The Unforgotten

• Prize
  Silver in People/Portrait
• Jury Top 5 Selection

  Susan Spiritus

• Photographer
  Michael Knapstein
• Technical Info
  Full Frame Nikon D850 And Leica Q3
• Photo Date
  2024

Portraits made of people who represent the quickly disappearing family farm culture of the American Midwest. These images were all made in Wisconsin, USA, where more than 100,000 family farms have vanished during my lifetime. I made these portraits while attending more than 50 small rural fairs and festivals. Many of which also included antique farm equipment, sometimes dating back to the days of steam power.

Michael Knapstein (b.1956) is a fine-art photographer who has earned international recognition for his insightful and nuanced visual exploration of the American Midwest. A Wisconsin native, he now lives in Middleton, Wisconsin with his wife, Annette. Michael earned a degree from the University of Wisconsin's College of Fine Arts and Communication and enjoyed a 30+ year career in the advertising industry. He sold his ad agency and retired in 2010. Since that time, he has rekindled his passion for photography.