About Michael Knapstein Photography


Michael Knapstein is a fine-art photographer who has earned international recognition for his insightful and nuanced visual exploration of the American Midwest. Based in Middleton, Wisconsin, his photographs have earned more than 350 national and international awards for work in both color and black and white. He was named International Landscape Photographer of the Year by the Barcelona Foto Biennale and International Portfolio Photographer of the Year by the Moscow International Foto Awards. He also won Grand Prize in the prestigious Pollux Awards (based in England). Photolucida (Portland, Oregon) named him a Critical Mass Finalist four times. His photographs have also been widely published and exhibited through a variety of solo, juried and group exhibitions in more than 20 countries on five continents. 

Knapstein's work has been recognized by a wide variety of organizations, including: American Advertising Federation, Camera USA (Naples, FL), Center for Fine Art Photography (Fort Collins, CO), Center for Photographic Art (Carmel, CA), Center for Photography at Madison, Chasing the Light, Exposure International (Modesto, CA), Grand Prix de la Couverte (Paris, France), Kemper Insurance, Kodak, La Grande Photo International Photography Awards (Paris, France), LensCulture (Amsterdam, Netherlands), Moscow International Foto Awards (Moscow, Russia), Monochrome Awards (London, England), National Geographic, Nikon, Neutral Density Awards (London, England), Nutshell Magazine, 1X Photo Awards(Uppsala, Sweeden), Photolucida (Portland, Oregon), Photography Masters Cup(London, England), Photographic Society of America, PhotoMidwest, PhotoPlace Open (VT),  Prix de la Photographie Paris -- PX3 (Paris, France), Shadow and Light Magazine, Sundance, Sony World Photography Awards, 3M, The Nature Conservancy, The Pollux Awards (Kent, England), The Portfolio Project (New York), The Royal Photographic Society (Bath, England), Wisconsin Academy of Science, Arts & Letters, Whitness to Nature, Wisconsin News Photographers Association, Wisconsin Trails Magazine, World Photography Festival (London, England), World Photography Organisation (London, England) and the Worldwide Photography Gala Awards (Kent, England). His photographs are also included in the permanent collections of the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography (Rochester, NY),Racine Art Museum (Racine, WI), Dubuque Museum of Art (Dubuque, IA) and Nikon House (New York, NY), in addition to numerous corporate and private collections.

Recent Award and Exhibition Highlights

2023

  • Barcelona Exhibition – Series of Pollux Award-winning photographs exhibited at FotoNostrum, the Mediterranean House of Photography. Barcelona, Spain. December 8 – 22.
  • Royal Photographic Society Documentary Photography Awards – Two series of 15 photographs shortlisted for the RPS Documentary Photography Awards and “Midwest Memoir” series named one of nine winners. Bristol, England.
  • 18th Annual Black & White Spider Awards – Five photographs named Honorable Mention Award winners. Windsor, England. 
  • “Brush with Nature” Exhibition – “Dawn at Wawanissee Point” selected for juried exhibition. Steinhauer Trust Aft Gallery UW Arboretum. Madison, Wisconsin. November 1 – December 28.

  • Paris Photo Week – “Midwest Memoir” images shown at Galerie 24-b. Paris, France. November 7 – 12.

  • International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum – 2023 Open Photography Competition Exhibition. St. Louis, Missouri. 
  • 20th International Pollux Awards – Honorable Mention in Documentary & Reportage, Culture & Daily Life and People categories for “Stilettos on Steel” series. York, England. 
  • International Photography Awards (IPA) – Honorable Mentions in Professional Book Self Published and Professional People/Traditions/Culture categories. New York, New York. 
  • Prix de la Photographie Paris (PX3) – Bronze Award in Book/Monograph - Professional. Paris, France.
  • Royal Photographic Society – Five photographs shortlisted for the 165th Annual International Photography Exhibition. Bristol, England. 
  • Wisconsin’s Great Waters – First Place in “People” category. Featured as month of June in calendar. Madison, Wisconsin. 
  • Whitewater Arts Alliance -- Four photographs selected for a juried regional exhibition at the Cultural Arts Center Gallery. Whitewater, Wisconsin. July 1 - 30.

  • DUMA Biennial – “Grandsons” selected for a multi-state juried exhibition at the Dubuque Museum of Art. Dubuque, Iowa. June 17 – October 8. 

