Soaptree Yucca Beneath the Desert Sun

A solitary soaptree yucca rises from golden desert grass beneath the brilliant morning sun along the Dune Life Nature Trail. Behind it, vegetation-covered gypsum dunes mark the meeting place of the Chihuahuan Desert and the luminous sands of White Sands National Park in southern New Mexico.
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Photographer James Engel

Date & Time Saturday, March 28th, 2026 at 8:53 AM America/Denver

Focal Length 24mm

Shutter Speed 1/200 sec

Aperture ƒ/11

ISO 64

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

Keywords Astrophotography, Desert Landscape, Fine Art Photography, Hiking Trail, Landscapes & Nature, National Park, Photography Effects, Photography Genres, Photography Techniques, Plant, Sol (Earth Sun)

Camera Nikon D850

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

Approximate Map Location

Latitude: 32.792217
Longitude: -106.212608
Altitude: 1,187.0 meters / 3,894.4 feet