Desert Photo Retreat

Desert Photo Retreat Sitting on 10 stunning saguaro studded acres, we have a couple of permanent photography blinds and a

Gilded Flicker at Desert Photo Retreat, Marana, Arizona.
02/11/2025

Gilded Flicker at Desert Photo Retreat, Marana, Arizona.

Harris’s Antelope Squirrel at Desert Photo Retreat, Marana, Arizona.
02/11/2025

Harris’s Antelope Squirrel at Desert Photo Retreat, Marana, Arizona.

Bobcat coming in to the water hole at Desert Photo Retreat. Image captured with Cognisys camera trap using Nikon Z6ii. ...
02/08/2025

Bobcat coming in to the water hole at Desert Photo Retreat. Image captured with Cognisys camera trap using Nikon Z6ii.

Curve-billed Thrasher. Taken at Desert Photo Retreat, Marana, Arizona.
02/08/2025

Curve-billed Thrasher. Taken at Desert Photo Retreat, Marana, Arizona.

Beautiful male Northern Cardinal in the glow of golden hour at Desert Photo Retreat.
02/05/2025

Beautiful male Northern Cardinal in the glow of golden hour at Desert Photo Retreat.

Jack and I are excited to share our grand opening of Desert Photo Retreat in Marana, Arizona (just north of Tucson). We ...
01/25/2025

Jack and I are excited to share our grand opening of Desert Photo Retreat in Marana, Arizona (just north of Tucson). We bought this 10 acre property from Ron and Janine Niebrugge in April 2024. This was a labor of love for Ron and Janine and we treasure what they created and will do our best to honor the property and wildlife. Desert Photo Retreat currently offers 2 blinds where photographers sit quietly and photograph the birds with prepared vignettes and desert surroundings. The afternoon blind has warm sunset colors reflected on the mountain and the morning blind has a reflection pool. Our season is January to approximately mid-April (we’ll stop when it’s too warm). Please follow Desert Photo Retreat on Facebook or Desert Photography Retreat on Instagram if you would like to see more photos that we capture from this special place.

Photography credit: Jack Uellendahl

A sad goodbye to the Desert Photo Retreat.In March of 2016 while I was guiding in Antarctica we closed on a stunning, re...
05/09/2024

A sad goodbye to the Desert Photo Retreat.

In March of 2016 while I was guiding in Antarctica we closed on a stunning, remote 10 acres in the Tortolita Mountains in Arizona. By April, Janine and I had our RV trailer on the property and began building a wonderful relationship with the land and wildlife. I made many mistakes along the way, such as building a much too fancy photo blind in a bad location, but had many successes as well including the evening blind with the stunning orange background thanks to alpenglow on the distant peaks, and the reflection blind. Seeing and meeting so many guests and seeing their images just added to the wonderful memories.

But, the memories the land provided will be with me as long as I'm alive. The stunning sunsets, rainbows, wildflowers and scenery. And the incredible wildlife. The mountain lion who brought her babies to the water hole last September, the javelina who always had to test me, but always provided a good laugh, the ringtail and gray fox who seemed more curious about us, as I was of them. The skunks - who I had know idea were so beautiful The rattle snake who was so comfortable with me I would worry about stepping on it. The list is really long, and being there day and night just exposed us to so much!

Unfortunately, due to a number of changes in life we decided to sell the property, in fact we closed a few weeks ago. This transition has been made much easier thanks to the wonderful couple who are buying the property, Jack and Elaine Uellendahl. Not only are they outstanding photographers, but they love the canyon as much as we do, and plan to operate things pretty much the same, although I'm sure they will make some great improvements. Soon, they will take over the Desert Photo Retreat social accounts.

So, as one amazing chapter closes, I'm excited for the next chapter and the opportunities the extra time will offer. Thanks so much to everyone who has supported and visited us out there over the years!

We received a half of inch of rain last night, with a whole bunch more forecasted for tonight and tomorrow! It has been...
01/23/2024

We received a half of inch of rain last night, with a whole bunch more forecasted for tonight and tomorrow! It has been a fairly wet winter, we received an inch of rain on Christmas Eve, and a number of smaller storms afterwards 

One of four Harris's hawks visiting us at the Desert Photo Retreat yesterday. It is fun watching these cooperative hunt...
12/19/2023

One of four Harris's hawks visiting us at the Desert Photo Retreat yesterday. It is fun watching these cooperative hunters!

What was really interesting, these hawks like to bath in my water hole. This is about 30 feet from one of my feeders, and the hawks presence has no effect on the bird activity at the feeders. In fact, there were some birds visiting the water hole within a few feet of the hawks. Now has these been a bird killing raptor such as a sharp-shinned or coopers, it would have been lights out as the birds all fled for their lives. It in interesting how they can tell the difference.

I still haven't had a chance to share any photo from my second Costa Rica photo tour - a tour that was just as productive as my first. So hopefully you won't mind more Costa Rica photos!

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6821 W Desperado Trail
Marana, AZ
85658

Telephone

(520) 336-8242

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Jack and I are excited to share our grand opening of Desert Photo Retreat in Marana, Arizona (just north of Tucson). We bought this 10 acre property from Ron and Janine Niebrugge in April 2024. This was a labor of love for Ron and Janine and we treasure what they created and will do our best to honor the property and wildlife. Desert Photo Retreat currently offers 2 blinds where photographers sit quietly and photograph the birds with prepared vignettes and desert surroundings. The afternoon blind has warm sunset colors reflected on the mountain and the morning blind has a reflection pool. Our season is January to approximately mid-April (we’ll stop when it’s too warm). Please follow Desert Photo Retreat on Facebook or Desert Photography Retreat on Instagram if you would like to see more photos that we capture from this special place. Photography credit: Jack Uellendahl

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