  • Wisconsin Visual Artists Exhibition – “Parfrey’s Glen” exhibited at SSM Monroe Hospital. Monroe, Wisconsin. May 21 – September.   
  • Edge of Humanity Magazine – Nine photographs featured in international online magazine with more than 100,000 subscribers. 

  • 19th International Pollux Awards – Overall Grand Prize Winner plus First Place Winner in Documentary & Reportage, Culture & Daily Life and People categories. York, England. 

  • Chaeg Magazine – Article and 16 “Forest Fog” photographs featured in Issue # 84 of an international literary magazine. Seoul, South Korea.
  • PhotoMidwest Exhibition – UW Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin. March 4 – April 1.

  • Wisconsin Visual Artists “Perspectives 2023” Exhibition – “Father and Daughter” selected for a statewide juried exhibition at the Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts. Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. March 4 – April 15.

  • Museum of Gloucester –Two photographs included in the Royal Photographic Society’s International Photography Exhibition 163 traveling exhibition. The Museum of Gloucester. Gloucester, England. January 28 – June 4.

2022

  • Lenscratch –Article with 15 photographs featured in newsletter and social media. Los Angeles, California. December 20.
  •  Exposicion Internacional de Fotografia Contemporanea – Midwest Memoir series featured in international group exhibition. FotoNostrum Gallery. Barcelona, Spain. December 9, 2022 – January 15, 2023
  •  LensCulture Black and White Awards – “American Midwest Memoir” series named Finalist in international competition. Amsterdam, Netherlands. December 8.
  • Royal Photographic Society – “After the Storm” named International Photography Exhibition 163 Visitor Prize Winner. Bristol, England. November.
  • 17th Black and White Spider Awards – “The Steamroller” recognized in Portrait Category. Windsor, England. November.
  • Barcelona Foto Biennale – First Place winning “A Day’s Work” series. FotoNostrum -- Mediterranean House of  Photography. Barcelona, Spain. October 13 – 30.
  • PhotoMidwest 12th Biennial Exhibition – Three photographs selected by Juror Aline Smithson. Promega Art Showcase. Fitchburg, Wisconsin. September 21 – December 30.
  • Overture Center for the Arts – Part of three-person exhibition in Gallery II. Madison, Wisconsin. September 20 – November 30.
  • Wisconsin Visual Artist’s “Midwest Seasons” Exhibition – Two photographs selected for juried exhibition. Sauk Prairie River Arts Center Gallery. Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin. September 15 – November 18.
  • Wisconsin Visual Artist’s “Mother|Nature” Exhibition – Two photographs selected for juried exhibition. Alverno Art & Cultures Gallery. Averno College. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. September 2 – September 30.
  • Wisconsin Photography 2022 – Two photographs selected by juror John Simmons. Racine Art Museum’s Wustum Museum.  Racine, Wisconsin. August 31 – November 26.
  • U.S. Embassy Luxembourg – two photographs selected by the U.S. Department of State for an ongoing exhibition at the U.S. Embassy. Luxembourg City, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
  • Museum of Wisconsin Art – Solo exhibition at “MOWA on the Lake” main gallery at St. John’s on the Lake. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. June 3 – August 21.
  • Royal Photographic Society – “After the Storm” and “Hay Bale” were selected for the 163rd Annual International Photography Exhibition. Works by only 60 photographs were selected from among more than 8,000 images submitted from over 114 countries.  The traveling exhibit opens in the RPS Gallery, Bristol, England. April 16 – August 21.
  • FotoNostrum Magazine – Issue 26 – Eight-page interview and seven photographs featured in the “Best Of” issue. Barcelona, Spain. April. 
  • Wisconsin Visual Artists Magazine – Cover photo plus four-page interview. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. April.
  • Shadow & Light Magazine – Ten “Midwest Memoir” images included as a ten-page Feature Portfolio in Issue 45. Albuquerque, New Mexico. February.
  • LensCulture “Home” Book – Double-page spread with three photographs. Amsterdam, Netherlands. February.
  • Pollux Awards 17 – First Place Winner “Culture & Daily Life” (series). First Place Winner “People” (series). Honorable Mention “Documentary” (series). Kent, England. January.

