What do you think?
Rate this book
Made in America: The Industrial Photography of Christopher Payne
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.
Foreword by Kathy Ryan, Director of Photography, New York Times Magazine
Introduction by New York Times bestselling author Simon Winchester, OBE
For ten years, Christopher Payne 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 newer factories that embrace the evolution of technology—for example, Corning’s 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.
Beautifully showcasing Payne’s dynamic color photographs in an oversize format, 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.
Includes Color Photographs
Foreword by Kathy Ryan, Director of Photography, New York Times Magazine
Introduction by New York Times bestselling author Simon Winchester, OBE
For ten years, Christopher Payne 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 newer factories that embrace the evolution of technology—for example, Corning’s 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.
Beautifully showcasing Payne’s dynamic color photographs in an oversize format, 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.
Includes Color Photographs
- GenresNonfiction
240 pages, Hardcover
Published October 10, 2023
33 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 22, 2025
Christopher Payne absolutely nails it with Made in America. This book gives you a front-row seat to the machinery, processes, and people behind modern U.S. manufacturing. It's just clean, detailed photography that captures what these operations actually look like.
I appreciated how Payne focuses on the form and function of industrial environments. The layout, the repetition, the scale — it’s all framed in a way that shows how impressive these places really are. No fluff, no over-staging. Just great documentation of a side of America most people never get to see.
If you're into industrial buildings, production lines, or real-world utility, this one’s worth picking up. It’s basically required viewing if you work in or around manufacturing.
I appreciated how Payne focuses on the form and function of industrial environments. The layout, the repetition, the scale — it’s all framed in a way that shows how impressive these places really are. No fluff, no over-staging. Just great documentation of a side of America most people never get to see.
If you're into industrial buildings, production lines, or real-world utility, this one’s worth picking up. It’s basically required viewing if you work in or around manufacturing.
February 2, 2024
Awesome
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews