A. Aubrey Bodine's 1937 photograph 'The Winter Sports Move South' offers a rare glimpse into the early days of skiing in Deer Valley, Utah, capturing a moment when the region's snow and cold rivaled that of New England. The image, available for viewing and purchase at www.aaubreybodine.com, is part of a vast collection spanning Bodine's 47-year career.
Bodine, regarded as one of the finest pictorialists of the twentieth century, began his career in 1923 with the Baltimore Sunday Sun. His work transcends typical journalism, combining documentary precision with artistic design. He studied art at the Maryland Institute College of Art and treated his camera and darkroom as tools akin to a painter's brush. His photographs, including this winter scene, were often composed in the viewfinder or meticulously altered with dyes, pencil markings, and scraping to achieve his desired effect.
The significance of 'The Winter Sports Move South' lies not only in its aesthetic quality but also in its historical documentation of winter sports migration to the southern United States during a time when skiing was gaining popularity. This image provides a window into a bygone era, reflecting both the natural beauty of Deer Valley and the recreational pursuits of the time. Bodine's work has been exhibited globally and won numerous awards, cementing his legacy in photographic history.
For those interested in exploring more of Bodine's work, over 6,000 photographs are available on his website, with options to order reprints and note cards. The full biography, 'A. Aubrey Bodine: A Legend In His Time' by Harold A. Williams, can also be accessed at www.aaubreybodine.com. This collection serves as an invaluable resource for historians, art enthusiasts, and anyone fascinated by the evolution of photography and American winter sports culture.
