Beloved CT News Photographer Remembered For Decades Behind Lens

ELLINGTON, CT — A longtime Connecticut news photographer who spent decades documenting fires, crashes, community events, sports and local history is being remembered across the state.

Jim Michaud died Monday. He was 67.

Michaud was a longtime photojournalist for the Journal Inquirer, which later became part of Hearst Connecticut Media Group. He began his career with the Journal Inquirer in 1986 and worked in circulation before becoming a staff photographer.

He was also known for his work covering breaking news across north-central Connecticut and beyond. During the COVID pandemic, he launched the Breaking Now Facebook group, which grew into a major local breaking-news page with more than 150,000 followers.

Michaud, an Ellington resident, suffered a medical emergency last week and died Monday at Hartford Hospital surrounded by family.

The Tolland Fire Department announced Michaud’s death Tuesday morning and thanked him for years of work capturing the department and surrounding fire departments.

“We regret to announce the passing of Jim Michaud,” the department wrote.

The department said Michaud photographed Tolland Fire and nearby departments for more than 37 years, with images dating back to 1989. The department highlighted photos he took of Tolland firefighters at several scenes, including structure fires, a motorcycle crash, a Christmas tour and other emergency responses over the years.

“Jim, may you rest in peace, and thank you for capturing our department through photos throughout the years,” the department wrote.

State Sen. Saud Anwar also posted a tribute Monday night, saying he had recently seen Michaud at an event.

Anwar described Michaud as an extraordinary photographer and “a genuinely good person.” He said Michaud seemed to know “exactly where to be and when to be there,” capturing moments that became part of Connecticut’s history.

“Through his lens, he told stories that words alone could never fully capture,” Anwar wrote.

In addition to photography, Michaud was remembered for his love of the Boston Red Sox, theater, travel, gardening and dogs.