The Art of the Locomotive
To the eyes of most rail enthusiasts, the locomotive is unrivaled as an inspiring photographic subject. From the steam age to the modern diesel era, these marvels of engineering and industrial design brim with power, movement, and ingenuity, even when sitting still.
Photographer Ken Boyd's approach to the locomotive is unlike that of any photographer working today. Every detail of his photographs, from bolts and conduits to sheet metal and windows, is painstakingly evaluated and then digitally edited to enhance luminance, contrast, tonality, and color. The results are images of locomotives bristling with details not visible in conventional locomotive photography. The Art of the Locomotive features more than 150 photographs of locomotives, ranging from diminutive steam engines of the middle nineteenth century to the steam and diesel behemoths that followed. Each plate is accompanied by a detailed caption describing the locomotive's history and technology. The machines included represent railroads from all over the United States and Canada, from the Great Lakes region to the Gulf of Mexico, and from the East Coast to the West Coast. In addition, Boyd's introduction describes his artistic process: shedding light, as it were, on the method behind his fantastic imagery.
Hardback with dust jacket, 28x24cm, 192 pages, colour photographs
Condition: Very Good
ISBN: 9780760346914
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Updated: 7 April 2025