris Photo Prize - 2 Bronze, 5 Honorable Mentions
2024 The 51st Fritchie Art Show, Westhampton, NY - First Place in Photography
2024 1839 Awards - 1 Gold, 1 Bronze & People's Vote Award in Minimalism
2024 reFocus Color Photography Contest - 1 Silver(Fine Art), 1 Bronze(Architecture), 3 Honorable Mentions(Minimalism & Still Life)
2024 Best Photography Awards - Honorable Mention(Wild Life, Open Theme)
2024 The 10th Fine Art Photography Awards - 6 Nominations in 4 categories
2023 Chromatic Awards - 3rd Place(Environmental), Honorable Mentions(Nature & Portrait)
2023 reFocus Black and White Photography Contest - Honorable Mentions(Concept & Street)
2023 International Photography Awards - Honorable Mention in Fine Art/Collage
2023 OnePlus Photography Awards - Infinite Nature - Finalist
2023 reFocus Awards World Photo Annual - Honorable Mention, People’s Vote Award
2023 Photo Review Competition 2023 - Top 15 Winner
2022 Rowayton Arts Center Photography & Sculpture Show - Honorable Mention
2022 PhotoPlace Gallery “Portals” Competition - Winner
2020 The 17th Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest - Finalist
