Desert Life in a World of White

Tufts of hardy desert grass emerge from the pale gypsum dunes of White Sands National Park, bringing subtle warmth and life to the luminous landscape. Morning sunlight reveals delicate wind-carved ripples and scattered footprints beneath an expansive blue New Mexico sky. #WhiteSands #WhiteSandsNationalPark #NewMexico #GypsumDunes #DesertGrass #DesertPlants #SandRipples #MorningLight #DesertLandscape #NaturePhotography #LandscapePhotography #NationalParks #Southwest #EngelPhotography

Photographer James Engel

Date & Time Saturday, March 28th, 2026 at 8:14 AM America/Denver

Focal Length 34mm

Shutter Speed 1/160 sec

Aperture ƒ/11

ISO 64

Location North America, The United States of America, New Mexico, White Sands National Park

Keywords Desert Landscape, Landscapes & Nature, National Park, Photography Techniques, Plant, Scenic Vista, Texture

Camera Nikon D850

Lens NIKON 24-85mm F3.5-4.5G ED VR AF-S Nikkor Lens

Approximate Map Location

Latitude: 32.801235
Longitude: -106.25209
Altitude: 1,227.0 meters / 4,025.6 feet