EDUCATION
Learned about nature, art and photography from his father, Les Blacklock.
Art major at University of Minnesota, Duluth, 1972-1974.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Fine art landscape photographer specializing in interface of land and water in wilderness areas.
GRANTS
Minnesota State Art Board, Creative Support for Individuals. 2023
Minnesota State Art Board, Creative Support for Individuals. 2021
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council: Emergency Working Artist Grant. 2021
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council: Emergency Working Artist Grant. 2020
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council: Career Development Grant. 2020
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council: Technology Grant. 2017
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council: Career Development Grant. 2016
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council: Technology Grant. 2012
EMPLOYMENT
Made living as a fine art landscape photographer since 1976.
Own Blacklock Photography Galleries in Moose Lake, MN.
BOOKS
19 total, most relevant ones listed below:
- “LIGHT WAVES — Abstract Photographs of Reflections from Lake Superior” 2022
- “ST. CROIX & NAMEKAGON RIVERS — The Enduring Gift” 2018
- “Apostle Islands — From Land and Sea” 2012
- “Pictured Rocks — From Land and Sea” 2012
- “Slot Canyons of Page Arizona, April 2011
- “Minnesota’s North Shore” (with accompanying 3 hour movie), 2007
- “A Voice Within — The Lake Superior Nudes”, 2004
- “Horizons”, 2002
- “The Duluth Portfolio”, 1995
- “Gooseberry”, 1994
- “The Lake Superior Images”, 1993
- “Border Country, The Quetico-Superior Wilderness”, 1988; re-issued in 1999
- “Minnesota Wild”, 1983
- “Our Minnesota”, 1982, revised edition 1992
EXHIBITIONS
One or two person exhibitions
- Palm Beach Photographic Centre’s Museum, FL, 2022-3
- Park Center, Hayward, WI, 2019
- White Bear Center for the Arts, White Bear Lake, MN 2019
- Watershed Gallery, National Eagle Center, Wabasha, MN 2019
- Grand Marais Art Colony, Grand Marais, MN, 2019
- Minnesota Marine Art Museum, Winona, MN, 2018
- Stillwater Public Library, Stillwater, MN, 2018
- Phipps Center for the Arts, Hudson, WI, 2018
- CHARAC Art Center, Cable, WI, 2018
- Sherman and Ruth Weiss Library, Hayward, WI, 2018
- Mill City Museum (Minnesota Historical Society), Minneapolis, MN 2018
- St. Croix National Scenic Riverway Visitor Center, St. Croix Falls, WI 2018
- Northern Great Lakes Visitors Center, Ashland, WI, 2015-2016
- Gallery 13, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2015
- Merill Lynch Fine Art Gallery, within Great Lakes Aquarium, 2013
- Art Center of St. Peter, Minnesota, 2012
- Minnesota Marine Art Museum, Winona, Minnesota, 2012
- Merrill Lynch Fine Art Gallery, within Great Lakes Aquarium, 2012
- Ridgewater College, Willmar, Minnesota, 2008
- Gallery 13, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2006 (group show of nudes)
- Minnesota Center for Photography, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2004
- Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2004
- Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, Minnesota, 2004
- Pine Tree Gallery, Ironwood, Michigan, 2002
- Waters of Superior/Blacklock Photography Galleries, Minnesota 2002 (ongoing)
- Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery, Grand Marais, Minnesota 2001
- Sivertson Gallery, Duluth, Minnesota, 2000
- Flanders Gallery, Minneapolis, Minnesota (group exhibition) 1999
- Duluth Art Institute, Duluth, Minnesota, 1995
- Lee Hall Gallery, Marquette, Michigan, 1994
- Pine Tree Gallery, Ironwood, Michigan 1993
- Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, Minnesota 1993
- Art Resources Gallery, Minneapolis, Minnesota 1993
- Polaroid Corporate Headquarters, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1992
- Photographic Images Gallery, Portland, Oregon, 1991
- Imprimatur Gallery, Minneapolis, (1984?)
