This survey of American industrial installations, photographed by Christopher Payne, features pencil production in New Jersey and the construction of massive wind turbines in North Dakota.
Payne has spent the past decade studying factories in America, ranging from “traditional industries” like wool carding to the production of contemporary technological machines that he says are often “hidden from view.”
His reasons for creating Made in America stem from the lack of awareness about where products come from, and the fact that American manufacturing is making a comeback post-Covid-19.
“Most people I know have never stepped foot in a factory,” Payne said. “Decades of global outsourcing and a flood of cheap imports have decimated sectors of American manufacturing and hollowed out once-thriving communities.”
“Yet we still live in a physical world and surround ourselves with material things, and many of these things are still made in America. Now, as environmental concerns and the pandemic give us an urgent wake-up call to rethink global supply chains, American manufacturing is making a comeback.”
The book contains close-up photographs that Payne collected during his personal explorations and editorial assignments. The book has an introduction by British author Simon Winchester.
Payne said he wanted to preserve the heritage of certain industries while showcasing the continued innovation and skill of workers – many of whom appear in photography.
“All of these places share a commitment to craftsmanship and quality that cannot be outsourced,” he said.
“There is certainly a certain romance in the idea of making our own products here in the U.S., but it’s no longer just nostalgia; it’s also necessity and opportunity.”
Read on for Payne’s commentary on scenes from twelve industrial facilities across the United States:
S & D Spinning Mill, Millbury, Massachusetts
“In 2010, I discovered an old yarn factory in Maine that reminded me of the state hospital workshops I photographed for my book Asylum. While most such places had long been abandoned, this factory was fully operational, a scene from the past who coexisted miraculously with the present.”
“I heard about other factories in New England, remnants of a once dominant industry that had long ago moved south, and then abroad, in search of cheap labor. I became friends with factory owners, who, in addition to opening their doors, informed me of a colorful production run, an invaluable tip that transformed a dull, monochrome scene into something photogenic and magical.”
General Pencil Company, Jersey City, New Jersey
“General Pencil is one of the two remaining pencil companies in the U.S., and it took five years to gain the trust of its owners and gain access to the factory.”
“I focused on essential steps in the production process to bring a fresh look to this humble, everyday object.”
Global Foundries, Malta, New York
“There is a familiarity with traditionally made objects like pianos and pencils that makes them easier to photograph than tiny microchips [featured above] or complex, unique spacecraft; they are recognizable in all stages of production and we know exactly what they do.”
“Wherever possible, I try to include people in my photographs to humanize a subject that would otherwise seem incomprehensible.”
GE Aerospace, Lafayette, Indiana
“From the window of an airplane it is impossible to see the size and complexity of a jet engine.”
“Seen up close and uncovered, it becomes an intricate, dazzling work of art, the perfect balance of form and function.”
GE Gas Power, Schenectady, New York
“Gaining access to modern factories is never easy. There are safety and intellectual property concerns that didn’t exist in the 1940s and 1950s, when American companies spent lavishly on annual reports and were eager to pull back the curtain on popular magazines like LIFE and Fortune .”
“Sometimes I take a beautiful photo, but later find out that I can’t use it. Then I look elsewhere for a replacement, as in this case, my second – and successful – attempt at a turbine rotor photograph.”
Corning Inc, Canton, New York
“Glass is an ancient material that is constantly being pushed to new limits, but it is not easy to photograph. It is transparent, reflective and often quite thin and fragile.”
“I had never seen such a technician hovering over a huge glass circle, lit up like an ice sculpture. It is still one of my favorite photographs.”
Rivian, Normal, Illinois
“Car factories are so big that you need a golf cart to get around. The environment is visually overwhelming and everything beckons to the camera.”
“I never have enough time to show even a fraction of the production process, so I look for quiet, simple moments that serve as stand-ins for the larger story.”
Build Your Dreams (BYD) Factory, Lancaster, California
“I approach industrial subjects and busy, cluttered factories in the same way as buildings: I try to find an underlying order within the visual chaos.”
“Here I could use the bus frame as a geometric background on which the action could unfold, as a set.”
Interface, LaGrange, Georgia
“New technologies are often seamlessly integrated into everyday products in ways that are indistinguishable, as is the case here, where captured carbon dioxide will be fused into the backing of a commercial carpet.”
“Even though the product is ‘high-tech’, the production process still requires the deft touch of the human hand.”
LM Wind Energy, Grand Forks, North Dakota
“Clean energy is another booming sector in manufacturing. Wind turbine blades are 200 to 300 feet long (60 to 91 meters), so there’s no elegant way to show their length without adding a lot of distracting context.”
“If you look at it in section, you will see that the semicircle of a sword shell forms a pleasing composition that fills the entire image.”
Space of Relativity, Long Beach, California
“Essential technologies like aerospace have been revitalized by the private sector and new technologies like 3D printing, and some of the factories I visited had the buzz of tech startups.”
“Relativity Space 3D prints rocket engines, cutting the time to do so from years to months. To avoid the laser’s UV light, we had to wear protective clothing to avoid nasty sunburns.”
Annin Flagmakers, South Boston, Virginia
“Even in its unfinished state, the American flag is instantly recognizable; the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”
“I like to think of a factory as the same thing, a whole that is only complete when everyone works together as a team. These are the people who make the things that fuel our economy, and in this time of social polarization and increasing automation, they offer a glimmer of hope.”