TROY, N.Y. – Of all the pioneers who revolutionized railroad photography in the postwar decades, few equal the status of Jim Shaughnessy, one of the deans of the field, especially as measured by his powerful images from the steam-to-diesel era …
http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2018/08/08-famed-photographer-shaughnessy-dies
We all grew up and along with Jim Shaughnessy. The man was an icon.
Thank you Jim, for all of it, it’s been our good fortune that we knew you.
He leaves a huge legacy of photos and books.
Rest well, and thank you for all your hard work.
This man is a God if not God himself on Earth to railroad history and rail fans.
Not only was he great photographer, he was a decent writer, too.
I have 3 or 4 of his books. They make me want to get in the car and drive to West Virginia in 1950.
I very much enjoyed his work, especially the photos he took in Quebec.
Jim was an absolute genius when it came to what I believe is becoming a lost art, that is, black and white photography, and I mean absolutely no disrepect to those practicing B&W today. Just look at his images, and I mean look. It’s the same level of art you see in the old classic Hollywood films from the 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s. Tones, shading, shadow, light and darkness, and the drama produced by the same, it’s all there. What a gift he had! What a legacy!
I’m very surprised that this thread hasn’t had any more responses. He was one of the all time greats.
Very few photographers, especially in the age of color, are able to master B&W. O. Winston Link and Ansel Adams are the only two that spring to my mind along with Mr. Shaughnessy.
Backstop states " I’m very surprised that this thread hasn’t had any more responses. He was one of the all time greats."
Go over to the Classic Trains Website…plenty there! Lots of pics as well.
I would submit that in addition to being able to document what he did in a superior manner, he had the ability, or maybe it was intuition, to record what he did, when he did.
His work in Classic Trains is epic. What a talent.
Ed