Tributes Flow for Photography Luminary and Inspiring Mentor John Blakemore at 88

Renowned British photographer and educator John Blakemore passed away this week at the age of 88.

He was lauded for his landscape and nature imagery, particularly his innovative long exposure methods. Additionally, Blakemore frequently employed multiple exposures in his photography, sometimes capturing close to 50 images in an hour to portray nature’s transformation over time.

The Centre for British Photography characterizes Blakemore, who acquired his skills through self-education, as “one of the foremost photographers of landscape and nature globally,” highlighting his remarkable mastery over tone and exposure.

The video interview below, Seduced by Light conducted by James Hyman, showcases many aspects that contributed to Blakemore’s and his work’s uniqueness.

Dr. Michael Pritchard from The Royal Photographic Society lauds Blakemore’s work as “stunning, meticulously crafted and reflective,” to the BBC.

“John wasn’t pretentious,” adds Blakemore’s friend and associate Paul Hill. “He was a deeply engaging person who was exceptionally generous with his time. His kindness, understanding, and intellect were of the highest quality.”

For decades, Blakemore dedicated himself to teaching art and photography, delivering both structured courses at Derby College of Art, workshops, and through various media. In 2001, he was appointed Emeritus Professor of Photography at the University of Derby.

His award-winning works were showcased in over 25 solo exhibitions over six decades. Blakemore earned the 1992 Fox Talbot Award for Photography and received the honor of becoming an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society in 1998.

Throughout his extensive career, the photographer published several books, including Inscape (1991), Stilled Gaze (1994), John Blakemore’s Black and White Photography Workshop (2005), and John Blakemore Photographs 1955-2010 (2011).

John Blakemore will be celebrated for his remarkable collection of nature, still life, and documentary photography and for the enduring influence he had on the many photographers he mentored.

“His exhibitions and publications reached a broad audience through his legacy,” remarks Dr. Pritchard. “His legacy includes not only his own photography but also the students he inspired who now create work to his precise standards and educate others themselves.”

“I’ve relished it; it’s been significant to me. My personal life has been somewhat absurd, and for me, photography has always served as a thread of sanity amidst it,” Blakemore shared during an interview in 2023. “Thus, [photography] has held immense importance for me, and I’ve dedicated considerable effort to it while finding joy in the process.”

“However, at the end of the day, there are lots of pieces of paper in boxes,” Blakemore chuckled, grinning widely. “And that’s a fitting conclusion, isn’t it?”

Image credits: Featured image is a screenshot from James Hyman’s remarkable video interview with John Blakemore in 2023, which can be viewed in its entirety above.