Waves Written in Gypsum

Delicate ridges sweep across the gypsum sand of White Sands National Park like waves frozen in place. Morning light catches the mineral grains, creating subtle highlights and shadows that transform the dune surface into a quiet abstract landscape beneath the soft blue New Mexico sky. #WhiteSands #WhiteSandsNationalPark #NewMexico #GypsumSand #SandRipples #WindPatterns #AbstractPhotography #TexturePhotography #ShallowDepthOfField #MorningLight #DesertDetails #NaturePhotography #NationalParks #EngelPhotography

Photographer James Engel

Date & Time Saturday, March 28th, 2026 at 8:19 AM America/Denver

Focal Length 32mm

Shutter Speed 1/320 sec

Aperture ƒ/11

ISO 64

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

Keywords Abstract Photography, Bokeh, Desert Landscape, Landscapes & Nature, Minimalism, National Park, Photography Effects, Photography Genres, Photography Techniques, Photoshop Effects, Texture

Camera Nikon D850

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

Approximate Map Location

Latitude: 32.801605
Longitude: -106.251221
Altitude: 1,188.0 meters / 3,897.6 feet