During my road trip through New Mexico, I allocated a couple of days to White Sands National Monument. Before I had a chance to process the images, White Sands was named the latest National Park in the United States!

It's one of my favorite places. But, it can be a difficult place for photography:

1. The park is not open to visitors until 7am and closes by 6pm...so photographers will most likely miss the best light around sunrise and sunset.
2. I had to walk up to two miles in the sand with my equipment to get far enough away from the many footprints in the sand.
3. If you aren't careful, it is easy to get disoriented. The sand dunes go on for miles and look the same in all directions. Fortunately, there are some "trails" with stakes for guidance. And, I had a map, cell phone and GPS. I didn't go very far from the stakes as people have died getting lost in this place.
4. If it gets windy, there's a good chance you won't be able to see the stakes any longer!

During my visit, there wasn't much wind. Once I got about a mile out, I don't think I've ever experienced an environment as quiet as this one. It was a memorable experience. The place is otherworldly!

CLICK HERE to view the B&W images.

CLICK HERE to view the color images.

White SandsDunes at White Sands National Monument near Alamogordo, New Mexico on November 20, 2019 Endless sand ripplesSand ripples in the dunes at White Sands National Monument near Alamogordo, New Mexico on November 18, 2019 White SandsSunset at White Sands National Monument with Sacramento Mountains from the Backcountry Trail near Alamogordo, New Mexico on November 20, 2019 White SandsSand ripples in the dunes at White Sands National Monument near Alamogordo, New Mexico on November 19, 2019