Technical Genius: Behind the scenes with O. Winston Link's famous photographs

Take an in-depth and behind-the-scenes look into technical aspects of several photographs of O. Winston Link, the famed 1950s railroad photographer who captured some of the last steam trains in America, set against the picturesque backdrop of rural Appalachia. Ashley Webb, curator of collections and exhibitions for the O. Winston Link Museum, will present and examine the notebooks, letters, and installation images of some of the photographer's more iconic and technically complex works.
Ashley Webb received her BA in History and Anthropology from Longwood University, in Farmville, Virginia, and her MA in Museum Studies from Bournemouth University, in Dorset, England. She is currently the Curator of Collections and Exhibitions and acting Executive Director with the Historical Society of Western Virginia, which operates both the Roanoke History and the O. Winston Link Museums.
Based in Roanoke, Virginia, the O. Winston Link Museum collection comprises the striking photographic and auditory works developed by photographer-artist O. Winston Link between 1955 and 1960. A successful commercial photographer from New York, Link brought his studio outdoors to create carefully arranged images designed to convey the end of Norfolk & Western’s steam locomotives and the communities and countryside they passed through. The museum is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2024 as the repository for all of Link's Norfolk & Western negatives, and contains both rotating and permanent exhibitions. Learn more at: roanokehistory.org

[@rogerwatt8491]

Fantastic presentation, Scott! As I've told you, I had the honour of speaking to the great man back in the 1990s when, as publishing director of a leading European fine art publishing company, we discussed our publishing a collection of his pictures as fine art prints. Sadly, he died before we could progress the project but at least I can say that I spoke with him. Thanks again!

[@troystaten5633]

Wonderful presentation, O W Link is one of my favorite photographers. His work is amazing.

[@YardLimit]

Thank you for making this available to us!

[@anthonyc1883]

Thanks for such an excellent presentation. Lots of new (to me) material such as his notes and the photos of Link himself. I remember learning about him in the mid-1970s when he was featured in one of the very first issues of Railfan magazine. I was a teenager then and fascinated. As part of the cover story, he even broke out his old gear and did a synchronized flashbulb shot of a then-current scene in a semi-rural setting. I've been a big fan ever since.

[@railphotoart]

We're so glad you enjoyed it! That Railfan article must have been amazing.

[@anthonyc1883]

@@railphotoart Indeed it was. Funny, but among the many things I remember about it was this quote, when Link was asked to do the shoot: "How much can you pay?" The author of the article (almost certainly Railfan editor Jim Boyd back then) included that quote with respect, I'm sure, and said about Link words to the effect of "Always the professional!" And I honestly think that Railfan article was one of the very earliest efforts that got interest going again for Link's classic work.