When I was a kid I was enthralled by trains. So when I got the chance to go see how a hopper car was built and create a series of images for Vertex, I was in heaven. Photographing in a factory is super challenging. When you combine constantly changing lighting conditions, huge pieces of machinery dangling overhead with dirt and noise galore — most shooters would call that hell. But to me, industrial locations are “target rich environments.” You get to find art amid the enterprise. Hopefully this is only my first trip to this railcar birth place. It’s also where great photos are born.