 2021

  • 6th Biennial of Fine Art & Documentary Photography – Exhibit includes the First Place Landscape series “The Badlands.” FotoNostrum – The Mediterranean House of Photography. Barcelona, Spain. December 9, 2021 – February 6, 2022.
  • The Street Photography Hub – Featured “After the Storm” on Instagram and received 8,371 likes. September 24, 2021.
  • Wisconsin Visual Artists “Forward” – UW Hospital. Madison, WI. August 30 – September 30, 2021.
  • Royal Photographic Society – Five images shortlisted as Finalists for the 163 Annual International Photography Exhibition. Bristol, England. 
  • LensCulture Home ’21 International Photography Prize – 10-image portfolio named Finalist. Amsterdam, Netherlands. 
  • International Pollux Awards 16 – First Place Landscape Series. First Place Culture & Daily Life Series. First Place Documentary & Reportage. Honorable Mentions for People Series, Documentary & Reportage Series and Culture & Daily Life Series. Kent, England.
  • Dubuque Museum of Art – “2100 and Counting” exhibit of work from the permanent collection. Dubuque, Iowa. February 20 – June 12.
  • Belfast Photo Festival – “Middle Ground” 15-image portfolio “Highly Commended”. Belfast, Ireland. 
  • International Color Awards – Honorable Mention plus three nominations.
  • Moscow International Foto Awards -- International juried exhibition. Crimean Republican Universal Scientific Library. Simferopol, Republic of Crimea, Russia. December 17, 2020 – January 31, 2021.

 2020

  • Prix de la Photographie Paris (PX3) – Honorable Mention in Nature/Trees for a series of nine images. Paris, France.

  • Pollux Awards 15 – First Place Series in Culture and Daily Life. Honorable Mention Series in Fine Art, Landscape and Culture & Daily Life. Kent, England. 
  • Black and White Spider Awards 15 – Two Honorable Mention Awards in People category.
  • Moscow International Foto Awards -- International juried exhibition. Photocenter, Moscow, Russia. September 9 – 15.
  • Wisconsin Photography 2020 – Three images selected for a statewide juried biennial exhibit organized by the Racine Art Museum. Exhibited at the Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Art. Racine, Wisconsin. September 1 - November 28.
  • San Francisco Bay International Photography Awards – “Swing of Time” won Gold Award and Gallery Award (from  ACCI Gallery in Berkeley, CA).  Portfolio of 7 images won Portfolio Award. San Francisco, CA. June.
  • Monochrome Exhibition – Two photographs selected for international juried exhibition. PH21 Gallery. Budapest, Hungary. August 27 – September 17.
  • LoosenArt “Home” Exhibition – Two photographs selected for international juried exhibition. Millepiani Gallery. Rome, Italy. August 7 – 17.
  • Moscow International Foto Awards – Named Portfolio Photographer of the Year. Gold for Portfolio Fine Art. Silver for Portfolio Personal. Silver for Portfolio Nature/Trees, Moscow, Russia. June.
  • Perspective Gallery – “Mini Donuts” selected for regional juried exhibit at Perspective Gallery. Evanston, IL. July 2 – 26.
  • Black and White Magazine – Portfolio of 12 images won Merit Award. Ross, CA. May
  • All About Photo – Portfolio of 20 images featured on international online gallery. San Diego, CA. May.
  • Edge of Humanity Gallery – Portfolio of 10 images featured on international online gallery. Pompano Beach, FL. May
  • FotoNostrum Magazine – Interview and 15 images published in premier issue. Barcelona, Spain. May.
  • International Color Awards 13 – Second Place and Honorable Mention winners in Americana category plus five finalists. Beverly Hills, CA. March.
  • “Monochrome” Exhibit – “The Blacksmith” selected for an international juried exhibition. The Blank Wall Gallery. Athens, Greece. March 6 – 18.
  • Pollux Awards Exhibition – FotoNostrum Mediterranean House of Photography. Barcelona, Spain. March 4 – 29.
  • Wisconsin Artists Biennial -- “Hay Bale” selected for a statewide juried biennial exhibit at the Museum of Wisconsin Art. West Bend, Wisconsin.  January 25 – March 29.
 2019

  • Pollux Awards 14 – First Place Landscape Series. Honorable Mention in Fine Art, Documentary & Reportage and Culture & Daily Life. Kent, England. December.

  • Budapest International Foto Awards – Honorable Mention in Fine Art for 20-image portfolio. October 31.

  • Black and White Spider Awards 14 – Third Place (Honor of Distinction) in Fine Art. October 14.

  •  Photography Gala Awards Exhibition -- Portfolio exhibited at FotoNostrum Gallery, Barcelona, Spain. October 7 - 27.

  • San Francisco International Photography Competition – Gold Award. Exhibit at ACCI Gallery. Berkeley, CA. September 4 – 28.

  • Royal Photographic Society -- Six images named Finalists for RPS 162 Exhibition. Bristol, England. 

