About the Blinds


Lower Blind

Reflection Blind

Reflection Blind from Inside

We have two separate photo blinds as we strive to constantly improve the Desert Photo Retreat experience.  With 10 acres, there are lots of areas to photograph, and I imagine we will always be making changes and improving the area.  

The first blind is located in the wash as you drive on to our property which makes it very convenient for hauling gear.  We call this the Lower Blind.  It was originally orientated to be a morning blind with a view to the Northwest.  However, the direction to the East had such clean backgrounds, wonderful evening light and great bird activity that I immediately added a wing to the blind for evening photography.  Finally, I decided to accept the fact that the evening view was the best, so in Fall of 2019 I rebuilt the blind and now it’s sole orientation is for evening photography, or morning if you prefer back-lighting.

The lower blind is not at ground level,  I use a table and other elevated perches to help provide clean backgrounds and a ground level effect.  By not putting bird food on the ground, I can minimize the javelina and squirrel intrusions.   

The second blind is located on the side of the mountain and is called the Reflection Blind.  It is orientated for morning light.  Its main feature is that you sit right at the water surface of a 12 foot by 12 foot water table making it ideal for reflection shots.  Because it is elevated, it also lends itself to nice out of focus backgrounds that are hard to come by when photographing at a ground level pond.  In the spring of 2020, the water table began attracting bats at night leading to another fun photo opportunity.