About

Ryan M. Kelly is a freelance photojournalist based in Richmond, Virginia specializing in news and sports.

Kelly was a staff photographer at The Daily Progress in Charlottesville, Virginia from 2013 to 2017. The Unite the Right rally and aftermath marked his final assignment at the newspaper. His coverage of the deadly car attack won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize in Breaking News Photography.

Kelly discovered an interest in journalism as a reporter and editor at The Captain's Log, the student newspaper at Christopher Newport University. Developing a passion for photojournalism, he interned at the Daily Press and freelanced for newspapers around Virginia before joining the Progress. He has been recognized with awards from World Press Photo, Pictures of the Year International, National Press Photographers Association, College Photographer of the Year, and the Virginia News Photographers Association.

Honors

April 2018 - Pulitzer Prize in Breaking News Photography

March 2018 - Virginia News Photographers Association - Photos of the Year - Best in Show; First place, spot news; Second place, news picture story; Third place, sports feature

April 2018 - World Press Photo - Spot News, second prize singles

March 2018 - Sports Illustrated cover - Isaiah Wilkins, Virginia basketball

February 2018 - Pictures of the Year International - First Place, Spot News

February 2018 - NPPA Northern Short Course Contest - Best in Show / First Place, Spot News

January 2018 - TIME's Top 10 Photos of 2017

February 2015 – NPPA Northern Short Course annual contest – First Place, Third Place, Sports Action

November 2014 – VNPA 2014 clip contest, third quarter – Second Place, Sports

July 2014 – VNPA 2014 clip contest, first quarter – First Place, Third Place, Honorable Mention, Sports

February 2014 – VNPA 2013 clip contest, fourth quarter – Second Place, Sports

July 2013 – VNPA 2012 annual contest – Honorable Mention, Sports Feature

May 2013 – VNPA 2013 clip contest, first quarter – Third Place, Multiple

March 2013 – Boston.com "The Big Picture" – Photojournalists under 25