  • International Photography Awards -- Second Place and "USA Country Pick" for 10-image portfolio. Los Angeles, CA. 

  • Museum Collection -- Work acquired for the permanent collection of the Dubuque Museum of Art. Dubuque, IA.

  • Critical Mass Finalist -- Ten image portfolio named "Top 200" by Photolucida. Portland, Oregon. 

  • Chania International Photo Festival -- Exhibited in Chania, Crete (Greece). August 16 - 24.

  • Southeast Center for Photography – Two images selected for “Home” juried exhibition. Greenville, SC. July 5 – 27.

  • "14 Inspiring American Artists" -- Interview and image included in article on inspiring American Artists. 

  • Prix de la Photographie Paris (PX3) -- Eight Honorable Mention Awards for Fine Art Landscape. Paris, France. 

  • Moscow International Foto Awards (MIFA) – Silver Award for Fine Art Landscape Series. 

  • Palm Springs Photo Festival – Finalist -- portfolio of 40 images presented at the Annenberg Theatre. Palm Springs, CA. May 6.

  • DuMA Biennial – Three images selected for regional juried exhibit. Dubuque Museum of Art. Dubuque, IA. May 18 – September 8.

  • Pollux 12 Award Winners Exhibition – Four images in international juried exhibition. Galeria Valid Foto BCN. Barcelona, Spain. May 8 – 25. 

  • Monochrome Exhibit – Three images chosen for international juried exhibit. Blank Wall Gallery. Athens, Greece. May 3 – 15.

  • Fine Art Photography Awards – Landscape Series (5 images) and People Series (5 images). London, England.

  • International Color Awards – Honorable Mention in Americana. Beverly Hills, CA. 

  • Gallery of Wisconsin Art – Eight photographs in “Image 9” exhibit. West Bend, WI. March 2 – April 26.

  • Black and White Magazine – “Looking Back – Looking Forward” contest winner. Published in issue #132.Ross, CA.

  • FOCUS Photo LA – The 28th Annual International Los Angeles Photographic Art Exposition – Top 20 images. Barker Hangar Gallery. Santa Monica, CA. January 31 – February 3.

  • One  Eyeland Awards – Series in Fine Art Landscape, Fine Art Other and Nature/Seasons. Chennai, India. 

  • Digital Photo Magazine– Black and White contest winner. Braintree, MA. .

  • Dodho Magazine – story and 20 photographs printed in international photography magazine. Barcelona, Spain. January 8.

  • Tokyo International Foto Awards (TIFA) – Bronze Award and USA "Country Pick" for 20-image Fine Art Portfolio. Tokyo, Japan.  

