Matthew Ludak - Northern Gothic

These photos are from a series exploring the de-industrialization of American manufacturing towns and cities. The project started with my interest in photographing the intersection of nature and infrastructure.

As the project changed and grew, I became more focused on documenting small and large cities that, at one point or another, had been major industrial and manufacturing centers in America. Many of the buildings photographed are abandoned, condemned, or in the process of being demolished.

Some of these larger industrial cities have over the years seen government aid and intervention in the hope of revitalizing the local economy. However, many of the smaller cities and towns have been left on their own. 

I see this project as an opportunity to document the unfortunate effects of America moving away from being a nation of producers to that of consumers.