A. Aubrey Bodine's 1959 Photograph Captures Historic Steam Locomotive Operation

The photograph "The Railroad that Stuck to Steam (1959)" by A. Aubrey Bodine documents engineer Otis Nevitt operating a steam locomotive on the grounds of St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington, DC, capturing a significant moment in transportation history when steam technology persisted despite the rise of diesel engines. This image represents more than just historical documentation—it exemplifies the artistic vision of a photographer regarded as one of the finest pictorialists of the twentieth century, whose work transcended typical newspaper photography through creative composition and technical mastery.

A. Aubrey Bodine's approach to photography was fundamentally artistic, treating the camera and darkroom equipment as tools similar to a painter's brush or sculptor's chisel. He believed photography could be a creative discipline, studying art principles at the Maryland Institute College of Art and consistently winning top honors in national and international salon competitions. His technical craftsmanship involved extensive experimentation, including working on negatives with dyes, intensifiers, pencil markings, and even scraping to achieve desired effects, along with photographic additions like clouds and other elaborate manipulations.

The historical significance of this particular photograph lies in its documentation of steam locomotive operation at a time when most railroads had transitioned to diesel power. The image provides valuable insight into the persistence of steam technology in specialized applications and serves as an important record of industrial and transportation history. More than 6,000 photographs spanning Bodine's 47-year career are available for viewing on the website https://www.aaubreybodine.com, where these images can be ordered as reprints and note cards.

Bodine's photographic career began in 1923 when he started covering stories for the Baltimore Sunday Sun, traveling throughout Maryland to create remarkable documentary pictures of various occupations and activities. His work was exhibited in hundreds of prestigious shows and scores of museums, earning recognition for its artistic design and lighting effects that far exceeded usual newspaper standards. The full text of the biography "A Legend In His Time," written shortly after his death by Harold A. Williams, Bodine's editor and closest friend, can be found on the website https://www.aaubreybodine.com, providing comprehensive information about this remarkable photographer's life and work.