Ships of the air and ships of the sea is the theme of this summer’s photography exhibition at the Keith de Lellis Gallery. On display will be over 60 vintage prints by American and European photographers from the first half of the 20th century.

Ships and airplanes were irresistible subject matter for many photographers of the 20th century. Whether precise or romantic, images produced for both industry and journalism captured the sheer beauty of these powerful symbols of progress in transportation. Not only were they magnificent marvels of engineering, they were also stunning examples of design.

Harold Costain’s dramatic close-up of the now classic Pan Am Southern Clipper, circa 1933, captures the splendid structure of this early seaplane. With its propellers, giant pontoons and overhead wings, it was a masterpiece of machine age design. Costain also photographed the Ocean Liner, S.S. Rex, in mid-1930. In isolating the center portion of the ship and photographing it on a diagonal, he deftly captures this vessel in all its art deco glory.

Margaret Bourke-White, renowned for her glorious photographs of industry, often made images of ships as well as airplanes. In the early 1930’s she made a dreamy early evening picture of the S. S. Monarch of Bermuda calmly floating on still darkened waters. Five years later she photographed an Eastern Airlines maintenance crew servicing a DC-3 aircraft. In this dramatic close-up you can see in minute detail the aluminum sheet metal riveted across the planes fuselage like a patchwork quilt.

Both Gordon Coster and Stefano Robino created exciting photographs of the crowds gathered to see an ocean liner set sail. Although these photographs were taken three decades apart, and on different continents, the subject matter is still fresh. The thrill of an ocean voyage is a timeless one.

In fashion and advertising photography, images incorporating transportation were in demand. Photographer Louise Dahl-Wolfe, in a 1939 Harper’s Bazaar photograph, used both airport and aircraft as a backdrop for a smartly groomed model wearing the latest style. Less subtle, and of the same vintage, is a Gordon Coster photograph of a smiling stewardess beckoning enthusiastic air travelers to board gleaming new aircraft, boldly emblazoned with the United Airlines logo.

Although the airplane has eclipsed the ocean liner as the speediest mode of transport, the leisure traveler, desiring a memorable trip, still may choose a cruise ship. Modern photographers were drawn to the form of the airplane and boat in its numerous guises. In these images you can almost hear the buzz of an airplane and the roar of a cruise ship.