David Vestal's darkroom for sale on ebay

[GRHazelton]

I was saddened to hear of his passing. I read all his articles and learnt a lot from him. I also own 4 of his prints. Very simple, straight forward prints. Just like him and how he worked. It's sad to see his stuff ending up on the auction site, and probably will go for peanuts. What about prints that he left behind? It's my understanding that he had quite a few on hand.
I am reminded of a friend of mine (considerably older than me, retired Latin teacher) who was a well known railroad photographer here in Canada. He had some amazing images that I had the good fortune to print for him over a 5 year period. Many of which he shot in China just before it converted to diesel about 10 years ago. He died suddenly a few years ago of a brain hemorrhage. His half brother came in (millionaire), binned all his prints and thousands of valuable negatives. I have no idea what happened to all his gear (he shot with a Pentax 67), and when I asked him, he refused to answer. But just like that, he was gone. No trace of him. Sad.

Very sad about your friend. I find it hard to understand why a relative would commit such cultural vandalism. Jealousy? Certainly he could have afforded to preserve the prints and negatives, or offer them to a museum. What a putz!

I'm sure you are familiar with the RR photography of O Winston Link; if not you have a real treat in store. His subject was the end of the age of steam, just on the cusp of the diesel revolution. He, with the permission and assistance of the Norfolk and Western RR, shot incredible, often rather surreal, BW photos in IIRC 8 x 10 format with multiple flash. Just incredible. He had the misfortune to "hook up" with a truly evil woman who was engaged in bankrupting him and no regard for the pictures. Fortunately he was rescued, but I don't recall the circumstances.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Yes, he was a putz! Multi-millionaire putz. I found out that one of his friends rescued as many of his model trains (he had an impressive setup in his garage!) and sent them off to the railroad museum in Revelstoke, BC. Thank God for that! He was held in high regard by Canadian Pacific Railroad where many of his prints hang on execs walls (some that I printed heh heh). He was even asked to supervise the painting of several heritage cars and engines as only he knew the proper colours. He was a special guy. Had some great stories.
Yes, I know of O Winston Link from a documentary I saw years back. Amazing stuff! My favourite image is Hotshot Eastbound.

 

[pentaxuser]

A life time a tools wrapped up in one sale for a pittance. Didn't even have someone to pass it on to in the family to continue printing, or an apprentice to keep it going. I wonder about my darkroom in the future.

Given what I suspect to be the median age of APUGers, turn the clock forward by 20 years and I wonder about APUG's future as well.

pentaxuser

 

[irvd2x]

Each of us is a sunset.Briefly fascinating,then faded away,to be replaced by someone else.Some among us are memorable,but eventually give way to the stars of twilight.memento mori.

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