Portraits of rural life in contemporary America frame the visual approach of The Unchosen Ones: Portraits of an American Pastoral. R.J. Kern employs a contemplative, restrained photographic style to document individuals whose ties to the land and pastoral traditions illuminate aspects of an overlooked American existence.

Thematically, the work explores the tensions between aspiration and reality within rural communities, capturing subjects with a quiet dignity that contrasts with broader narratives of progress and urbanization. The subdued mood and careful composition invite reflection on heritage, identity, and the effects of time on both people and landscape.

Published by MW Editions in 2021, this 136-page volume offers a measured, intimate perspective, using portraiture to evoke the nuanced textures of American pastoral life.