Photographer and director Andy Goodwin is always up to meeting the challenge. On industrial assignments for clients like John Deere, USG, Nucor Steel and others, it can be difficult to have a shot list to work from since so much can be out of Andy’s control — weather, production deadlines and restricted areas. In some cases he is just given clearance to roam the grounds and take pictures that “look cool.”

Clients trust his experience, efficiency and confidence to get the right imagery for the message. His recent assignment for SXC (SunCoke Energy, Inc. Illinois) is a good example of this approach. No shot list and no client, just Andy and his assistant delivering the power of pictures at the end of the day.

“I’m attracted to gritty environments and the people that work in them. I love learning about what other people do for a living, and I try to make the experience fun for the participants. Sometimes this can be a nice break in the day for them, and they get to learn how we make a living as well,” says Andy.

Safety is always the top priority with any industrial assignment, and SXC came with some major concerns. Andy suited up in safety glasses, hard hats, steel-toed boots, cut-resistant gloves and fire-retardant jumpsuits before starting each day, as well as attending a very thorough safety class. He likes to do scouting for all locations first, keeping his eyes open for fascinating environments and people to put in his shots. He may even take some liberties by placing great looking workers in areas they have nothing to do with to capture an image he thinks will look special and connects deeply to the viewer.

It was a dirty and cold week-long road trip for Andy and his assistant, but the client was thrilled with the results and thrilled not to have to join them.