FAQ: A. Aubrey Bodine's 'The Railroad that Stuck to Steam (1959)' Photograph and Career

What is the main subject of A. Aubrey Bodine’s photograph ‘The Railroad that Stuck to Steam (1959)’?

The photograph depicts a steam locomotive used on the grounds of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, DC, which was the line’s fourth engine built 10 years prior at a cost of $45,000.

Where can I view and order this photograph?

The image can be ordered by typing the ID# 48-267 in the box below Bodine’s portrait on the Home Page at www.aaubreybodine.com, where over 6,000 of his photographs are available for viewing and purchase.

Who was A. Aubrey Bodine and why was he significant in photography?

A. Aubrey Bodine (1906-1970) was regarded as one of the finest pictorialists of the twentieth century, winning top honors in national and international competitions and creating remarkable documentary pictures that were artistic in design and lighting beyond typical newspaper standards.

How did Bodine approach photography as an artistic discipline?

Bodine studied art principles at the Maryland Institute College of Art and used the camera and darkroom equipment as creative tools, often composing pictures in the viewfinder or manipulating negatives with dyes, intensifiers, pencil markings, and scraping to achieve his desired artistic effects.

When did Bodine’s photographic career begin and what was his main work?

Bodine’s career began in 1923 when he started covering stories with his camera for the Baltimore Sunday Sun, traveling throughout Maryland to create documentary pictures of various occupations and activities.

What makes Bodine’s documentary photography exceptional compared to typical newspaper work?

His documentary pictures are of the finest quality, often artistic in design and lighting effects that far exceeded the usual standard of newspaper photography due to his creative approach and technical manipulations.

Where can I find more information about A. Aubrey Bodine’s life and work?

The full biography ‘A Legend In His Time’ by Harold A. Williams is available on www.aaubreybodine.com, and you can contact [email protected] or call 1-800-556-7226 for additional information.

How many photographs are available from Bodine’s career and what formats can they be ordered in?

More than 6,000 photographs spanning Bodine’s 47-year career are available for viewing on the website, and these images can be ordered as reprints and note cards at www.aaubreybodine.com.