The German Photographic Society (DGPh) has announced that American photography director, curator, and photographer Kathy Ryan will receive the prestigious Dr. Erich Salomon Prize 2025. The award recognizes Ryan's exceptional contributions to the field of photography over nearly four decades of groundbreaking work.

The German photography organization is honoring Ryan for her creative, outstanding, inspiring, and courageous approach to visual storytelling throughout her distinguished career. Her innovative vision and artistic leadership have made significant impacts on both photojournalism and fine art photography communities worldwide.

Ryan's most notable achievement has been her transformative role as the longtime director of photography at The New York Times Magazine. In this position, she pioneered the seamless integration of fine art photography techniques with traditional photojournalism practices, creating a revolutionary approach that redefined visual storytelling in print media.

Under Ryan's artistic direction, The New York Times Magazine has become renowned for its exceptional visual identity and diverse photographic content. Her virtuosic interpretation of photography has established the magazine as one of the few publications that successfully showcases such an extensive range of photographic applications and styles, setting new standards for magazine photography across the industry.