From September 23 through December 11, 2o11, Requiem for Steam: The Railroad Photographs of David Plowden is at the Grohmann Museum at Milwaukee School of Engineering, 1025 N. Broadway, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The exhibition features 30 photographs from Plowden’s new book, Requiem for Steam, all made by the photographer in his digital darkroom and rivaling his gelatin silver prints for visual impact. Railroads, and particularly steam locomotives, were among Plowden’s first subjects, and many of the photographs feature American and Canadian steam operations from 1954 through 1960. Plowden has continued to document the railroad landscape, and the latest photograph is from 2004, although the photographer is quick to note, “There’s nary a diesel in sight!” Plowden will give a presentation and book signing on Friday, October 21. The exhibition is sponsored by the Center and will be ready to travel in 2012. Get in touch with the Center (info [at] railphoto-art.org) for more information about booking the show for your museum or gallery.
