Life Among the White Dunes

Hardy desert plants rise from the brilliant gypsum dunes of White Sands National Park, revealing a landscape filled with life and adaptation. Footprints cross the rippled sand near an interpretive marker, while morning sunlight and wispy clouds stretch across the immense New Mexico sky. #WhiteSands #WhiteSandsNationalPark #NewMexico #GypsumDunes #DesertPlants #Footprints #NatureTrail #DesertLandscape #MorningLight #PanoramicPhotography #NaturePhotography #NationalParks #Southwest #EngelPhotography

Photographer James Engel

Date & Time Saturday, March 28th, 2026 at 8:49 AM America/Denver

Focal Length 24mm

Shutter Speed 1/250 sec

Aperture ƒ/11

ISO 64

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

Keywords Desert Landscape, Hiking Trail, Landscapes & Nature, National Park, Panorama, Photography Effects, Photography Genres, 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: 32.79221
Longitude: -106.212585
Altitude: 1,183.0 meters / 3,881.2 feet