O. Winston Link

NW 720-Livingroom on the Tracks, Lithia, Virginia

NW 1103-Hot Shot Eastbound, Laeger, West Virginia, 1956

Born December 16, 1914, O Winston Link is definitely the oldest photographer I have done research on. While his early life is interesting what hooked me the most was his large scale train project he worked on from 1955 to 1960. Link learned that the steam locomotive was about to be completely phased out of production and use so he decided that his goal for the next five years was going to be to document every aspect of the train, the industry, and the lives surrounding it. At first he started off by simply photographing the trains them selves from a purely mechanical standpoint as a record of how they were physically made. As time went on along his more than 17 trips from New York to Virginia he began to construct elaborate shots, mostly at night, to show off the small towns and pockets of life that existed along the tracks. Sometimes taking more than two days to construct and using ridiculously elaborate light set ups he was able to achieve amazing photos of cinema like proportions.

His photos became something more than simple documents of trains, they are a portraits of America in transition. Often going into homes and using actors and post-production techniques he was able to create the overwhelming scenes of a rapidly changing land. As time went on he established relationships with the communities as well as with the train lines themselves. His story to me is amazingly inspiring to the point where I want to do this myself. Just the thought of journeying across America following trains and photographing you're adventures sounds insanely magical.