Film Strip: Exploring a Fading Wyoming Town
Arvada is located near the halfway point between Sheridan and Gillette, Wyoming. With little more than a post office and a bar, it is on the verge of becoming a ghost town. Most of the homes have been abandoned long ago, some with faded 'For Sale' signs left in the front yards. Other odd items, such as dressers with magazines, kitchenware, and tire swings, still adorn the empty homes. These items leave hints of who used to live in this once-thriving ranch community.
Exploring abandoned private property requires caution. Derelict structures are generally unsafe to enter—floor joists may break, roofs may collapse, and sharp objects are everywhere.
When I document a scene, I try to capture multiple layers to add depth to the narrative. I try to find details, themes, or oddities that may tell a story.
This requires time, patience, and some curiosity. Exploring with my camera is one aspect. The other part—and trickier—is observing the scene and making interpretive decisions.
The number of angles, perspectives, and artistic interpretations one could make is endless. To risk sounding cliché, only the imagination is the limit. This is why I love exploring locations like this with my camera.
What excites me is how other photographers would explore this location differently. How would this location impact them? What artistic interpretations would they make? Which buildings are still standing?
This is what I love about photography. Thank you for reading!
