Made in America

Christopher Payne's Made in America is a photographic celebration of how things are created, honoring the workers who bring craft, passion, and technological savvy to American manufacturing-both traditional and cutting-edge.

A photographic celebration of how things are made, honoring the workers who bring craft, passion, and technological savvy to American manufacturing—both traditional and cutting-edgeFor the past ten years, Christopher Payne has embarked on a photographic journey to learn more about American manufacturing and the industries that built this country. He has gained access to a world that continues to thrive, although not many have been privy to its history and intricacies until now. Showcasing the past, present, and the future, Payne explores both old-school factories, such as New England’s textile mills that have survived by staying exactly the same and proudly producing on vintage equipment, and the newer factories that embrace the evolution of technology—for example, Corning’s production of bendable glass or GE’s next-generation wind turbines. From the tip of a pencil to the sleek lines of an airplane, or from a classical guitar to a communications satellite, diverse forms of manufacturing, including the very small and the incredibly large, are revealed as beautiful examples of American ingenuity. Regardless of their differences, these factories share the common bonds of craftsmanship and a commitment to quality that can’t be outsourced. Including a foreword by Kathy Ryan and an introduction by Simon Winchester, the book’s oversized format beautifully showcases Payne’s dynamic color photographs. Made in America is a celebration of the making of things, the transformation of raw materials into useful objects, and the human skill and mechanical precision brought to bear on these materials that give them form and purpose.