Who Is Robert H Hughes?

Updated June 2, 2007

By John VanSteenberg, Masters of Photography, Professional Forums

Robert H. Hughes:
M. Photog., CR., MEI, ALPE, ASP, PPA Certified

Occasionally one comes face to face with genius. Robert H. Hughes' biography sounds like a fantasy. However, every word of it is real. In 1990, Robert had never owned a Camera! He was a professional Musician.

At the W.P.P.I.'s 1997 International Convention in Las Vegas, Robert proved himself a multidimensional artist, stunning the peer review panel with breathtaking wedding images in a style never seen before. Blending natural and computer enhanced photography with innate curiosity, beautiful insights and romance, Robert took his images out of space and time into a new era. And in doing so, he swept category after category amassing an astounding average of 95.5 on 6 different individual images. This represented, at that time, the highest scoring portfolio in the history of the International Wedding and Portrait Photographers annual peer reviews. Robert was selected to receive "the highest honor in professional wedding photography,” W.P.P.I.'s Grand Award. Robert is one of a "handful" of people who has attained the rank of "Accolade of Lifetime Photographic Excellence, and in addition, has received the degree of Photographic Craftsman, Master Of Photography and Master Of Electronic Imaging, the Professional Photographers of America's highest certifications.

In 1997, 1998, and 1999, Robert has continued his record-breaking performance each year and now holds the THREE highest scoring print case submissions in W.P.P.I history. In 1999, 5 of the 6 digital awards were awarded to Robert. (1st-2nd & 3rd in weddings and 2nd & 3rd in non-weddings.)

In 1999, Robert was selected to receive a grand total of 15 Major awards including; CPP Photographer of the Year, Ohio Photographer of the Year, 4 Kodak Gallery awards, Dumbauld award of Creativity, Kubiac Award, Salyers Award, and Electronic Image of the Year. Robert was also selected to receive the Kodak Award of Distinction at the 1999 WPPI International annual competition in Las Vegas for the highest scoring print case.

In February of 2000 at the Mid-East States annual convention Robert was selected as the Ohio “Photographer of the Year,” for the 2nd consecutive year. This honor, as well as 10 other major awards, is the outcome of Robert’s personal dedication to the image profession. In March of 2000, at the WPPI International convention in Las Vegas, Robert was given an incredible print score of a perfect 100. Not once, but on three separate prints! This is the first time in history that any entrant has ever received three perfect 100 scores in the same competition. Robert also received the Grand Award and had the distinct honor of presenting to the body of the convention, one of the worlds most famous Photographers, Arnold Newman.

In February of 2001, Robert once again received the “Digital Imager of the Year” award from Mid-East States. In March of 2001, at the WPPI International convention in Las Vegas, Robert received the Grand Award for the 2nd consecutive year and was selected to receive the WPPI “Lifetime Achievement” award.

In April of 2001, Robert was invited by Dean Collins to participate in the International 2001 Digital Tour. The Professional Photographer magazine “Rangefinder” as a contributing editor chose Robert. Robert was also selected as a digital moderator of ZuGa.Net.

In March of 2002, Robert was selected to receive the following awards; The Ohio Photographer Of The Year, Mid-East States Photographer Of The Year, CPP Photographer Of The Year, The Kubiac award for the “Most Original Creative Image, The Robert Graetz Memorial Trophy for the highest Scoring Wedding Image, Kodak Gallery Award and Digital Imager Of The Year for the 4th consecutive year.

Robert was also invited in 2002 to serve as a print Judge for the annual International WPPI Print Competition in Las Vegas.

In May of 2003, Robert was invited to San Diego California to participate in the International Print Judging class in preparation to become an affiliated judge.

In July of 2003, Robert was selected by PPA to receive the “Advanced Imaging Excellence Award.” This award has been presented to only 41 people in 105 years.

In December of 2003 Robert’s image “Mirror of My Soul,” was given the score of a perfect 100 by a panel of judges at the 2003 Professional Photographers of Central Ohio annual print competition.

In February of 2004 Robert released “The Unsharp Mask Encyclopedia.” This is an extensive study of Adobe Photoshop “Unsharp Masking.” In addition, in early 2004, Robert will begin a series of accepted invitations to share his knowledge through both lectures and to serve as a print judge for various competitions and conventions.

At the 2004 Mid-East States annual peer review Robert Hughes was awarded the PASO, Digital Artist of the Year, Electronic Artist of the Year and Overall Artist of the Year. One of Robert’s images won the Fuji Masterpiece Award.

In February, March, April and May Robert was invited to many of the Professional Photographers conventions as a Print Judge and Speaker. Robert was invited to give a featured platform presentation at WPPI in Las Vegas.

