Of the upper-class, she took atypical photographs for her era, focusing on a photojournalistic approach to her subjects, showing the development of Ireland during its period of industrialization.

[3] Joshua owned and operated a home improvement store which provided a number of services from ironmongery to furnishings, as well as gas lighting and sanitation.

[2] Her husband's family operated mills in the midlands, sparking an interest for Shackleton in industrial development and architecture.

The house was opulently fitted with modern conveniences, fireplace and water views and adjoined the family's Shackleton Mills.

[1][8] Developing an interest in photography, in the mid-1880s, Shackleton began as an amateur photographer, taking portraits of her family members.

[4][3] Among her subjects were harvesters, railways and stone cottages, as she sought to capture images of Ireland's transformation from an agricultural society to an urban, industrialized nation.