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Michael Knapstein Midwest Memoir - RPS Member Category Awardee
Michael Knapstein
Midwest Memoir
Midwest Memoir is part of a larger project started in 2010 which documents classic aspects of rural America with images made in the upper midwest of the United States. Most are taken within 100 miles of the home of semi-professional photographer Michael Knapstein in Middleton, Wisconsin, although he also shot work further afield in Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, and South Dakota.
‘My goal was to capture some of the things about the American Midwest that I will miss the most once they are gone’, says Michael. ‘Some of these are actual places – the vernacular landscape, whilst others are visuals that trigger a related feeling –a collective memory, if you will. Indeed, several of the buildings I photographed for this series have already been torn down. And other aspects of traditional midwest life continue to disappear around me. I know that such changes are inevitable, but I wanted to do my best to make sure they are captured and remembered. And in some cases the images serve as symbols for the strength and resilience of the American Midwest and its peoples.’
A self-taught photographer of over fifty years, such is the size of his project that Michael has begun to break the work up into smaller sub-groups. One of these sub-groups, called Fabric, was also shortlisted in the DPA 23 competition. And you may well have seen Michael’s work before, as another image, After the Storm was one of two photographs he had in the 163rd International Photography Exhibition, winning the Visitor Favourite Award. His midwest project remains ongoing, so we may well see more of his work in future: ‘I have been aware of the RPS for many years and hold it in very high regard. I am proud to have participated in the RPS International Print Exhibition four times. But this was the first year that I became aware of the Documentary Photography Awards, and I hope to enter again!’
All images ©Michael Knapstein 2023