In May of 2004, Robert Hughes was selected to receive the Professional Photographers of Central Ohio “Photographer of the Year” award.

In January of 2005, Robert Hughes was awarded the coveted Professional Photographers of America “Photographer of The Year” at the annual PPA convention in New Orleans Louisiana.

At the February 2005, Mid-East States annual peer review Robert Hughes was awarded the PASO, Digital Artist of the Year, Electronic Artist of the Year and Overall Artist of the Year. (for the second year in a row) One of Robert’s images won the Fuji Masterpiece Award. Another of Robert’s images was selected to receive the Kodak Gallery award. Robert was also presented with the Photographic Artists Society of Ohio Fellowship Award.

The December 2005 issue of Professional Photographers of America monthly magazine dedicated a page to one of Roberts’ images.

In January of 2006, Robert Hughes received the coveted Professional Photographers of America “Photographer of The Year” at the annual PPA convention in Austin Texas. This will be the third consecutive year that Robert has been selected to receive this award.

In February of 2006, Robert was invited to give a series of seminars in the wine country of California. Robert also added to his Portfolio of Point Lobos and Big Sur California.

In March of 2006 at the Mid-East States annual peer review Robert Hughes earned the title of “Ohio Photographer of the Year.” This was the first time that an Ohio Photographer has earned that title FOUR TIMES. In addition, Robert won Two Kodak Gallery awards, a Fuji Masterpiece award, CPP Photographer of The Year, and the U. S. G. Salyers award. In the Electronic Imaging arena, Robert was awarded the PASO, Digital Artist of the Year, Electronic Artist of the Year and Overall Artist of the Year. (for the THIRD year in a row) One of Robert’s images won the Fuji Masterpiece award and the Kodak Gallery award.

In July 2006, at the International PPA print judging all Four of Robert’s print entries were selected to the PPA Loan Collection. Robert was selected as the Professional Photographers of America “Photographer of The Year.” (Diamond Level)

In Janurary of 2007 at the Professional Photographers of America International print competition, Robert was one of twelve people in the world to be presented with the Diamond level PPA Photographer of the Year award.

In March of 2007 at the annual Mid-East States convention Robert Hughes was presented with the Photographic Artists of Ohio “Kodak Gallery” and the “Overall Artist of the Year” awards.

In April of 2007, two of Robert’s images were included in the Profession Photographer magazine’s feature story.

In May of 2007 Robert was installed as the President of The Professional Photographers of Central Ohio. Robert was also invited to speak at the New Mexico school of Photography. Robert also received his sixth gold merit bar from PPA for yet another additional 25 merits beyond all degree requirements.

On June 2 2007 Robert Hughes was inducted into the Columbus Ohio music “Hall of Fame.” (he has the pictures to prove it!)

It is interesting that Robert also is the only individual in the 42-year history to score a perfect 100 wedding image at the Mid-East-States peer reviews of PPA. His images have been selected for display at Disney's Epcot Center. Robert has been PPCO "Photographer of the Year," four times. He is a Ten-time recipient of the prestigious Kodak Gallery Award. His images have been selected for the Professional Photographers of America Traveling Loan Exhibit for the last seven years. He is a Seven-time Fuji Masterpiece Award winner. Humble and friendly as he is the recognition and awards he has earned are astonishing, any one of which most professional photographers never obtains in a lifetime of good work.

Robert has also had the distinction of having his work twice selected by a jury of distinguished artisans for the “Art for Life” bi-annual event. The selected works is then part of a show, which are displayed in the Columbus Museum of Art. The world-renowned Ron Pruzuti Gallery has purchased Robert’s Art.

Robert is also the first American to be offered membership in P.A.C.E. This is an invitation-only, highly innovative European group of creative Photographers. PACE stands for Photographers at the Creative Edge.

Although Robert's client wedding work is photojournalistic in nature, he added digital photography to his wedding work in 1995. He was the first person to marry digital with traditional wedding photographs and place them before peer review panels as "introspective wedding commentary."

Through extraordinary dedication, self-discipline, education, perception and pure talent; Robert draws on the best elements of journalism, fine art, classic portraiture, and an extraordinary love of the human spirit to explore the essence of experience. In doing so, he has shown us the way to redefine and raise the emotional and visual possibilities of fine (wedding) photography.

Robert sees his images as gifts he is given. And through him, to us they speak volumes only glimpsed at.

Monte Zucker called Robert a genius. Robert calls himself an "Introspective Photographic Commentator." We call him a photojournalist, a poet, a musician, and an artist of exceptional noteworthiness.

Robert Hughes Photography
Master Photog., MEI., CR., ASP., ALPE., PPA Certified
www.roberthughes.net
614.488.2769