CAMDEN- James (Jim) Hughes, 81, passed away at Sussman House, December 18, 2018.  Since the mid-seventies, Jim and his wife Evelyn of 55 years were summer people.  They moved permanently to Camden in 2009.

In fifth grade Jim started a "neighborhood newspaper" which hooked him on printed communications.  Also, as a boy, he appropriated his mother's box camera and taught himself photography with every book and magazine on the subject he could find.

In 1953, as a sophomore, Jim won a prize from the Kodak National High School Photographic Awards resulting in an exhibit that traveled the country. In his junior year, he received a first prize from a statewide National Scholastic writing contest which lead him to follow both paths: photographs and words ever since. Jim began editing periodicals about the art of photography in 1967 earning a reputation among many photographers as a champion of their cause.  Until 1975, he was the editor of Camera 35.

From 1975 to 1980, Jim served as editor of special publications for Popular Photography. He then conceived and edited the original Camera Arts Magazine for which he won the National Magazine Award for General Excellence in 1982.  The next year he was named Editor of the Year by the National Press Association. 

Jim also had a strong connection with the Maine Media Workshops, occasionally teaching and lecturing.  Manly of the professional photographers that come to teach at the workshops were published early in their careers by one or more of the magazines that he edited.

Books written by Jim include W. Eugene Smith: Shadow & Substance, Ernst Haas in Black and White and Birth of a Century: Early Color Photographs of America.

Never without a camera after retiring from magazine editing, Jim pursued his own photography.  He has exhibited locally at CMCA and Zoot Coffee.  Jim's last exhibit was in June 2018 at the Camden Public Library: Classic Cars in Camden.

Another passion that Jim enjoyed was the game of golf which was a strong bonding connection he had with his father. Jim detailed the relationship in the publication DoubleTake (summer 1999).

Goose River Golf Club was Jim's favorite course to play. He was a Member/Guest champion, as well a Super Senior winner more than a few times. His golf hats, which he wore all the time, were boldly embroidered "Curmudgeon" which he acknowledged with a grin.

A memorial gathering will be announced in the future.  Condolences and memories may be shared at www.longfuneralhomecamden.com.  

Arrangements are with the Long Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 9 Mountain Street, Camden.