The Art of the Locomotive

by Ken Boyd

For all of the steam and diesel locomotives you can't see in person, or the ones you want to remember in all of their larger-than-life glory, this is the book to buy. From the steam age to the modern diesel era, locomotives are marvels of engineering and industrial design, brimming with power, movement, and man's ingenuity even when sitting still. Photographer Ken Boyd 's approach to the locomotive is unlike that of any other photographer. Every aspect of his photographs, from bolts and conduits to sheet metal and windows is painstakingly evaluated and then digitally edited until it glows with clarity and brilliance. The results are images of locomotives bristling with details not visible in conventional locomotive photography. The Art of the Locomotive features 150 large-format plates depicting locomotives ranging from the 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, from the east Coast to the West Coast. In addition, Boyd offers an appendix describing his photographic process, shedding light, as it were, on the method behind his fantastic imagery. Boyd's images are so incredibly sharp and breathtakingly rich, they have to be seen to be believed.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2014

Reviews

[Victor · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I would like to thank Ken Boyd for his book. It's rather a nice piece of a photographer work.
I have to say that the most grateful reader of this book in our family is my son. He likes it so much, than for a first couple of days I had no chance to read the book.
The photos are astonishing. The only minor personal objections are some lack of technical details in engines description and a treatment of the photos background. I would rather prefer to see the engines in their current environment no matter how dull and unimpressive it is. As for the lack of technical details, it does not interfere with appreciation of the beauty of the engines. Moreover, readers get an exciting story or several interesting facts for each depicted engine. Well, you really don't need to know how powerful one or another engine is (or was) to enjoy the book. I have to mention one more time, that it's only my personal opinion. I'm sure, that in spite of that, enthusiasts will fully appreciate this artwork.