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What began for the young Anthony Edward as the weekend amusement of a "steam safari" developed over time into what he later retrospectively described as his "World Bash": fifty years of employment in the railway industry, accompanied by travels across more than fifty countries. In addition to his work as an apprentice, draughtsman and engineer in railway factories in England and South Africa, he continuously documented the steadily disappearing world of the steam railway through photography.
"Dusty" Durrant's works skilfully blended his ambition to create lasting historical documentation with the aesthetic demands of photography. They leave us with an enduring impression of the steam railway era, both for today and future generations. Inspired by his enthusiasm and grounded in a deep understanding of the material, Durrant created an extensive oeuvre that goes far beyond documentary photography, capturing his subjects in their natural element. Be it driven to their limits by the most arduous labour, left abandoned or working their way through the seemingly endless landscapes of South Africa, Durrant always knew how to choose the right moment and the perfect setting to do justice to his subject matter. Yet, it is not this alone that necessarily elevates his photographs to works of art; rather, it is the fusion of his expertise, enthusiasm, photographic talent and dedication to documenting the twilight of the steam railway era.
This is the first part of our publication series on Durrant's work.
This edition contains 154 black and white images in 14 x 14 cm format with explanatory texts.
About the author
Stefan Ottermanns:
Stefan, born in 1971, is a Baccalaureus (NL) in Fine Arts and studied art at the Academy of Maastricht University, Netherlands.
