Matthew Ludak is a documentary photographer whose work delves into contemporary social issues in the United States, including classism, de-industrialization, and environmentalism. Much of his practice centers on documenting the economic effects of de-industrialization across the Rust Belt—a focus shaped by his family’s ties to the region and to the factory and mining jobs that once sustained it. With a BA from Drew University and an MFA from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, he blends his background in American history and English literature with a strong commitment to socially engaged photography