New Mexico Landscape Photography, Part 3: White Sands Dunes Formations
"… life is a jewel box, is endless as the sand, impossible to count, pure …” Pablo Neruda on Engimas (1904 - 1973)
My lifetime fascination with sand dunes is now only heightened, having just spent some extended time at the pristine White Sands National Monument, New Mexico (elevation 4,235) feet. Growing up in Southwest Michigan, I developed a deep appreciation for sand dunes along the seemingly endless beaches of Lake Michigan.
NIKON D800E,f/20 @ 35 mm, 1/100, ISO 100
The dunes at White Sands hold similar visual elements, including concave and convex formations, intricate interlocking ripples and subtle gradations from shadow to light.
NIKON D800E,f/3.2 @ 35 mm, 1/100, ISO 100
Under ever changing lighting conditions, the White Sands gypsum crystal dunes provide endless photography opportunities akin to, yet distinctly unique from those of iconic Death Valley, picturesque Monument Valley and my home state’s Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
Like pure white freshly fallen snow, the white sand reflects the subtle color hues of the overhead sky, long “golden hour” sunrays and moonlight. So, for today’s posting, we present fewer words and more images in celebration of White Sands and its many splendors.
NIKON D800E,f/22 @ 86 mm, 1/40, ISO 100
NIKON D800E,f/20 @ 70 mm, 1/25, ISO 100
Photographer Traversing Wind Sands Dune at Dusk, Nikon D800. Photo courtesy of my brother and wonderful travel companion, Brian G. Reinkensmeyer, Copyright 2014
NIKON D800E,f/16 @ 27 mm, 6s, ISO 100
VIDEO: White Sands Morning, Apple iPhone 5s
Marcus W. Reinkensmeyer
Related posts: New Mexico Landscape Photography Part 1, Part 2, Death Valley National Park, California, and Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan.