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Pony Express Trail in Wyoming by Bob Wick, BLM #mypubliclands Instagram Guest Photo Editor

About the photograph: In this image of the Pony Express Trail, I was trying to capture the hardships endured by the legendary riders. The brewing storm helped set the stage, but I also decided to use back lighting from the setting sun to reduce the detail of the rider to a silhouette.  This brings a mood and mystery to a photo that intrigues viewers much more than if they could see the rider in more detail. I ensured that my camera’s light meter properly exposed for the brighter background resulting in an underexposed rider.  The back lighting around sunrise and sunset is best for sihlouettes.  Make sure to keep your subject simple & correctly located to be backed by the sky/bright area. Silhouettes are also a good way to turn a difficult backlighting situation into a magical photo.

About the area: Wyoming is a great place to learn about westward emigration and the expansion of the U. S. In many areas, the vast landscapes look much like they did in the 1800s, and traces of wagon ruts are still visible. A great place to start your visit and learn about field locations is at the National Trails Visitor Center in Casper. Here, the story of the Mormon Pioneer, Oregon, California, and Pony Express National Historic Trails is told. All four of these routes passed through here on their way to the Continental Divide crossing at South Pass.

Camera settings: lens focal length: 23 mm , shutter speed: 1/125 second, aperture  f 8 ISO 320

Learn more about the Pony Express Trail, a part of BLM’s National Conservation Lands: http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/programs/nlcs/Historic_Trails.html

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