BAR HARBOR – Sun Journal Chief Photographer Russ Dillingham of Lewiston was named this year’s Journalist of the Year by the Maine Press Association on Saturday.

Dillingham, who has worked as a photographer for the Lewiston newspaper since 1983, was also honored at this year’s MPA conference with two first-place photography awards, one for a sledding photo and one taken last winter as Auburn police handcuffed two men whose car crashed into a snowbank.

Dillingham was named Journalist of the Year, considered MPA’s highest honor for achievement in journalism, for his photography skills and his first-class nose for news and longtime volunteerism to local nonprofit groups, for which he frequently donates his time to take photos for special exhibits and events.

According to David Bartlett, the principal at Lewiston’s Pettingill Elementary School, Dillingham set up a portrait studio at a school holiday fair and donated all proceeds to the school to help buy new playground equipment.

Museum L-A Executive Director Rachel Desgrosseilliers said, “He doesn’t just take pictures and cover the news. Russ gets into what is happening and uses not only his technical knowledge, but also his heart, his mind and his creative abilities to understand beauty and what makes something or someone extra special.”

In its nomination letter, Sun Journal managers pointed to Dillingham’s 25-some years of experience that allow him to get shots others don’t always get. “His knowledge of the community opens doors and allows him to get more shots faster, with more context, more creativity and more sensitivity than most.”

In addition, his appreciation for the community, including his work with the Longley School Camera Club, “demonstrates a real desire to make a difference in people’s lives.”

Anita Murphy, Lewiston High School tennis coach, said she recognizes Dillingham’s photos in the paper even without seeing his credit line. “His pictures are so compelling and often tell the reader what the subject is without any caption. His ability to capture the athletic ability of an athlete is sometimes mind-boggling to me.”

Sun Journal Publisher James Costello Sr. hired Dillingham as one of two photographers for the new Sunday/Sun Journal in 1983. “It’s wonderful to have Russ recognized for all his skills,” Costello said of the award.

“Russ knows his community, cares about that community and honestly tries to represent it in photographic images,” Sun Journal Executive Editor Rex Rhoades said.

“Russ sees the smiles of children, the beauty of nature and even the harshness of life in Maine and expresses it to our readers. Whether it’s the girl with her pig at the county fair or a dragonfly landing on the head of a snake, Russ has captured those moments for all time. That’s what the best of journalists do,” Rhoades said.

Last October, Dillingham earned worldwide attention for his extraordinary effort to restrain a fugitive, under orders from Lewiston police, as the man tried to flee an apartment building. Dillingham grabbed the suspect after capturing an image of the man leaping from a third-floor balcony.

“We never would have caught this guy without Russ,” Lewiston Detective Sgt. Adam Higgins said. “He was able to take pictures, tackle the guy and then hold him for us.”

In addition to a career of receiving first-place photography awards from the Maine Press Association and the New England Associated Press Newspaper Editors’ Association, Dillingham is frequently recognized in the National Press Photographers Association’s monthly news clip contest, and in MSNBC’s photos of the week.

Earlier this year, Dillingham’s photo of suspect Bo Thompson leaping from the balcony was named the New England Newspaper Association’s Best Photo of the Year, and he accepted the James. J. Durant Civilian Recognition Award from the Maine Association of Police for his heroism in that capture.