A new view through an old lens

Right around when the fair was born in the 1800s, tintype photography was in its heyday. This feat of photographic alchemy freezes a 2019 State Fair moment in Civil War-era tones. Tintype photography by Alex Kormann.

Photos by Staff

September 2, 2019 — 9:31pm

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The Ladies of the Lake posed for a tintype portrait.

Alex Kormann

Christian Robinson from Chicago posed for a tintype portrait with his sweet corn.

Alex Kormann

A Mighty Midway game in tintype.

Alex Kormann

Alvin Nguyen of New Brighton with his fair winnings.

Alex Kormann

Cinthya Hato and Joe Dominguez in a tintype portrait with their giant stuffed monkey, won on the midway.

Alex Kormann

Fairborne and Fairchild, the Minnesota State Fair mascots, posed for a tintype portrait, perhaps not their first.

Alex Kormann

Mick Sondergard from New Germany, Minn., wore his old barrel riding champion belt.

Alex Kormann

Kensley Smith of Garfield, Minn., posed for a tintype portrait with her goat, Fiona.

Alex Kormann

Mark Fjelstad posed for a tintype portrait with a friend's cow.

Alex Kormann

A collage of tintype fair photos.

Alex Kormann