When you think of Wyoming, you might picture open skies, rustic beauty, and a strong sense of community.
The Bloomery, just west of Casper, brings all those things together in one incredible place.
In this first episode of Casper Stories, we had the privilege of capturing Cathryn Becker’s journey — from tending her land to hosting intimate concerts that bring people together.
Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how we filmed it, what made this story special, and why it set the tone for the entire Casper Stories series.
🌼 The Story – Meet Cathryn Becker and The Bloomery
Nestled on a stretch of beautiful Wyoming ranch land, The Bloomery is both a home and a live event venue. Caretaker Cathryn Becker has turned her property into a community gathering place, where visitors can enjoy live folk, bluegrass, and country music under the wide-open sky.
With a heritage tied to music and ranching, Cathryn created The Bloomery to honor that legacy — bringing people together to experience art, culture, and nature in one unforgettable setting. It’s a unique piece of Casper’s growing arts and culture scene and a perfect example of what makes this area so special.
🎥 Filming at The Bloomery
We filmed this episode over two days:
Day 1: Capturing a live concert featuring Liver Down the River, a five-piece folk/bluegrass band
Day 2: Filming Cathryn working on the farm and conducting her sit-down interview
🎬 Gear Used
Sony FX6 and A7siii Cinema Cameras
Leica R Vintage Prime Lenses
Helios 44-2 Vintage Soviet Lens (for a dreamy, cinematic look)
DJI Mini 3 Pro drone for aerials
The Leica lenses gave the footage a warm, nostalgic quality that fit The Bloomery perfectly, while the Helios created beautiful, swirling bokeh during our golden-hour shots.
One special detail: we shot the concert footage handheld to preserve the feeling of being part of the crowd — relaxed, close, and personal.
📝 Pre-Production and Visual Goals
Before the cameras rolled, we did a full location scout:
Using Sun Seeker to map natural lighting
Planning our best golden-hour shots
Choosing the perfect interview spot inside Cathryn’s colonial-style living room
We built a simple moodboard focused on capturing:
Natural textures (wood, grass, stone)
Golden evening light
A feeling of timelessness and homegrown hospitality
We filmed Cathryn’s interview inside her colonial-style living room, using a professional Aputure 3-point lighting setup to create a warm, cinematic indoor look.
The goal was to maintain a natural feeling while still giving the scene a polished, intentional style that would match the rest of the series.
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🖥️ Post-Production Workflow
The edit aimed to balance two key sides of Cathryn’s story:
The hard work and dedication it takes to maintain The Bloomery
The joy and connection she creates for visitors through music and gatherings
Final Deliverables
2–3 minute master episode
Two 30-second cutdowns
One 15-second cutdown
Both widescreen and vertical versions
A curated B-roll library for Visit Casper’s future use
The color grade leaned heavily into natural tones — golden highlights, deep greens, soft shadows — to keep the visuals organic and true to the environment.
🎙️ Personal Reflections on Filming "The Bloomery"
Filming at The Bloomery was easily one of my favorite parts of the entire Casper Stories project. There’s something powerful about watching someone invite their entire community into their home to share music, culture, and connection.
One of my favorite moments came at golden hour: Cathryn walking through the tall grass, her hand brushing across the tops, beautifully backlit by the setting sun. Shot through the Helios 44-2, it instantly reminded me of the iconic “Gladiator” wheat field scene — a quiet, emotional connection to land and life.
Moments like that are why I love doing what I do. They’re unscripted, honest, and cinematic all at once.
📍 See More About The Bloomery
Want to learn more about Cathryn Becker and The Bloomery? ➝ Check out Visit Casper’s feature on The Bloomery here.
🎯 Tell Your Story with Stengel Media
At Stengel Media, we believe authentic stories build real connections.
If you're looking to create cinematic, story-driven content that captures what makes your community or business special, we’d love to help.
Whether it's a single project or a full series like Casper Stories, we specialize in creating films that feel personal, beautiful, and unforgettable.
➝ Reach out today to start telling your story.
