Q: Who is O. Winston Link?
A: O. Winston Link was an American photographer who is best known for his black-and-white photography of the last days of steam locomotive railroading on the Norfolk & Western Railway in the United States in the late 1950s.
Q: What is O. Winston Link's most famous work?
A: O. Winston Link's most famous work is a series of photographs called "The Last Steam Railroad in America," which captured the final years of steam locomotive operations on the Norfolk & Western Railway.
Q: Why did O. Winston Link photograph steam locomotives?
A: O. Winston Link was fascinated by the beauty and power of steam locomotives, and he wanted to document their existence before they disappeared completely. He saw the decline of the steam locomotive as a significant moment in American history and wanted to preserve it through his photographs.
Q: Where did O. Winston Link take most of his photographs?
A: O. Winston Link took most of his photographs on the Norfolk & Western Railway, which ran through various states in the eastern United States, including Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. He often set up elaborate lighting systems and staged scenes with the cooperation of the railway and local communities to capture his desired shots.
Q: What was unique about O. Winston Link's photography technique?
A: O. Winston Link's photography technique was unique because he used artificial lighting at night to capture his images. He would set up dozens of flashbulbs and use multiple cameras to achieve the desired effect. This technique allowed him to capture sharp images of the moving trains and create dramatic compositions.