Group exhibitions:
- Joseph Nease Gallery, Duluth, Minnesota 2023
- Northern National Art Competition, Nicollet College, Rhinelander, WI 2023
- Crary Art Gallery, Pennsylvania; Wilderness at 50 One of 11 photographers Celebrating 50 years since Wilderness Act. 2014
MAJOR COMMISSIONS
- Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport, MN
- Pine Heath Care, Sandstone, MN
- Children’s Hospital, Minneapolis, MN.
- Canal Park Lodge, Duluth, MN
AWARDS, HONORS, PRIZES:
- 2023, Foreword Indies Book Awards, Bronze, “Coffee Table”
- 2023, Midwest Book Awards, Gold “Total Book Design”
- 2023, Pinnacle Book Achievement Awards Gold “Photography”
- 2023, International Color Awards, 2 nominations in “Abstract”
- 2019, Pinnacle Book Achievement Award, Gold “Photography”
- 2019, 28th Annual Midwest Book Awards winner: “Arts/Photography/Coffee Table”
- 2019, 28th Annual Midwest Book Awards winner: “Nature”
- 2019, 28th Annual Midwest Book Awards winner:”Total Book Design”
- 2019 Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY): Gold “Cover Design – Non-fiction Oversize”
- 2019 Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY): Gold “Coffee Table Book”
- 2019 Pub West Design Awards: Gold “Special Edition”
- 2019 Pub West Design Awards: Silver “Photography”
- 31st Annual Northeastern Minnesota Book Awards nomination
- 12th Annual International Color Awards, 7 nominations: Nature, Nudes, Wildlife, 2019
- 13th Annual Spider Awards, 2 nominations: Nature, Wildlife, 2019
- George Morrison Artist Award (from Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, MN), 2018
- International Color Awards, 2 honorable mentions and one nomination, 2018
- International Color Awards, nomination 2017
- Fine Art Photo Awards, nomination, Professional Nudes 2016
- International Color Awards, nomination 2016
- International Photographer of the Year, 2nd Place, Professional Nudes 2015
- Black and White Spider Awards, 5 nominations, 2015
- International Photography Awards, several, including 2nd place in Books, Nature, 2012
- International Book Awards, Finalist Awards for 2 books, 2012
- Midwest Independent Publishers, Best Illustrated book, 2007
- Midwest Independent Publishers, Best coffee table/art book, 2005
- Independent Publishers, Best Photography Book, 2005 (from 1327 publishers worldwide)
- Black and White Single Image contest, Bronze Award, Nudes, 2005
- National Freedom Award, Nature/Art, 1999
- Midwest Independent Publishers, Best Hardcover Book Award, 1996
- Mid-America Publishers Association, Best Photographic Book Award, 1996
- Benjamin Franklin Award, 1996
- Lake Superior Magazine Achievement Award, 1994
- Minnesota Book Award, Illustrated Book 1994
- Midwest Book Achievement Awards (3 including best hardcover), 1994
TEACHING/LECTURING
Presented many photography workshops and lectures around the country since 1982. Programs include Fotofusion; Palm Beach Photographic Workshops; the Split Rock Arts Program and the Complete Scholar, of the University of Minnesota; Madeline Island School of the Arts; Minnesota Center for Photography, Dynamic Nudes on Lake Powell, and Vision Quest. Provided keynote speeches for numerous groups including several large camera club symposiums including Twin City Area Camera Clubs.
VIDEOS
ST. CROIX & NAMEKAGON RIVERS – The Enduring Gift, 2019 (An edited version has been broadcast on Twin Cities Public Television several times.
Minnesota’s North Shore, 2007 (An edited version has been broadcast over several public television stations, and repeatedly on Twin Cities Public Television.
JUROR/PORTFOLIO REVIEWER
Palm Beach Photographic Centre Members’ Show, 2022
Darkroom Gallery: This Land, 2019-2020.
Portfolio reviews at FOTOfusion multiple years.
MAGAZINES
American Photo, Audubon, Backpacker, Canoe, Newsweek, Fine Art Photo (Germany), Focus, Outdoor Photographer, Lake Superior, National Geographic Adventure, National Geographic Traveler, National Wildlife, Reader’s Digest, Shutterbug, Sierra Club, Smithsonian, and View Camera.