The Making of the Meadowlark Blind at the Ljósmyndir Ranch Part 1- The Dream
Long-term readers of this blog know of my love of shooting in photography blinds. I have been shooting in blinds on public and private lands for nearly 15 years. Some may know that there was a time when I helped to maintain the blind at San Angelo State Park as part of my association with the Friends of San Angelo State Park.
I would have loved to get out to places like the Rocking R6 or La Lomita every week, but distance and wallet were insurmountable limitations. Even a regular trip to a blind on public lands like the four blinds at South Llano River State Park or the two blinds at Pedernales Falls State Park were travel hurdles that I could not get over. In Colorado, except for maybe one place in a National Wildlife Refuge, the concept of a photo blind is a foreign one.
The solution to my blind desire: Have enough land to have my own blind or find somebody who was willing to work with me to share some land for a mutual good.
It is one thing to shoot from a blind. Another thing to maintain a blind. But something altogether different to try to establish one from scratch. Tons of engineering decisions that need to be made early in the process that have long-term ramifications to the success of the blind. Many hours of contemplation and planning.
I attempted to do this once before. When living out in South Texas on a 2 acre piece of property that I called the Rock Ridge Retreat, I went through the motions of trying to get a blind established. I picked a location, got approval from the Property Owners Association, made arrangements for a structure, and found equipment for a water feature. All the pieces that would be needed to set up a blind. And then life happened.
Fast forward about five years later. A change in latitude, longitude, and altitude. A much bigger chunk of land–The Ljósmyndir Ranch. And an involved partner to help make it happen.
Over the next few blog posts I’m going to talk about the making of my own blind in Colorado. I invite you to share the journey with me.
About the Image
Western Meadowhawk (Sturnella neglecta)
Elbert County, Colorado – June 2021
Canon 7D Mark II, Tamron 150-600 (Gen 1)
Tripod w/Wimberley gimbal head
ISO 400, 1/400 at f/13 – No Flash
Portfolio Image #1071
Image Size in Portfolio: 2985×2388
Jim's Assorted, Usually Photographic, Ramblings 