O. Winston Link O. Winston Link is best known for his Norfolk and Western project, where he took many photos of the last company to still use steam locomotives, the project lasted from 1955 to 1960 when N&W converted their last, which was the last train, to convert to diesel. As N&W announced their first conversion Link`s work became a documentation of the end of the steam era.

Bio Link grew up in Brooklyn, New York. His father encoured him and his siblings to have an interest in some form of an art, this led Link to photography. His interest built as he came to high school, by the time he enrolled in high school he had already built his own photo enlarger After High School he enrolled in the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn and received a degree in Civil Engineering.

More bio Before his graduation he spoke at a banquet for the institute's newspaper, of which he was an photo editor. And executive from Carl Byoir's public relations firm was impressed by Link's speaking ability. He offered Link a job as a photographer. Link worked for Carl and his associates for five years When World War Two came around he left Carl’s employment and joined the Airborne Instruments Laboratory as both a project engineer and photographer. With the end of the war Link`s employment also ended, instead of accepting a job for Carl agein he decided to go into his own studio. In 1955 he began the N&W project, taking many photos at night (it was more romantic and dramatic, also helped with lighting as the sun often conflicted the interest of the picture) of the slowly fading steam locomotives.

The Keith children fishing as train no. 2 passes taken at Lithia, Virginia, 1955 This photo appears as it was taken during daytime, as the source of light evenly dispersing light over the whole photo and under the bridge. The main subject of this photo is like most of Link`s N&W project photos, the locomotive. What makes this photo unique is the setting, it puts the locomotive in an everyday activity, creating the theme that trains are common at this point, which I believe was the purpose of putting the photo here of all places, and if you view his collection of photos they tell the story of the disappearance of steam locomotives from the rails.

Hawksbill Creek Swimming Hole taken at Luray, Virginia In contrast to the prior photo, this was taken at night. The reason I can tell is that the lighting is directional and not widespread like sunlight, suggesting that Link used his flash equipment for this photo. This photo stands out because the continual story of steam locomotives being common, everyday sights, while at the same time starting to distance the train from the people who would see it. The main subject I would say is agein the train, but the focus on the train is equally as important as the people in this photo.

Hot Shot Eastbound Taken at the drive-in theater in Laeger, West Virginia This photo was taken at night, for the technical and practical reason. One: drive in movies only play at night, and two the lighting is not dissapated like sunlight but directional, not from behind but to the left side off the photo. This photo`s main focus is the people while the train is also a primary focus. Hot Shot Eastbound continues on the story of the slowly dissapearing steam locomotives by using the peoples attention. By diverting the attention of the people to the movie and not the locomotive it symbolizes that the locomotives are disregarded and ignored as they grow more and more distant.

Mainline on Main Street taken at North Fork, West Virginia, 1958 This photo, as many of Link's, was taken at night. Again the reason I can infer this is the lack the lights spread across the whole scene and the leftward focus it has. This photo's main focus is the train, alone as it is on a clear rule of thirds line. The photo continues upon the theme even further, now instead of there even being people the train is alone, with no one to care about it's almost final route.

Shaffers Crossing Roundhouse. Taken atRoanoke, West Virginia, 1958 this is another one of Link’s nighttime photographs as the light is only focused on the left side of the train, this clarifies the detail of the locomotive The story behind the photograph is the main focus, the locomotive presumably stopping for the last time using steam power. This photo stands out because of its use of the whole left line in rule of thirds and I chose it for that and the fact that is tells the same story of the photo “Ghost Train”

Ghost train This train appears to be taken at night, as the light appears to be coming from the glaring sources in the background, though it is rather possible that this photo was taken at sundown. The main focus is the train fading from existence, this finalizes the story of the vanishing steam locomotive as the last were converted to diesel. The reason this photo stands out and the reason I chose it was the unique story it tells and the techniques used.

Bibliography "The Works of O. Winston Link." The Works of O. Winston Link. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov "O. Winston Link." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 26 Oct Web. 05 Nov "O. Winston Link (American, )." O. Winston Link on Artnet. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov "When Steam Locomotion Ground to a Halt." Lens When Steam Locomotion Ground to a Halt Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov "O Winston Link Museum." O Winston Link Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov "O.Winston Link - Artists - Danziger Gallery." O.Winston Link - Artists - Danziger Gallery. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov