Irwin Norling.....who?

Good story. The most interesting part may be the photographer's attitude toward his work. He saw it as strictly utilitarian, and not artistic. I would still call him an artist, but one that is closer in his role to that of artists in traditional, non-industrial societies.
. . Artists in those circumstances seem to see their purpose as adding to the smooth working and functionality of important objects and activities. The artistry often had mystical, religious connections, but there was probably much less of a divide between the religious and the secular aspects of society.
. . Individual artists surely developed unique styles and techniques which were recognized and appreciated, but the value of their work to the society would have rested primarily in their capacity to reproduce traditional patterns rather than innovation, which is the current objective and expectation of artists in our society.