About

Ryan Michalesko is a visual journalist currently based out of Southern Illinois. This Carbondale native derives his passion for visual storytelling from a young age and decided to further his education by attending Southern Illinois University in his hometown. Despite his education being so close to home, Michalesko is an avid traveler with a passion for hiking and camping. Whether it's exploring big cities or the rural landscapes, he always has a camera in hand to make his next storytelling frame.

Michalesko, who interned with the Peoria Star Journal in the spring of 2017, learned what it was like to work as a newsroom photojournalist with their staff and gained experience from the daily assignments, meeting deadlines, and pursuing long form story work. While there, he worked on a story about the Community of Saint John, a Roman Catholic monastery housing a handful of brothers (view this story here). A foundation of trust and dedication helped him create an intimate and rare insight into the life of piety. Michalesko then followed his passion for the craft to the great state of Texas as a summer intern for the well-known and circulated Dallas Morning News where he continued to hone his skills and better himself within a larger newsroom.

Michalesko budgeted for and planned a trip to Puerto Rico on grant from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, where he documented the ongoing recovery efforts from Hurricanes Maria and Irma.

Last fall he was a grateful attendee of the Eddie Adams Workshop in Jeffersonville, New York as part of the class of XXX (30), where he worked under the guidance of the industry's best. He was also named the 72nd CPOY College Sports Photographer of the Year.

He is always open for freelance work and willing to travel for the assignment. Michalesko also holds a current FAA Part 107 Commercial Drone Operator license.

The best way to contact him is by phone at +1.618.534.3450 or by email at ryan@photosbylesko.com.

Awards:
–College Sports Photographer of the Year, 72nd CPOY
–Award of Excellence, Domestic Picture Story, 72nd CPOY
–Award of Excellence, Sports Feature, 72nd CPOY
–Mark of Excellence Award, Society of Professional Journalists
–Certificate of Merit, The Hearst Journalism Awards
–Third Place, Environmental Portrait, Associated Collegiate Press