Watch: Craig Blacklock talks about photographing the St. Croix River

Acclaimed photographer promotes The Enduring Gift, with several signings and other events scheduled before Christmas.

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3 minute read

Via Craig Blacklock:

“No matter how we relate to the river, whether a Saturday float on an inner tube or kayak, fly fishing for smallmouth bass or trolling for walleye, swimming to sandy beaches, or boating on Lake St. Croix — these photographs allow us to share our stories as well as to discover places previously unknown.”
— Walter F. Mondale, from the Enduring Gift essay

This new video from nature photographer Craig Blacklock explains how he created the images for his book celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Wild & Scenic St. Croix River:

Blacklock is best known for his photography of Lake Superior. He has had many solo museum exhibitions, and won numerous awards, including this year’s George Morrison Award, firmly establishing him as one of our nation’s most distinguished landscape photographers.

In this new project, Blacklock’s photographs allow you to see this waterway through the eyes of a naturalist and artist. Each turn of a page is like having a revolving picture window bringing these rivers’ diverse beauty into the comfort of your home.

All three editions include:

  • 204 pages
  • 277 photographs by award-winning photographer, Craig Blacklock
  • Essay by Vice President, Walter F. Mondale
  • 24 pages of inspiring quotes, poems and song lyrics on contrasting paper.
  • You will receive access to an enthralling video compiled from hundreds of Craig Blacklock’s still photographs from this project, set to music by Stillwater singer/songwriter Peter Mayer.
  • You will be supporting The Enduring Gift Photography Project. ALL photographs created for this project are being made available to the St. Croix River Association and the National Park Service.
  • A portion of book proceeds will be donated to the St. Croix River Association — the premier organization working to protect, restore and celebrate the St. Croix River and its watershed.

You glide with Blacklock through rapids in his kayak and soar with eagles and trumpeter swans looking down with wonder at the meandering, island-strewn river far below. Discover the breadth of the rivers in magnificent panoramas, as well as woodland birds and spring ephemerals you might otherwise miss.

The St. Croix watershed is comprised of hundreds of tiny bogs, lakes and small streams lined with alder, pine, hardwoods, silver maple flood plains and flower-filled prairies. Craig has ventured with his cameras throughout these ecosystems in all seasons: witnessing golden-eye ducks happily fishing along hoar frost covered ice at 27° below Zero, fiddleheads unfurling, summer thunderstorms roiling over the rivers, and the crescendo of autumn colors.

Blacklock has also trained his cameras on our human interactions with these places: from historic buildings of Stillwater and Marine on St. Croix, to cabin life along the river, and sailing regattas in the wide sweep of Lake St. Croix.

Buy the book:

Purchase online, at Blacklock Galleries (521 Folz Blvd., Moose Lake, MN), or at an author event.

Upcoming events:

Westminster Presbyterian Church
1200 Marquette Avenue, Minneapolis
Nov. 30, 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Free and open to the public.

Craig Blacklock will talk about the preservation of the St. Croix & Namekagon Rivers and take us on an journey down these rivers through his videos, accompanied by live music by singer/songwriter Peter Mayer, who created the original music for the hour-long video that is paired with the book. Following Craig’s presentation and a short intermission, John Kaul’s film: Wild and Scenic St. Croix will be shown. This short film about the 50th anniversary debuted at the Fitzgerald Theater and has been shown on TPT.

Craig will have pre-signed books for sale at the event, and be happy to add personal holiday gift inscriptions. More info »

Belwin Conservancy
1553 Stagecoach Trail South, Afton MN 55001
Dec. 6, 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Book sales and signing before and after program. More info »

Patagonia Store
1648 Grand Ave., St. Paul MN 55105
December 8, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Book signing. 

The Watershed Cafe
99 N Cascade St.
Osceola, WI 54020
Dec. 15, 9 a.m. – Noon

Book signing.

Stillwater Public Library
224 Third Street North
Stillwater, Minnesota 55082-4806
Dec. 15, 2 to 4 p.m.

Book signing upstairs in gallery, where 10 photographs from the book are on display. Craig will have copies of all three editions of the St. Croix book available, and be happy to add personal holiday greetings.


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Watch: Craig Blacklock talks about photographing the St. Croix River