Vliegtuigen uit de USA 1946 - 1947

This photograph, *Vliegtuigen uit de USA*, was made by the United States Information Service, though when, we're not quite sure. It's interesting to consider how photography as a medium captures moments in time, kind of like pressing pause on reality. There's a tactile quality to this image, even though it’s just a photo. The play of light across the metallic surfaces of the airplane almost makes you feel like you could reach out and touch the cool, smooth metal. It's like you can sense the weight and scale of the plane, and the human effort required to maintain it. The workers, perched on ladders, are dwarfed by the machinery, a reminder of the sometimes overwhelming relationship between humans and technology. The monochromatic palette of grays and silvers really emphasizes the industrial nature of the scene. In its own way, I think this photograph shares something with the industrial landscapes of the Bechers, they were a German husband and wife team, who photographed nothing but industrial structures. This picture is really talking about the modern world, through hard work and big machines. Art is a conversation, after all.