Highball for the Double Header, Blue Ridge Grade, Near Bonsack, Virginia
Artist
O. Winston Link
(American, 1914-2001)
CultureAmerican
Date1959
MediumGelatin silver print
DimensionsOverall, Image: 15 5/8 × 19 1/2 in. (39.7 × 49.5 cm)
Overall, Support: 16 × 20 in. (40.6 × 50.8 cm)
Overall, Mat: 25 × 28 in. (63.5 × 71.1 cm)
Overall, Support: 16 × 20 in. (40.6 × 50.8 cm)
Overall, Mat: 25 × 28 in. (63.5 × 71.1 cm)
InscribedSigned and dated by the artist in pencil on the verso of the print. Artist's Studio stamp on the verso of the print.
Credit LineGift of Susan and David Goode
Object number2023.26.27
On View
Not on viewLabel TextO. Winston Link American (1914-2001) HIGHBALL FOR THE DOUBLE HEADER, BLUE RIDGE GRADE Near Bonsack, Virginia, 1959 L2004.11.97 Winston Link's nineteenth trip to the N&W was one of his shortest, from April 20 to April 26, 1959. Link made the trip just to create the color version of this photograph. He was about to issue the third of his LP recordings, Thunder on Blue Ridge, and he wanted a Blue Ridge image in color on the cover. That photograph was only the second of the two color photographs he made at night. He also made this black and white photograph of the identical scene at the same instant. By the date of this photograph, steam was rare on the N&W, and the railroad cooperated fully in helping achieve Winston's vision, including the removal of the auxiliary tender between the first and second locomotives. Three cameras captured the scene, which had been planned for months and for which there was no second chance. It was raining lightly, and the photo required 32 No. 2 flashbulbs, along with three less powerful No. 25 bulbs to light the interior of the shanty and the two lanterns, which were specially masked so as not to be too bright. Note the two battery powered lamps beneath the cab steps which were used to mark the point where the locomotive had to be located when Link made the photograph. Edited By: DS Approved By: MHM Approval Date: 07/25/2005Exhibition History"Norfolk and Western Railway Photographs by O. Winston Link," Alice R. and Sol B. Frank Photography Galleries, Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, Va., July 1 - December 31, 2005. Published ReferencesPhotographs by O. Winston Link, text by Thomas H. Garver, _The Last Steam Railroad In America: From Tidewater To Whitetop_ (New York: H.N. Abrams, 1995), 89.