  2018

  • Barcelona Foto Biennale – Named the International Landscape Photographer of the Year -- images featured in the 5th Biennial of Fine Art & Documentary Photography at Space Nau Bostik, Barcelona, Spain. October 4 – 21.
  • Lucie Foundation International Photography Awards – Second Place. Los Angeles, CA. October.
  • Double Vision: Seasons of Change – Lowell Center, Madison, Wisconsin. September 5 – October 31.
  • Rangefinder Magazine Fine Art Photography Winner – Six image portfolio selected as a winner in an international competition. Featured in September magazine and exhibit at Fujifilm Gallery on Fifth Ave. New York, NY. September 18.
  • PhotoMidwest Festival Biennial Exhibition – Overture Center for the Arts, Madison, Wisconsin. September 7 – December 12.
  • Photolucida Critical Mass 2018 Finalist – The “Midwest Memoir” portfolio of 10 images was named a Finalist in Critical Mass 2018, widely considered to be one of the most important photography portfolio competitions in the world. Portland, Oregon. August.
  • Wisconsin Photography 2018 – Three images selected for a statewide juried biennial exhibit organized by the Racine Art Museum. Exhibited at the Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Art. Racine, Wisconsin. August 26 – November 24.
  • Black and White Magazine – A 12-image portfolio won Merit Award in the 2018 Portfolio Competition. Four of the images were published in Issue 128. 
  • Prix de la Photographie Paris (PX3) – Honorable Mention for Fine Art Landscape Series. Paris, France. 
  • Wisconsin’s Great Waters Photography Contest – First Place and is featured as the month of May in the 2019 Calendar. June.
  • “Art in the Heart of RUH” -- Royal Photographic Society International Photography Exhibition 160 -- Royal United Hospital. Bath, England. June 20 – September 26.
  • Portfolio ShowCase 11 Exhibition – Images selected among the Top 10 portfolios in the world by the Center for Fine Art Photography. The Carnegie Center for Creativity Gallery. Fort Collins, Colorado. June 13 – July 7.
  • Moscow International Fotography Awards -- Silver Award for Fine Art Portfolio. Moscow, Russia. 
  • Tokyo International Foto Awards Winners Exhibition – ICA Gallery, Tokyo, Japan. May 12-16.
  • Royal Photographic Society International Photography Exhibition 160 -- Chapel Gallery. Ormskirk, Lancashire, UK. March 17 – April 14.
  • The Pollux Awards 11 – Grand Prize Winner (overall First Place), First Place in Documentary/Reportage, People and Nature categories plus Second Place in Fine Art, Landscape and Wildlife categories . Kent, England.  
  • Graine de Photographe Feature – This French photography publication featured an interview with me plus 15 images on their blog, website, Facebook page and Twitter feed. 
  • International Color Awards 11 – Eight photographs won in six categories, including Honor of Distinction (Third Place) in Americana and Wildlife. 
  • Adore Noir Magazine Feature -- My "Midwest Memoir" portfolio was showcased in a 15-page feature story and interview in Issue 42 of Adore Noir magazine. Vancouver, Canada.
  • The Center for Fine Art Photography Portfolio ShowCase 11 – Portfolio of 12 images selected as Top 10 created by artists from around the world. Fort Collins, CO.
  • Wisconsin Artists Biennial 2018 -- “After the Storm” selected for a juried biennial exhibit at the Museum of Wisconsin Art. West Bend, Wisconsin.  February 3 – April 8.
  • Royal Photographic Society International Photography Exhibition 160 -- “Forest Fog” exhibited at the Aberystwyth Arts Center in Wales. January 27 – March 10.
  • "Feature Shoot" Feature – Interview and 14 images from the “Midwest Memoir” portfolio featured in this leading international publication from Sydney, Australia. 

2017

  • Royal Photographic Society International Photography Exhibition 160 – “Forest Fog” was selected as one of only 100 photographs to be included in the 160th Annual International Photography Exhibition. London, UK. 
  • Moscow International Fotography Awards (MIFA) – First Place (Gold) in Fine Art Landscape. Second Place in Nature Seasons.  and Nature Wildlife. Moscow, Russia. 
  • Prix de la Photographie Paris (PX3) – Third Place in Nature/Landscape and Honorable Mention. Paris, France. 
  • Friends of Wisconsin State Parks – “Winter Oak” featured in 2018 Calendar.
  • 12th Annual Black and White Spider Awards – Honorable Mention in the Fine Art Nature. London, UK. 
  • Lucie International Photography Awards -- Honorable Mention in Nature/Landscape.Los Angeles, CA. 
  • Pollux Awards International Exhibition – Exhibited at Galeria Valid Foto BCN. Barcelona, Spain. September 18 – 29.
  • Photolucida Critical Mass 2017 Finalist – The “Midwest Memoir” portfolio of 10 images was named a Finalist in  Critical Mass 2017. Portland, OR. 
  • Feature Shoot Magazine – Selected for juried exhibition entitled “Rural Life.” Sydney, Australia.
  • Edge of Humanity Magazine – Ten images from the “Americana” series featured. Pompano Beach, FL.  
  • Best of Photography 2017 – “After the Storm” was selected for book published by Photographer’s Forum magazine. Santa Barbara, CA. 
  • International Color Journal 7 Vol 1 – Featured in the Americana and Wildlife sections. London, UK. 
  • The WPGA Pollux Awards (10th Annual) – First Place Winner in Landscape and Honorable Mention in the Documentary. Kent, UK. 
  • Royal Photographic Society – “After the Storm” and “Forest Fog” Finalists for the 160th Annual International Print Exhibition. Bath, UK. 
  • Soho Photo Gallery 2017 National Competition and Exhibition – New York, New York.   
  • Dubuque Museum of Art 2017 Biennial – Dubuque, IA.    
  • Fluno Center Exhibition – Fluno Center. Madison, WI. May 1 – June 30.
  • Charles Dodgson Black & White Awards – Second Place and Honorable Mention. York, UK.
  • The Print Swap from Feature Shoot – Two images selected. 
  • Mother F Stop – Twenty-five images featured by online photography magazine. 
  • 10th Annual International Color Awards -- Honorable Mention winners. London, UK. 
  • PhotoMidwest Exhibit – UW Hospital. Madison, WI.